California 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit
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The EzLandlord Forms' California 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit is used before filing for eviction for a tenant who is behind on rent.
Document Last Modified: 2/10/2025
Related Documents
State Specific Clauses
CA State Assist
Covid-19 Update: California currently has the most restrictive Covid eviction policies in the nation, effective through Feb 1, 2021
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Notices: All notices must be in writing! If the tenant does not comply before notice period expires, a landlord may evict the tenant via court proceedings.
Notices for non-payment of rent must NOT include other money the tenant owes, such as late fees, interest, utilities, or damages.
If the tenant has neither cured the lease violation or vacated the premise, the landlord may begin court proceedings on the 4th day after the tenant receives the notice. The days are counted from the first day after the notice is served; counting every day on the calendar, including weekends and holidays. If the last day of the notice period falls on a holiday or weekend, then the notice period ends the next workday.
The landlord must file a complaint with the court clerk referred as an "Unlawful Detainer".
Please Note: Each county may have their own requirements. It is wise to check with your local jurisdiction. This is done by filing a complaint with the court clerk referred as an "Unlawful Detainer". Landlords should keep a copy of the notice with proof of service as it may be needed for court proceedings.
SERVICE OF NOTICE
Notices may be served on the tenant in one of three ways:
personal service,
substituted service,
or by posting AND mailing.
Personal service - To serve the tenant personally, the person serving the notice must hand the tenant the notice (or leave it with the tenant if tenant refuses to take it).
Substituted service on another person -If the landlord does not find the tenant at home, If the landlord can't find the tenant at home, the landlord can use "substituted service" instead of serving tenant personally. For instance, the landlord or landlord’s representative (over age 18) can deliver the notice with a person of “suitable age and discretion” ( this usually means an adult or teenage member of the household) PLUS mail a copy of the notice to the tenant at home.
Posting and mailing - If the landlord can't serve the notice to the tenant personally or by substituted service, the notice can be served by taping or tacking a copy to the rental unit in a noticeable place (such as the front door of the rental unit) in addition to mailing another copy to the tenant at the rental unit's address. Service of the notice is not complete until the copy of the notice has been mailed.
RENTAL CONTROL LAW
Some California cities have rent control ordinances, that limit or prohibit rent increases. Some of these ordinances specify procedures that a landlord must follow before increasing a tenant's rent, or that make evicting a tenant more difficult for a landlord. Each community's ordinance is different.
Some cities have boards that have the power to approve or deny increases in rent. Other cities' ordinances allow a certain percentage increase in rent each year. Because of recent changes in State law, all rent control cities now have "vacancy decontrol." This means that the landlord can re-rent a unit at the market rate when the tenant moves out voluntarily or when the landlord terminates the tenancy for nonpayment of rent.
Los Angeles rent control information, ordinances and forms may be found here.
IMPORTANT: If you have a rental unit within a locality that is rent controlled, contact the locality or jurisdiction for the proper procedures to renew a lease, terminate a lease or evict a tenant!
This EZ Landlord Forms’ California 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit is the form for a landlord to use when dealing with a tenant who has not remitted the amount owed and is behind on rental payments. This form is specific to California's judicial procedures and is the first step in the line of eviction. In some cases, a tenant will receive this intimidating notification and pay before a case needs to be opened up in the local courthouse. However, if that does not seem to be the case, this notice opens the necessary doors to legally remove your tenant from the rental premises. Staying on top of non-paying tenants by sending the California 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit as soon as possible will show a tenant that you mean business.
This form allows the landlord to list the rent owed, and the date the money was to be paid. Only the rent may be listed in this document. Do not include items such as late charges and other fees. The 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit is straight to the point; it tells the delinquent tenant to either pay or vacate the premises. There are fields included to make sure that the proper address for where payment will be accepted as well as the days and times the landlord will be available.
This notice must be served personally from the landlord by it to the tenant, by substituted service, or by posting on the premises PLUS mailing. The landlord should give this form to the tenant three days before initiating court proceedings.
Once the landlord serves the form to the tenant he/she may start the three-day period the day after. Keep a copy of the notice for record-keeping.
If the tenant does not correspond with the notice, the next step would be for the landlord to serve the Unlawful Detainer.
Please note: Landlord/Tenant laws in California can be very complex. Hiring an attorney is strongly suggested!
California State Specific Documents
- California Security Deposit Accounting Statement: This form makes it EZ for Landlords to comply with California’s specific requirements regarding the accounting of security deposits.
- California 30-Day Notice to Vacate: This is the form Landlords need to end a month-to-month Lease or a Lease with a tenancy period of less than one year.
- California 60-Day Notice to Vacate for Non-Exempt Properties - No-Fault Just Cause Lease Termination: California Landlords can provide Tenants with a 60-day Notice for no-fault just cause evictions, which must inform Tenants of their right to receive relocation assistance.
- California Notification of Pre-Move Out Inspection: California Landlords are required to give Tenants written notification of their right to request a pre-move out inspection. This form makes it EZ to do!
- California 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit: This form is for Tenants that are behind on rent and a necessary step prior to filing for eviction.
- California 3-Day Notice to Perform or Quit: If you have a Tenant that is breaking the Lease but the violation can be fixed, this is the form you need.
- California Notice to Reclaim Abandoned Property: If a Tenant leaves unclaimed property in a rental unit that appears to be worth more than $700, this form is required.
- California Notice of Belief of Abandonment: If a Tenant has missed at least 14 days of rent and you believe they have abandoned the property, this notice must be sent to Tenants.
- California Unlawful Detainer Complaint: This is the complaint Landlords use to officially initiate eviction proceedings. This can be used when a Tenant has violated the Lease Agreement and been served proper notice.
- California AB 1482 Rent Control & Eviction Exemption Form: California Landlords must provide Tenants with this Notice of Exemption if their property is exempt from the requirements of California AB 1482. California Accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act: A landlord should include this form in a commercial lease to state whether or not the premises has been inspected by a Certified Access Specialist.
- California Energy Disclosure: Use this form in a commercial lease to confirm that the energy consumption and benchmarking disclosure were provided to the tenant.
- California Flood Disclosure: This form is an easy way for California Landlords to comply with required statewide flood disclosures and to give Tenants all necessary notice of flood risks.
- California AB 1482: The California Tenant Protection Act requires this document, a written disclosure concerning two requirements: 1. Limits on rent increases and 2. a statement of cause in notices to terminate a tenancy.
- California Water Meter Disclosure: California Landlords that charge Tenants separately for water usage or those required to use water submeters must provide Tenants with a Water Meter Disclosure.
- Information on Dampness and Mold for Renters in California: Information on Dampness and Mold for Renters in California
- 15 Day Notice to Pay or Quit: This form provides the language required for a California Landlord to initiate eviction proceedings pursuant to CA AB 3088, including the required attachment of a Declaration of COVID-19-Related Financial Distress.
- California Guide to Residential Tenants’ And Landlords’ Rights And Responsibilities: This is the California Guide to Residential Tenants' And Landlords' Rights And Responsibilities.
- California Rental Application: This Rental Application will provide the landlord with the necessary information about the inquiring applicants, excluding the marital status question.
- California Family Daycare Q&A for Landlords: An informative guide for the landlord regarding the requirements needed for a tenant to run a home daycare in a rental property.
- California Non-Residential Building Energy Disclosure Program Information: California Landlords who rent non-residential property must comply with the California Nonresidential Building Energy Use Disclosure Program.
- California Notice of Pest Control Treatment: California Landlords are required to give renters notice any time the Landlord uses pesticides to treat a rental unit. Ours is EZ to customize & download.
- California Quitclaim Deed: This California Quitclaim Deed complies with California's legal requirements and allows owners to transfer their housing ownership to others.
- Declaration of COVID-19-Related Financial Distress: This form provides the language required for a California Landlord to initiate eviction proceedings pursuant to CA AB 3088, including the required attachment of a Declaration of COVID-19-Related Financial Distress.