California Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (3-Day)
Create a free California notice to pay rent or quit. California requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
California requirement
California requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. 3-day notice to pay rent or quit under CCP § 1161(2). Critically, since the AB 2343 reform (effective Sept 1, 2019), the 3-day count EXCLUDES Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays — confirmed by the statutory phrase 'three days' notice, excluding Saturdays and Sundays and other judicial holidays' — so it is 3 court/business days, not 3 calendar days. The notice may demand RENT ONLY (no late fees, utilities, or other charges) and must state the amount due and where/how/when to pay. The clock starts the day after service. Document generators must encode the business-day skip; the integer 3 alone is the raw statutory number.
Tenant Name(s)
Live Preview
⚠ California requires a 3-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. 3-day notice to pay rent or quit under CCP § 1161(2). Critically, since the AB 2343 reform (effective Sept 1, 2019), the 3-day count EXCLUDES Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays — confirmed by the statutory phrase 'three days' notice, excluding Saturdays and Sundays and other judicial holidays' — so it is 3 court/business days, not 3 calendar days. The notice may demand RENT ONLY (no late fees, utilities, or other charges) and must state the amount due and where/how/when to pay. The clock starts the day after service. Document generators must encode the business-day skip; the integer 3 alone is the raw statutory number.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (California)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 3 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161, 1162; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1, 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019 / AB 1482, as amended).
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: Per CCP § 1162, a notice may be served three ways: (1) personal delivery to the tenant; (2) substituted service — leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion at the residence or business, AND mailing a copy; or (3) post-and-mail ("nail and mail") — affixing a copy in a conspicuous place on the property (and giving a copy to anyone residing there, if present), AND mailing a copy. Substituted and post-and-mail service extend the deadline by the mailing.
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm California and local rules first.
California Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Rules
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
California requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. 3-day notice to pay rent or quit under CCP § 1161(2). Critically, since the AB 2343 reform (effective Sept 1, 2019), the 3-day count EXCLUDES Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays — confirmed by the statutory phrase 'three days' notice, excluding Saturdays and Sundays and other judicial holidays' — so it is 3 court/business days, not 3 calendar days. The notice may demand RENT ONLY (no late fees, utilities, or other charges) and must state the amount due and where/how/when to pay. The clock starts the day after service. Document generators must encode the business-day skip; the integer 3 alone is the raw statutory number. The notice is served under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161, 1162; Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1, 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019 / AB 1482, as amended).
How to Serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit in California
Per CCP § 1162, a notice may be served three ways: (1) personal delivery to the tenant; (2) substituted service — leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion at the residence or business, AND mailing a copy; or (3) post-and-mail ("nail and mail") — affixing a copy in a conspicuous place on the property (and giving a copy to anyone residing there, if present), AND mailing a copy. Substituted and post-and-mail service extend the deadline by the mailing. A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a California notice to pay rent or quit?
California requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. 3-day notice to pay rent or quit under CCP § 1161(2). Critically, since the AB 2343 reform (effective Sept 1, 2019), the 3-day count EXCLUDES Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays — confirmed by the statutory phrase 'three days' notice, excluding Saturdays and Sundays and other judicial holidays' — so it is 3 court/business days, not 3 calendar days. The notice may demand RENT ONLY (no late fees, utilities, or other charges) and must state the amount due and where/how/when to pay. The clock starts the day after service. Document generators must encode the business-day skip; the integer 3 alone is the raw statutory number.
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in California court. Only a court order, enforced by a sheriff or constable, can remove the tenant.
Can I email or download the notice?
Yes — fill in the form above, then download the PDF or email a copy to yourself. Serve it on the tenant using a method California allows.
Disclaimer
This California notice to pay rent or quit generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm California and local requirements before serving.