30-Day, 60-Day, and 90-Day Termination Notices in California (CC 1946.1, CCP 1161b)

A 30-day, 60-day, or 90-day notice is the landlord’s tool for ending a tenancy when there’s no claim of nonpayment or breach. The notice period depends on three things: how long you’ve lived in the unit, what type of tenancy you have, and whether any special rules apply (Section 8, post-foreclosure, LARSO, AB 1482).

The landlord does NOT have an unrestricted right to terminate. For most LA-area tenancies, LARSO or AB 1482 requires a qualifying just cause and (for no-fault) relocation assistance. A 30/60/90-day notice that fails to comply with those overlays is invalid.

We only represent tenants. Most 30/60/90-day notices we see fail either the just-cause statement or the relocation step, both fatal defects.

Which notice period applies?

30-day notice (CC § 1946.1(b))

Tenancy has lasted less than 1 year (counting the time since the tenant first took possession). 30 calendar days after service, the notice expires. If the tenancy has lasted longer, 30 days is insufficient and the notice is defective.

60-day notice (CC § 1946.1(b))

Tenancy has lasted 1 year or more. This is the default for most established tenancies.

90-day notice (CCP § 1161b, HUD regs)

Required when:

• The property has been foreclosed and the tenant is a bona fide tenant in possession at the time of trustee’s sale (CCP § 1161b).
• The tenant is a Section 8 voucher holder and the landlord is terminating without cause (subject to HAP contract terms).

The LARSO and AB 1482 overlay

For covered tenancies, a 30/60/90-day notice on its own is not enough. The notice must also:

• State a qualifying just cause (one of the 14 LARSO causes or one of the AB 1482 causes).
• For at-fault causes, provide the required notice and cure opportunity per the cause.
• For no-fault causes, identify which (OMI, Ellis, demolition, etc.) and meet the substantive requirements.
• For no-fault causes, offer the required relocation assistance (LAMC § 151.09(G) for LARSO, CC § 1946.2(d)(3) for AB 1482).

Common defects in 30/60/90-day notices

• Wrong notice period, 30 days served on a tenant with 13 months of occupancy.
• Missing just-cause statement on a LARSO or AB 1482 covered unit.
• No-fault termination without relocation offer.
• Owner move-in without the documented good-faith requirements.
• Notice served on a vacant address or wrong unit.
• Notice signed by someone not authorized (e.g., a property manager without written agency authority).
• Notice period miscounted, service day counts vs. the day after, weekends and holidays, etc.
• Improper service under CCP § 1162.

Counting the notice period

The notice period runs in CALENDAR days starting the day after service. If the landlord serves on March 1, day 1 is March 2, the 30th day is March 31, the notice expires at the end of March 31, the landlord can file UD on April 1. Substituted or posted service shifts the start date.

What landlords routinely get wrong

• Serving 30 days when 60 was required because the tenancy was over 1 year.
• Forgetting that LARSO or AB 1482 applies.
• Failing to identify the just cause by reference to the specific subsection.
• Offering “first month free at the next place” instead of statutory relocation.
• Stating “the lease has ended” — but in California, a fixed-term lease doesn’t require a termination notice if it ends by its own terms (and most periodic-tenancy claims after a lease end are AB 1482/LARSO-covered).
• Wrong tenant named (former roommate listed, current adult occupant not named).

What to do right now

• Note the date you were served and how (personal, substituted, posted).
• Verify your tenancy length, under 12 months = 30-day notice, 12+ months = 60-day.
• Check LARSO/AB 1482 coverage.
• If LARSO/AB 1482 applies, read the notice for the just-cause statement.
• If no-fault cause, check for relocation offer and amount.
• Get counsel before the notice period expires.

Related pages

• Eviction Defense overview
• LARSO (LA Rent Control)
• AB 1482 Just-Cause
• Owner Move-In Defects
• Post-Foreclosure Eviction (CCP 1161b)
• Improper Service Defense