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California · Moving out

California notice to vacate — the 30 days rule and a free letter

A California month-to-month tenant ends the tenancy with at least 30 days’ written notice under Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946 and 1946.1 — and unlike Florida or New York, the notice does not have to land on the last day of a rental period. You can give notice on the 12th and move out on the 11th of the next month; you only owe prorated rent through your termination date. The landlord side is stricter: 30 days if every tenant has lived there under a year, 60 days after 12 months (Civ. Code § 1946.1), and once you pass 12 months most rentals also fall under the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482, Civ. Code § 1946.2), which requires just cause to terminate at all. After you leave, Civ. Code § 1950.5 gives the landlord 21 calendar days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement, and you can demand an initial inspection before you move out.

30 daystenant month-to-month notice · Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1

Not legal advice — general information for California. Last reviewed: July 2026.

Notice-period check

Your date clears the state minimum

August 7, 2026 gives 35 days' notice — at or above California's 30 days minimum for month-to-month tenants (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1). If your lease requires more, the lease controls.

Most statutes count notice to the end of a rental period — if rent is due on the 1st, plan to move out on the last day of a month.

[Tenant name(s)]

[Rental address]

July 3, 2026

[Landlord / property manager name]

Landlord / Property Manager

RE: Notice of intent to vacate — [Rental address]

Dear [Landlord / property manager name],

Please accept this letter as my written notice of intent to vacate the rental unit at [Rental address]. My tenancy will end and I will deliver possession of the premises no later than August 7, 2026. This provides at least 30 days of written notice, as required for month-to-month tenancies in California (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1).

I will remove all personal belongings, return all keys and access devices, and leave the unit in clean condition, normal wear and tear excepted. Please contact me to schedule a move-out inspection.

I will provide a forwarding address for the return of my security deposit before my move-out date.

This notice is delivered via certified mail with return receipt requested on July 3, 2026.

Sincerely,

[Tenant name(s)]
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California notice rules

  • ✓Give at least 30 days’ written notice — as long as the rental period but no more than 30 days is what §§ 1946 and 1946.1 require from the tenant.
  • ✓Your notice can take effect mid-month: California prorates rent to the termination date, so a notice given August 12 can end the tenancy September 11.
  • ✓Serve it the way the statute lists: personal delivery under Code of Civil Procedure § 1162, or by certified or registered mail (Civ. Code § 1946).
  • ✓Request the initial move-out inspection — § 1950.5(f) lets you ask for one in the final two weeks so you can fix issues before they become deductions.
  • ✓Put your forwarding address in the letter: the 21-day deposit clock under § 1950.5 runs from the day you vacate.
  • ✓Check local ordinances — rent-controlled cities can add notice and relocation rules beyond state law, mostly on the landlord side.

For landlords

Landlords owe 30 days if all tenants have occupied under 12 months, 60 days after that (Civ. Code § 1946.1) — and under AB 1482 (Civ. Code § 1946.2) most landlords need just cause plus one month’s relocation assistance for no-fault terminations after 12 months. Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland layer stricter rent-control rules on top.

Worked example with real dates

Dario rents month-to-month in Long Beach at $2,350 with rent due on the 1st. He hands his landlord a signed 30-day notice on Saturday, August 1, 2026, naming August 31 as his move-out date — exactly 30 days, so the date checker clears it. Because California allows mid-period endings, he could instead deliver notice on August 12 and lawfully move out September 11, owing only 11 days of prorated September rent (about $861 at $78.33/day). Either way he requests the § 1950.5(f) initial inspection for the two-week window before move-out, patches the nail holes it flags, and includes his new Sacramento address in the letter. His landlord then has until 21 days after he vacates — September 21 for an August 31 move-out — to return the deposit or an itemized statement.

California notice to vacate FAQ

Can I give a 30-day notice in the middle of the month in California?

Yes. Civ. Code §§ 1946 and 1946.1 do not require the notice to end on the last day of a rental period — a notice delivered on the 12th ends the tenancy 30 days later, and you owe prorated rent through that termination date. Your lease can require more notice than 30 days, so read it first.

Does my California landlord need “just cause” to end my tenancy?

Usually yes, after 12 months. The Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482, Civ. Code § 1946.2) requires just cause once you have lawfully occupied for 12 months, and no-fault terminations (like an owner move-in) come with one month’s rent in relocation assistance. Single-family homes with the required disclosure, buildings under 15 years old, and some other properties are exempt — and cities like LA and San Francisco have stricter local versions.

How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in California?

21 calendar days after you vacate, under Civ. Code § 1950.5 — either the full deposit or an itemized statement with any remaining balance. You also have the right to request an initial inspection no earlier than two weeks before move-out (with 48 hours’ written notice) so you can fix problems before they become deductions.

How should I deliver my notice to vacate to a California landlord?

Civ. Code § 1946 points to the service methods in Code of Civil Procedure § 1162 — personal delivery, or leaving it with a responsible person plus mailing — or sending a copy by certified or registered mail. Certified mail with return receipt is the easiest way to prove the date your 30 days started; keep a signed, dated copy either way.

Sources

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