California Notice to enter
How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental in California?
Written notice of the date, approximate time, and purpose of entry, and entry only during normal business hours (except in emergencies). 24 hours is presumed reasonable notice; if mailed, at least 6 days before.
Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(d) · last checked 2026-10-15
How this works in California
California only lets you enter a rental for the reasons the statute lists, such as an emergency, necessary or agreed repairs or services, showing the unit, a pre-move-out inspection, abandonment or a court order. For most visits you give written notice with the date, approximate time and purpose, and you enter during normal business hours. Twenty-four hours is presumed reasonable notice, or six days if you mail it.
Step by step in California
- Check that your reason is on the list: an emergency, necessary or agreed repairs or services, showing the unit to buyers, lenders, tenants, workers or contractors, a pre-move-out inspection under § 1950.5(f), abandonment or surrender, or a court order.
- Write a notice that gives the date, approximate time and purpose of the entry.
- Hand it to the tenant, leave it with someone of suitable age and discretion at the unit, or leave it on, near or under the usual entry door where a reasonable person would find it. Twenty-four hours ahead is presumed reasonable.
- If you mail the notice instead, mail it at least six days before the entry.
- Enter during normal business hours, unless the tenant agrees to another time at the time of entry.
- For a quick agreed repair, you can agree orally with the tenant instead, as long as you agree on a date and approximate time within one week.
Common California mistakes to avoid
- Showing up in the evening or on a weekend without the tenant agreeing at the time of entry.
- Mailing the notice only a day or two ahead, when six days is the presumed reasonable period for mail.
- Leaving the purpose or the approximate time off the notice.
- Using oral notice for showings to buyers without first telling the tenant in writing, within the last 120 days, that the property is for sale.
- Entering so often that it looks like harassment, which the statute forbids.
Key deadlines and amounts in California
| Written notice | 24 hours is presumed reasonable |
|---|---|
| Mailed notice | Mailed at least 6 days before entry is presumed reasonable |
| When you can enter | Normal business hours, unless the tenant consents to another time at the time of entry |
| Oral notice for showings to buyers | Allowed only after written for-sale notice within the past 120 days |
| Oral agreement for agreed repairs | Entry date must be within one week of the agreement |
| No notice needed | Emergency, tenant present and consenting, or unit abandoned or surrendered |
California FAQ
How much notice does a California landlord have to give before entering?
Reasonable written notice. Under Civil Code § 1954(d), 24 hours is presumed reasonable, and a mailed notice sent at least six days before the entry is presumed reasonable, unless there is evidence to the contrary.
Can a California landlord enter without notice?
Yes, but only to respond to an emergency, if the tenant is present and consents at the time of entry, or after the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit.
Can a California landlord enter on evenings or weekends?
Only with the tenant's consent at the time of entry, or in an emergency or after the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit. Otherwise entry is limited to normal business hours.
Can I give notice by phone to show the unit?
Only to show it to prospective or actual purchasers, and only if you told the tenant in writing within the past 120 days that the property is for sale and that you may contact them orally. The oral notice still needs the date, approximate time and purpose, and you must leave written evidence of the entry inside the unit.
What does the notice have to say?
The date, approximate time and purpose of the entry.
Sources for this section: Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(a)-(e) (checked 2026-10-15)
Same topic in neighboring states
All California landlord-tenant law · California landlord FAQ · Security deposit limit · Deposit return deadline · Required lease disclosures · Required disclosures (mold, lead, radon, bedbug, asbestos, flood zone) · Move-in checklist
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