California Landlord-Tenant Laws & Regulations 

California is generally a Tenant-friendly state with complex Landlord-Tenant laws for Landlords and property managers to comply with. 

If you own rental units in California, you need to be familiar with applicable Landlord laws to avoid legal disputes, fines, and liability. 

Below is an outline of key Landlord-Tenant laws in 2026. 

Need to customize a California Lease that’s guaranteed to comply with all CA Lease laws and automatically includes all required disclosures? 

Create a compliant California Lease Agreement here.

Table Of Contents

• California Landlord-Tenant Laws & Regulations
• Rental Application & Tenant Screening Laws
• CA Lease Agreement Requirements & Mandatory Disclosures
• California Security Deposit Limits & Regulations
• What is the maximum amount a CA Landlord can charge for the security deposit?
• What can Landlords use the security deposit for in California?
• What is the process for returning the security deposit in California?
• Rent Control Laws in California
• Rent Payment Procedures & Regulations
• Does California require a grace period for late rent?
• Can Landlords charge a bounced check fee?
• Can CA Landlords charge a late fee?
• Landlord Rights and Responsibilities
• Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
• Lease Termination & Eviction Rules
• Failure to Pay Rent
• Lease Violations
• Illegal Activity or Incurable Lease Violations
• California Landlord-Tenant Laws FAQs
• How much notice must a Landlord give before entering?
• What can California Landlords NOT do?
• How long does the eviction process take?
• What California Landlords have to provide a refrigerator?

California Rental Application and Tenant Screening Laws 2026

California has some of the strictest screening criteria for Landlords, and Landlords need to be familiar with these criteria to avoid violating the California Fair Housing Act or California Civil Code § 1950.6. 

Here are some key requirements to know: 

1. 1. Application & Screening Fee Limits: For 2026, the maximum screening fee in California per applicant is approximately $65. The maximum amount that a Landlord can charge is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and is adjusted annually. Landlords may charge an application and screening fee that covers the actual costs of the screening. 
   2. Screening Criteria: Landlords must provide applicants with written screening criteria. As of January 1, 2026, Landlords can only charge a rental application fee when they have an available unit AND the Tenant meets the basic screening criteria – for example, no smoking, pet policies, minimum credit score, and minimum income requirements. 

• Itemized Receipt & Refund. Upon request, Landlords must provide applicants with an itemized receipt of screening costs. If a screening is not completed, the Landlord must return unused funds. 
• First Come, First-Considered: Landlords must consider applications in the order received and approve the first applicant who meets all screening criteria. 

Screening Tips: 

• Be consistent. Apply your screening procedures to all applicants to avoid discrimination claims and violations of fair housing laws. 
• If you collect a consumer credit report, provide the applicant with a copy within 7 days of getting it. 
• Provide an Adverse Action Notice if you deny an applicant based on screening reports. 

All you need is an applicant’s name & email address to send a screening request

Send a California Tenant Screening Request 

CA Lease Agreement Requirements & Mandatory Disclosures

In addition to basic terms – like the parties to the contract, the Lease term, rent amount, and security deposit amount – there are some required disclosures and clauses that California Landlords must include in their Leases. 

• Lead-based paint disclosure: Required for all properties built before 1978. 
• AB Just Cause Addendum: This is required under the California Tenant Protection Act and must be attached to the Lease and signed by all parties unless the property falls into an exemption category. This addendum outlines Tenant eviction protections. 
• Notice of Intent to Demolish: If the Landlord has received a permit to demolish the rental property, the Landlord must disclose this before accepting a security deposit or entering into a rental contract. 
• Flood Disclosure: Landlords must inform the Tenant if the property is located in a special flood area. 
• Mold Disclosure: Landlords must disclose the health risks associated with mold by attaching a mold disclosure to the Lease. 
• Smoking Policy Disclosure: The Lease must state where smoking is and is not allowed on the premises. 
• Bed Bug Addendum: The Lease must include documentation showing there’s no presence of bed bugs in the unit and information about preventing bed bugs. 
• Pest Control: If remediation has been done at the unit, Landlords must provide documentation from the pest control company. 
• Shared Utilities: If utilities are shared, the Lease must explain how they will be split. 
• Megan’s Law: New Tenants must be notified in writing that the California Department of Justice operates a website with information about registered sex offenders. 
• Death: If a death has occurred in the unit in the last three years, the Landlord must disclose this to the Tenant. 

California Security Deposit Limits & Regulations 

What is the maximum amount a CA Landlord can charge for the security deposit? 

For tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2024, security deposits are capped at one month’s rent. This cap applies to furnished and unfurnished units. 

There is a “small Landlord exception” to this rule. Landlords fall into this category if they:

• Are a natural person or an LLC in which all members are natural persons AND
• Own no more than 2 rental properties that include no more than 4 units. 

Landlords who meet the small Landlord exception may charge up to 2 months’ rent for the security deposit.  Note: this exception does not apply to military servicemembers.

What can Landlords use the security deposit for in California? 

California provides specific guidelines on what the Landlord can use the security deposit for: 

1. Unpaid rent
2. Cleaning the rental unit – but only to make it as clean as it was when the Tenant moved in
3. Repairs or damages beyond normal wear and tear 
4. If allowed by the Lease, the cost of repairing or replacing any furniture, furnishing, or personal property in the unit 

What is the process for returning the security deposit in California? 

When a Tenant moves out, Landlords have 21 calendar days to provide the Tenant with an itemized statement of any deductions and payment of the remaining portion of the security deposit. 

California Rent Control Laws Under AB 1482 and Local Ordinances

California has statewide rent control laws that are governed by the California Tenant Protection Act (CTPA). The CTPA, often referred to as AB1482, limits rent increases to 5% per year plus the percentage change in the cost of living based on the consumer price index OR 10%, whichever is lower. 

There are some AB1482 exemptions, including: 

• Single-family homes (unless owned by a corporate entity)
• New construction built within the last 15 years 
• Owner-occupied duplexes
• Condominium units

If your property is exempt from AB1482 requirements, you should provide your Tenants with a California AB 1482 Exemption Form when you enter into the Lease Agreement. 

California Rent Payment Laws, Late Fees, and Grace Period Rules

Does California require a grace period for late rent? 

No, there is no statewide grace period. Rent is due on the date specified in the Lease and can be considered late if not paid on that date. 

If the Lease provides for a grace period, the Landlord must honor this and cannot consider rent late until after the grace period. 

Can Landlords charge a bounced check fee? 

Yes, California Landlords can charge up to $25 for the first bounced check and up to $35 for each additional bounced check. 

Can CA Landlords charge a late fee? 

Yes, Landlords can charge a late fee for rent not paid by the due date. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• The late fee must be clearly stated in the rental contract. 
• The fee must be a reasonable estimate of the Landlord’s expenses incurred because of the late rent, for example, collection costs or interest. 

Landlord Rights and Responsibilities

Landlords in CA have some unique rights and responsibilities. Landlords have a right to: 

• Collect rent – including increasing rent and charging late fees, in compliance with Lease terms 
• Collect a security deposit 
• Enter the property after providing adequate notice (24 hours for most issues; 48 hours’ notice is required for the move-out inspection)
• Evict in compliance with the Lease terms and California eviction laws
• Screen tenants, including a credit and background check 

Landlords also have some explicit responsibilities. These include: 

• Providing a habitable property – including a refrigerator and a stove 
• Complying with the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, including rent control laws
• Properly holding and returning the security deposit 

Tenant Rights and Responsibilities 

California is known as a Tenant-friendly state. Some of the key Tenant rights in CA are: 

• A safe and habitable rental unit 
• The right to withhold rent or “repair and deduct” if repairs aren’t made 
• Privacy rights, requiring at least 24 hours’ notice before a Landlord enters
• Security deposit protections
• Protections from illegal evictions 

That said, Tenants also have some distinct responsibilities. California Tenants must: 

• Pay rent on time 
• Keep the unit clean 
• Avoid damage to the rental unit beyond normal wear and tear
• Comply with all Lease terms 

California Eviction Laws and Lease Termination Notice Requirements

Landlords must comply with state law when terminating a Tenancy. Before initiating eviction proceedings, Landlords must provide Tenants with the required Notice to Quit. 

Failure to Pay Rent 

If a Tenant falls behind on rent, Landlords should issue a California 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. If the Tenant does not pay all unpaid rent or vacate the properties within the 3 days, the Landlord may initiate eviction proceedings. 

Lease Violations

If the Tenant violates the Lease for reasons other than nonpayment of rent, the Landlord should issue a California 3-Day Notice to Cure or Quit. This gives the Tenant three days to either fix the Lease violation or vacate the property. If the Tenant does not comply within 3 days, the Landlord may file a Complaint for Eviction. 

Illegal Activity or Incurable Lease Violations

If a Tenant commits a serious Lease violation or engages in illegal activity, the Landlord can issue a California 3-Day Notice to Quit for Incurable Lease Violations. This notice requires the Tenant to vacate the property within 3 days or face an eviction proceeding. 

California Landlord-Tenant Law FAQs for 2026

How much notice must a Landlord give before entering? 

Generally, Landlords must give 24 hours’ notice before entering a unit. They don’t have to give notice to enter for an emergency. In addition, Landlords should give 48 hours’ notice before entering for a move-out inspection. 

What can California Landlords NOT do? 

When issues arise with a Tenant, it can be tempting to take matters into your own hands. Resist this temptation. Landlords must comply with state laws when dealing with Tenant conflicts. 

California Landlords cannot lock Tenants out, remove a Tenant’s personal belongings, discriminate based on a protected class when filling a vacancy, retaliate against a Tenant for a complaint, or have utilities shut off. 

How long does the eviction process take? 

The timeframe for evictions varies. Before initiating an eviction, Landlords must provide Tenants with the proper notice. In most cases, this is 3 days’ notice. Once an eviction complaint is filed, the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. 

Do California Landlords have to provide a refrigerator? 

Yes. As of January 1, 2026, California Landlords are required to provide and maintain both a refrigerator and a stove. If a Tenant chooses to provide their own refrigerator, the Lease Agreement must include specific language documenting this request. 

If your Tenant wants to bring their own refrigerator, attach the California Refrigerator Request Addendum to your Lease Agreement to ensure you’re protected.