California has some of the strongest eviction protections in the country, especially under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482).
Notice requirements by type
Non-payment of rent (3-Day Notice)
Your landlord must give you a written 3-day notice to pay rent or vacate. The notice must state the exact amount owed and how to pay.
Lease violation (3-Day Notice)
For curable violations, the notice must describe the violation and give you 3 days to fix it. For incurable violations (like illegal activity), the landlord can give a 3-day unconditional quit notice.
No-fault termination (30 or 60-Day Notice)
- 30 days if you've lived there less than 1 year
- 60 days if you've lived there 1 year or more
Just Cause Eviction (AB 1482)
If your unit is covered by the Tenant Protection Act, your landlord needs just cause to evict you. There are two types:
At-fault causes: Non-payment, breach of lease, nuisance, criminal activity, refusal to allow access, unauthorized subletting
No-fault causes: Owner move-in, substantial renovation, withdrawal from rental market. For no-fault causes, the landlord must provide relocation assistance equal to one month's rent.
What AB 1482 covers
The law applies to most rental units that are at least 15 years old. Exemptions include:
- Single-family homes (with certain conditions)
- Units built within the last 15 years
- Owner-occupied duplexes
Illegal eviction tactics
Your landlord cannot:
- Change the locks without a court order
- Shut off utilities
- Remove your belongings
- Threaten or harass you to leave
These are considered "self-help" evictions and are illegal in California.