How much notice must a California landlord give before entering a unit?

Written notice of 24 hours is presumed reasonable for most entries, and entry should be during normal business hours. Emergencies are an exception. If the notice is mailed, a longer period applies.

Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in California?

In some circumstances, yes. Tenants have a limited repair and deduct remedy for serious habitability problems and may raise habitability as a defense to an eviction for nonpayment. The rules are technical, so both sides should get legal advice.

Is a housing voucher a protected source of income in California?

Yes. California treats federal, state and local housing assistance, including Housing Choice Vouchers, as a protected source of income, so refusing an applicant because they use a voucher is generally unlawful.

How much notice do I need to end a month-to-month tenancy?

Generally 30 days if the tenant has lived in the unit for less than a year and 60 days if a year or more, but just cause rules under AB 1482 or a local ordinance may limit when you can end the tenancy at all.

California Landlord-Tenant Rights: A Guide for Landlords

The short version

California landlords must keep rentals habitable, and tenants have statutory remedies when serious repairs are ignored.

Entry generally requires reasonable written notice, with 24 hours presumed reasonable in most situations.

Retaliation and discrimination are prohibited, and California protects more classes than federal law, including source of income.

Leases must include several state and federal disclosures, and termination notice periods depend on how long the tenant has lived there.

California gives tenants some of the strongest protections in the country, and landlords who understand the rules up front avoid most of the disputes that end up in court. The core obligations come from the California Civil Code, state fair housing laws and, for many properties, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482).

This guide summarizes the rights and duties that matter most in day-to-day management. It is general information, not legal advice. Many cities add rules on top of state law, so check local requirements and work with a California landlord-tenant attorney on specific situations.

Habitability and repairs

Every residential lease in California includes an implied warranty of habitability. The landlord must keep the unit fit to live in, which generally includes:

Effective weatherproofing and a sound roof, walls, doors and windows
Working plumbing, hot and cold running water and sewage disposal
Safe heating and electrical systems
Clean common areas free of trash, rodents and vermin
Working locks, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors where required
Floors, stairways and railings in good repair

When a landlord fails to fix a serious problem after reasonable notice, tenants have several remedies. The best known is repair and deduct, which lets a tenant pay for certain repairs and deduct the cost, up to one month’s rent, no more than twice in a 12-month period. Tenants may also raise habitability as a defense in an eviction for nonpayment, report conditions to code enforcement or sue for damages.

A documented work order process is your best protection. Log every request, your response time and the completed repair. Tools like TenantLoop work orders keep that history attached to the unit.

Entry and privacy

A landlord may enter a rental only for specific reasons, such as making repairs, showing the unit, conducting inspections allowed by law or responding to an emergency. Except in emergencies or when the tenant has abandoned the unit, the landlord must give reasonable written notice. Notice of 24 hours is presumed reasonable, and a longer period applies if the notice is mailed. Entry should generally be during normal business hours unless the tenant agrees otherwise.

Repeated or harassing entry can support a privacy claim, even when each visit had a valid reason.

Security deposits in brief

Since July 1, 2024, AB 12 generally limits security deposits to one month’s rent, whether or not the unit is furnished, with a narrow exception for certain small landlords. The deposit must be returned with an itemized statement within 21 days after the tenant moves out. Photo documentation requirements were added starting in 2025. For details, see our California security deposit laws guide.

Retaliation and discrimination

California prohibits retaliation against tenants who exercise legal rights, such as requesting repairs, complaining to a government agency or organizing with other tenants. If a landlord raises rent, reduces services or tries to evict within 180 days after protected activity, the law presumes retaliation unless the landlord can show a legitimate reason.

Fair housing rules come from the federal Fair Housing Act and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and Unruh Civil Rights Act. State law protects more classes than federal law, including:

Race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability and familial status
Sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
Marital status, ancestry, age and genetic information
Source of income, including housing vouchers
Military or veteran status

Apply the same written screening criteria to every applicant. Our tenant screening guide and rental application guide cover how to stay consistent.

Required disclosures

California landlords must give tenants a number of disclosures, depending on the property. Common ones include:

Lead-based paint information for housing built before 1978 (federal requirement)
Known mold conditions that pose a health risk
Bed bug information for new tenancies
A notice about the state’s registered sex offender database
Flood hazard information where the property is in a known flood zone
A known death in the unit within the prior three years, which may need to be disclosed
The tenant protections notice required by AB 1482 for covered units

Rent increases also require written notice: generally 30 days for an increase of 10 percent or less, and 90 days for a larger increase in a 12-month period. Our California residential lease agreement is a starting point for building these into your documents.

Ending a tenancy

A fixed-term lease generally ends on its stated date, although AB 1482 and local ordinances may require just cause to decline a renewal for covered units. For month-to-month tenancies, landlords generally must give 30 days of written notice if the tenant has lived in the unit for less than a year and 60 days if a year or more. Tenants typically give 30 days.

Some tenants have special rights to end a lease early, including victims of domestic violence and other qualifying abuse who provide the required documentation, and service members under federal law. If a tenant leaves early without a legal basis, the landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit rather than simply charging the full remaining rent.

Tip: Use a written notice for every termination or nonrenewal, and keep proof of how and when it was delivered.

Verify current law

California landlord-tenant law changes nearly every legislative session, and cities and counties often add rules on rent, just cause, relocation payments and tenant notices. Before acting, confirm the current statute text, check your local ordinances and talk with a California landlord-tenant attorney.