California Lease Termination Letter: Template and Notice Rules

A lease termination letter is a written notice that a tenancy will end on a specific date. In California, landlords use it to end month-to-month tenancies or decline renewals where allowed, and tenants use it to give notice that they are moving out. Because California sets strict notice and just cause rules, the letter needs to be accurate and properly delivered to be effective.

This page outlines our original California termination letter template and the rules to know. It is a general template, not legal advice. Termination notices are a common source of disputes, so have a California attorney review the letter before you serve it.

What it is

The template is a flexible notice that covers the most common situations:

• A landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy
• A landlord not renewing a fixed-term lease, where the law allows
• A tenant giving notice to end a month-to-month tenancy or move out at the end of a lease
• A tenant using a legal right to end a lease early

It is not a notice to pay rent or quit, or a notice to cure a lease violation. Those notices have their own legal requirements. For the broader eviction process, see California eviction process.

California rules to know

Check these well-known rules against current law:

• Notice periods. To end a month-to-month tenancy, landlords generally give 30 days’ notice if the tenant has lived there less than one year, and 60 days if one year or more. Tenants generally give 30 days.
• Just cause. At properties covered by the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, once a tenant has lived there 12 months, the landlord generally needs a qualifying reason to end the tenancy, including when not renewing a lease. The notice must state the reason.
• Relocation assistance. For no-fault reasons, such as an owner move-in or substantial remodel, covered tenants are generally entitled to relocation assistance equal to one month’s rent, or a waiver of the final month’s rent.
• Opportunity to cure. For many curable lease violations, a notice to cure is generally required before a termination notice.
• Survivor protections. Tenants who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and certain other crimes may end a lease early with written notice and documentation, generally 14 days’ notice.
• Servicemembers. Federal law lets qualifying servicemembers end a lease after receiving permanent change of station orders or deployment orders of 90 days or more.
• Local ordinances. Many California cities add stricter just cause, notice or relocation rules. See California rent control laws.

What you cannot include

• A termination date that gives less notice than the law requires
• A no-fault termination at a covered property without the required relocation assistance
• A reason that is false or retaliatory, such as a response to a repair request or complaint
• A reason based on a protected characteristic
• Threats of lockout, utility shutoff or removing belongings

How to fill it out

1. Identify everyone on the lease, using full names.
2. Choose the notice type and confirm the correct notice period based on tenancy length and local rules.
3. Calculate the termination date carefully, counting from the date of service.
4. State the reason and any relocation assistance when just cause rules apply.
5. Add move-out details, including key return, the tenant’s right to request a pre-move-out inspection, and the forwarding address for the deposit.
6. Sign and date the letter.
7. Serve it properly, such as by personal delivery or another method California allows, and complete a proof of service.

eSignature

Tenants giving notice and landlords confirming move-out details can sign documents online with TenantLoop eSignature, which keeps a dated record with the tenant file. For a landlord’s formal termination notice, always confirm that your delivery method meets California service rules. After move-out, use TenantLoop inspections to document the unit’s condition before returning the security deposit.

Bottom line

A California lease termination letter must use the right notice period, state a reason when just cause applies, and be delivered in a legally valid way. Use this outline to cover the essentials, check state and local rules, and have a California attorney review your notice before serving it.