The notices and their periods
- 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Code of Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)) — demands rent only; no late fees or other charges. As amended effective 2025, the three days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays.
- 3-Day Notice to Perform Covenant or Quit (§ 1161(3)) — for a curable lease violation; must describe the violation and how to cure it.
- 3-Day Unconditional Notice to Quit (§ 1161(4)) — for nuisance, illegal use, or other serious grounds, with no chance to cure.
- No-cause termination (Civ. Code § 1946.1) — 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, 60 days if a year or more.
Just cause changes everything (AB 1482)
Under the Tenant Protection Act (Civ. Code § 1946.2), most residential tenancies require just cause to terminate once the tenant has lived there 12 months — you generally can't end the tenancy without a qualifying reason. “No-fault” reasons (like an owner move-in) typically require paying the tenant relocation assistance. Some properties are exempt (for example, certain single-family homes with the required written exemption notice). Confirm whether your unit is covered before relying on a no-cause notice, and remember many California cities add their own rent-control and just-cause ordinances on top.
Strict compliance and service (§ 1162)
Demand the precise rent figure and nothing more, state the deadline correctly, and serve by an approved method under § 1162 — personal delivery, substituted delivery to an adult plus mailing, or posting and mailing. California courts dismiss cases over small defects, so the notice has to be exactly right before you file an unlawful detainer.
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Create My Letter — $9Common questions
Do the 3 days include weekends?
No. As amended effective 2025, the three-day period on a pay-or-quit notice excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays, and the day of service doesn't count.
Can I put late fees on a California pay-or-quit notice?
No. Under § 1161(2) the notice may demand rent only; adding late fees or other charges can void it. Pursue those amounts separately.
Do I need “just cause” to evict in California?
For most tenancies, yes — once a tenant has lived there 12 months, the Tenant Protection Act generally requires just cause, and no-fault terminations require relocation assistance. Check whether your unit is exempt and whether a local ordinance applies.
More notice types: Pay or Quit · Cure or Quit · Unconditional Quit · eviction notices overview. By state: Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Ohio · Georgia · North Carolina · Michigan · New Jersey · Virginia · Washington · Arizona · Massachusetts · Tennessee · Indiana · Missouri · Maryland · Wisconsin · Minnesota · South Carolina · Alabama · Louisiana · Kentucky · Oregon · Oklahoma · Connecticut · Utah · Nevada · Iowa · Arkansas · Mississippi · Kansas · New Mexico · Nebraska · Idaho · West Virginia · Colorado · Hawaii · New Hampshire · Maine · Montana · Rhode Island · Delaware · South Dakota · North Dakota · Alaska · Vermont · Wyoming · Washington, D.C..
WriteMyNotice.com is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Eviction rules are strict and vary by state, county, and city — many cities add rent-control or just-cause requirements on top of state law, and an improper or mistimed notice can get an eviction case delayed or dismissed. Verify the current requirements for your property's location and, for contested or high-stakes evictions, consult a landlord-tenant attorney. Statute references verified June 2026.