California Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Template
What a California notice to pay rent or quit must include under California law, and a fill-in draft that follows those rules.
What California law requires
A written 3-day notice, not counting Saturdays, Sundays, or judicial holidays, demanding payment of rent or possession. It must state: the amount due; the name, phone number, and address of the person to pay; if payment can be made in person, the usual days and hours that person is available; or, instead, a bank account number with the institution's name and street address (within 5 miles of the unit), or a previously established electronic funds transfer procedure. If the address does not allow personal delivery, a tenant's mailed payment counts as received on the postmark date. The notice must be served within 1 year after the rent became due, and on any subtenant in occupation. Service is by personal delivery. If the tenant is absent from home and work, a copy may be left with a person of suitable age and discretion at either place, plus a copy mailed to the residence. If neither of those works, the notice may be posted in a conspicuous place, a copy given to a resident if one can be found, and a copy mailed to the property.
Source: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code §§ 1161(2), 1162(a)
Fill-in draft
Replace every [bracketed] item. If your state or city requires specific wording, a specific form, or a translated version, that requirement controls over this draft. Courts dismiss eviction cases over defective notices — if anything is unclear, talk to a lawyer.
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
To: [tenant name(s)] and all other occupants
Premises: [street address, unit, city, state, ZIP]
You owe rent of $[amount] for [rental period(s)].
Under Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 1161(2), you must pay the full amount within 3 court days after this notice is delivered, or move out of the premises.
Pay to: [name], at [address / payment method], between [hours].
If you do not pay or move out by the deadline, the landlord may file an eviction case in court. Only a court can order you to leave.
Date: [date]
Landlord or agent: [name, address, phone]
Signature: ____________________
Proof of delivery: Delivered on [date] by [method required by California law] by [name].
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.