California Notice Deadline Calculator 2025

Filing an eviction or enforcing a move-out even one day too early can trigger costly case dismissal. Our free calculator gives landlords and tenants a one-minute, lawyer-grade audit of any statutory notice period under California notice rules. Enter the serve date, pick the notice type, and instantly see the earliest lawful action date—weekends skipped, 2025 statutes applied.

Stack of California eviction notice forms on a desk
24-Hour Entry Rule
Landlords must give a written 24-hour notice before non-emergency entry.
Mail Adds Days
First-class mail tacks on five days; posting & mailing adds ten.
Exclude Day 0
The service day never counts—start your clock on the next calendar day.
Skip Weekends
For 3-day notices, Saturdays and Sundays are automatically ignored.
Bad Notice = Dismissal
Courts routinely toss eviction cases filed on the wrong date.
Your filing deadline will appear here
Weekends skipped; holidays not yet counted. Always verify local court schedules.

How to Use the Calculator

  • Pick the date you hand-deliver, post, email, or mail the notice.
  • Select the matching statutory period: 3-, 30-, 60-, or 90-day.
  • Read the earliest day you can file an eviction or demand compliance.
  • Double-check details in our notice-requirements guide before acting.

Notice Type Breakdowns

3-Day Pay or Quit – CCP § 1161

Used for: unpaid rent, lease breaches, or failure to perform a covenant.

  • Excludes the service day; weekends are skipped.
  • Must state exact amount or covenant to cure.
  • Landlord may file eviction only after the period expires.

The “3-Day Notice to Perform or Quit” and “3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit” share the same countdown but differ in remedy. If you serve on a Friday, day 1 is Saturday but skips to Monday, making Tuesday the first lawful filing day. More nuances in our eviction guide.

30-Day Move-Out – Civil Code § 1946

Used for: ending month-to-month tenancies shorter than one year.

  • Tenants may also serve a 30-day notice to the landlord.
  • Written notice is mandatory; certified mail recommended.
  • AB 1482 exemptions do not waive the 30-day baseline.

When asking “how many days notice must a landlord give in California,” remember 30 days is the shortest allowed for a tenancy under one year—barring at-fault evictions or local just-cause ordinances.

60-Day Move-Out – Civil Code § 1946.1

Used for: ending month-to-month tenancies of one year or more.

  • Applies statewide unless stricter local just-cause rules override.
  • Notice must include statutory language and relocation info if required.
  • Tenant may owe prorated rent if move-out date falls mid-month.

Cities like Los Angeles and Berkeley add relocation fees, so verify rent-control overlays before serving.

90-Day Notice – PTFA & HUD Guidelines

Used for: foreclosure situations and Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) tenancies.

  • Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act requires new owners to honor leases or give 90 days.
  • HUD Chapter 8-1306 mandates 90-day notice for terminating assistance.
  • Good cause must be stated; local rent boards may demand hearing.

Section 8 tenants should attach a copy of the notice to their housing authority case file to preserve voucher rights and seek counseling if timelines conflict with local rules.

Example Timelines

Notice Type Date Served Legal Deadline Reason
3-Day Pay or Quit Friday, July 11 Tuesday, July 15 Weekend excluded; countdown starts Monday
30-Day Notice Monday, March 3 Wednesday, April 2 Day 1 is March 4; month difference counted
60-Day Notice Friday, July 4 (holiday) Tuesday, September 2 Holiday pushes Day 1 to July 5, weekend skip to July 7

Penalties for Serving Bad Notices

A defective notice is not a harmless mistake—California courts treat service errors as jurisdictional. That means the court lacks the legal power to hear your eviction or damages case until a valid notice is delivered and the statutory period has fully lapsed. Landlords who cut corners risk more than dismissal. Under Lucky United Properties v. Lee, tenants can recover their costs and, in some counties, attorney’s fees for defending against an unlawful detainer filed on the wrong date.

Even if the judge allows an amended complaint, you will pay a fresh filing fee, lose precious time, and face the very real possibility that the tenant cures the underlying breach during the delay. Worse, a prematurely filed 3-Day Pay or Quit often triggers a retaliation or harassment defense, expanding the litigation and raising the settlement price. Certified-mail receipts, proof-of-service forms, and accurate deadline calculations are therefore more than clerical niceties—they are your first line of risk management.

Tenants, meanwhile, gain strategic leverage when landlords mis-serve. A simple motion to quash service can halt an eviction within days, forcing the landlord back to square one. Document the error, keep envelopes, and consult our dispute-resolution guide for sample filings that preserve your defenses.

Common Pitfalls & Tips

  • For mailed notices, add 5 extra days; for substituted service, add 10.
  • Do not count the service day—start on the next calendar day.
  • If the deadline falls on a weekend or court holiday, roll to the next business day.
  • Keep signed proof of service; many landlords lose cases for missing affidavits.
  • Never file while rent relief or habitability defenses remain unresolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. California courts follow the “exclude the first, include the last” rule. The date you hand, post, or mail the notice is Day 0. Day 1 begins on the next calendar day—unless that day is a weekend or court holiday, in which case the count shifts to the following business day. Skipping this baseline error is the single most common cause of premature unlawful-detainer filings. Our tool applies this rule automatically for better accuracy.

If a notice period ends on a state-recognized judicial holiday, such as Independence Day or Thanksgiving, the deadline extends to the next court-open business day. Our calculator currently skips weekends but does not adjust for holidays, so compare the suggested date to the Judicial Council holiday calendar before filing. Failing to do so can invalidate an otherwise proper notice.

Civil Procedure § 1013 adds five calendar days for notices delivered by first-class mail within California. Substituted service—posting and mailing—demands ten extra days. Courts strictly enforce these extensions. If you serve a 3-Day Pay or Quit by mail only, it effectively becomes an 8-day notice. Always attach a proof of mailing such as a certificate of mailing or USPS tracking receipt.

No. Even if your county e-filing portal accepts uploads on Saturdays, statutory deadlines require the notice period to expire on a court business day first. Filing early risks dismissal for lack of jurisdiction. Wait until the first business day after the notice period ends, then file.

AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act, overlays state just-cause requirements but does not reduce statutory notice periods. If your tenancy reaches 12 months, a 60-day notice still applies—even in cities with stricter local caps. Local ordinances may extend notice timelines further or demand relocation payments, but they cannot shorten the state minimums outlined in Civil Code §§ 1946 and 1946.1.

Certified mail with return receipt requested is widely considered the gold standard because it produces an objective USPS tracking record and a signed green card confirming delivery. Hand-delivery can be equally valid, but only when you secure a signed Proof of Service from a neutral adult who handed the document to the tenant. Posting and mailing is legal yet risky; tenants often challenge whether the notice remained visible. Choose the method that gives you paper trails, then store copies in multiple places. When in doubt, serve by two methods to eliminate future arguments.

Yes. California unlawful-detainer courts treat a defective notice as a fatal flaw. If the notice understates the cure period, overstates rent, omits key statutory language, or is served on the wrong date, the tenant may file a demurrer or motion to quash. Judges routinely grant these motions, forcing landlords to restart the process and pay another filing fee. A dismissal also extends the tenant’s occupancy and can open the door to a harassment counterclaim. Double-check every element before serving, or have an attorney review the paperwork.

Need formatting help? See all California notice rules.

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