Cal. Civ. Code § 1954
California Civil Code
Operative Text
(a) A landlord may enter the dwelling unit only in the following cases: (1) In case of emergency. (2) To make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers, or contractors or to make an inspection pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 1950.5. (3) When the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the premises. (4) Pursuant to court order. (5) For the purposes set forth in Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 1954.201). (6) To comply with the provisions of Article 2.2 (commencing with Section 17973) of Chapter 5 of Part 1.5 of Division 13 of the Health and Safety Code. (b) Except in cases of emergency or when the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the premises, entry may not be made during other than normal business hours unless the tenant consents to an entry during other than normal business hours at the time of entry. (c) The landlord may not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant. (d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (e), or as provided in paragraph (2) or (3), the landlord shall give the tenant reasonable notice in writing of his or her intent to enter and enter only during normal business hours. The notice shall include the date, approximate time, and purpose of the entry. The notice may be personally delivered to the tenant, left with someone of a suitable age and discretion at the premises, or, left on, near, or under the usual entry door of the premises in a manner in which a reasonable person would discover the notice. Twenty-four hours shall be presumed to be reasonable notice in absence of evidence to the contrary. The notice may be mailed to the tenant. Mailing of the notice at least six days prior to an intended entry is presumed reasonable notice in the absence of evidence to the contrary. (2) If the purpose of the entry is to exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, the notice may be given orally, in person or by telephone, if the landlord or his or her agent has notified the tenant in writing within 120 days of the oral notice that the property is for sale and that the landlord or agent may contact the tenant orally for the purpose described above. Twenty-four hours is presumed reasonable notice in the absence of evidence to the contrary. The notice shall include the date, approximate time, and purpose of the entry. At the time of entry, the landlord or agent shall leave written evidence of the entry inside the unit. (3) The tenant and the landlord may agree orally to an entry to make agreed repairs or supply agreed services. The agreement shall include the date and approximate time of the entry, which shall be within one week of the agreement. In this case, the landlord is not required to provide the tenant a written notice. (e) No notice of entry is required under this section: (1) To respond to an emergency. (2) If the tenant is present and consents to the entry at the time of entry. (3) After the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit.
California Civil Code § 1954 establishes a limited set of circumstances under which a landlord is legally permitted to enter a rented dwelling, including emergencies, repairs, showing the unit, and court orders. Outside of emergencies or tenant abandonment, entry is generally restricted to normal business hours and requires advance written notice that includes the date, approximate time, and purpose — with 24 hours presumed to be reasonable notice. The law also explicitly prohibits landlords from abusing access rights or using entry as a means of harassing a tenant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1954, compliant operators generally provide written notice at least 24 hours in advance of any non-emergency entry, ensuring the notice specifies the date, approximate time, and purpose of the visit. Entries are typically scheduled during normal business hours unless the tenant consents to an off-hours visit at the time of entry. Operators also take care not to enter with excessive frequency or in patterns that could be characterized as harassment, and they retain documentation of notices and entries, particularly when showing a unit to prospective purchasers.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1954 gives tenants the right to advance written notice before most landlord entries, along with protections against entries outside normal business hours and against harassment through repeated or pretextual access. If a landlord enters without proper notice or in a manner that appears designed to harass, tenants may have grounds to raise that conduct as a violation — including as a defense in certain legal proceedings or as the basis for a complaint with a local rent board where one exists. Tenant-rights organizations in California can help renters understand how these protections apply and what general options are available when a landlord's entry practices appear to fall outside what § 1954 permits.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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