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California Landlord Notice of Entry Template

The notice California requires before a landlord enters an occupied unit — 24 hours under Cal. Civ. Code § 1954 — with the reason, the window and the delivery record filled in from the tenant's record.

Free forever · delivered and time-stamped · reviewed against California Civil Code § 1950.5 and related landlord-tenant sections
24 hoursNotice required24 hours’ written notice (48 hours for a move-out inspection...
No noticeEmergency entryAllowed without notice
ListedPermitted reasonsRepairs, showings to prospective tenants or buyers, inspecti...
StatuteCalifornia referenceCal. Civ. Code § 1954

When does a California landlord need to give notice?

Pick the situation. The period on each card is California's minimum — your lease can require more, never less.

24hours
Repairs & inspections24 hours’ written notice (48 hours for a move-out inspection). State the reason and a window of a few hours, at a reasonable time of day.Sent from the tenant record
24hours
Showing the unitProspective tenants, buyers, appraisers or contractors — same notice as repairs; California lists showings among the permitted reasons.Sent from the tenant record
No notice
EmergencyAllowed without notice. Burst pipe, fire, gas, a threat to health or safety — enter, then tell the tenant what happened and why.Reference
Never
Tenant refuses entryA tenant cannot refuse a proper notice for a permitted reason; repeated refusal is a lease violation. Never enter by force — document and use the violation notice.Reference

What a California notice of entry must contain

Tenant name(s) and the unit addressName each person on the lease; the notice binds all of them.
The date and a time windowAt least 24 hours ahead, as California requires; a window of a few hours at a reasonable time of day.Cal. Civ. Code § 1954
The reason for entryCalifornia permits: Repairs, showings to prospective tenants or buyers, inspections agreed in the lease, and abandonment. Name the one that applies.
Who will enterYou, your manager, a contractor, or a prospective tenant — the tenant is entitled to know.
How it was deliveredWritten notice: hand delivery, posting on the door, mail, or email/text if the lease allows electronic notices. Keep the date.auto-logged
Your name and a contactSo the tenant can ask to reschedule; a reasonable request to move the time is usually worth granting.

How it works

1 · Open the tenant's recordResidents → the tenant → Messages. Write the notice with the date, window and reason; the address and names are already on the record.
2 · Send itDelivered by email and in the tenant portal (and by text where the tenant has opted in), time-stamped.
3 · Keep the recordThe message thread is the proof of notice if entry is ever disputed; add a note after the visit.

California entry notice FAQ

How much notice must a California landlord give before entering?

24 hours’ written notice (48 hours for a move-out inspection) (Cal. Civ. Code § 1954).

Can I enter without notice in an emergency?

Allowed without notice. Tell the tenant afterwards what happened and what was done.

What reasons allow entry?

Repairs, showings to prospective tenants or buyers, inspections agreed in the lease, and abandonment.

Can the tenant refuse?

Not a proper notice for a permitted reason. Repeated refusal is a lease violation; never enter by force — document it and use the lease-violation notice.

Does a text or email count as notice?

Only if the lease allows electronic notices. The in-app message is emailed and shown in the tenant portal, time-stamped; print it for hand delivery where paper is required.

Send a California notice of entry in two minutes

Date, reason and delivery record on the tenant's file. Free.

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Notice periods are California's statutory minimums as of 2026, reviewed against California Civil Code § 1950.5 and related landlord-tenant sections. General information for landlords, not legal advice; local ordinances can add requirements.