Notices & termination › 60-day notice
60-day notice
A 60-day notice is the extended termination period California requires from a landlord when a tenant has lived at the property for one year or more. It is also the mandatory notice for any rent increase greater than 10% within a 12-month window. In 2026 it remains one of the single most-litigated notice issues in California housing court.
Two situations that trigger 60 days
- Termination of a month-to-month after 12+ months of tenancy (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1).
- Rent increase above 10% in any 12-month period (Cal. Civ. Code § 827).
30 vs 60 day notice snapshot
| Situation | Notice required |
|---|---|
| Tenant in CA for < 1 year | 30 days |
| Tenant in CA for 1+ year | 60 days |
| Rent increase ≤ 10% | 30 days |
| Rent increase > 10% | 60 days |
| Tenant-initiated termination | 30 days |
| Eviction for non-payment | 3 days (pay or quit) |
Sample wording
Date: [Date]
To: [Tenant name]
Re: [Property address, California]
Pursuant to California Civil Code § 1946.1, you are hereby notified that your tenancy shall terminate sixty (60) days after service of this Notice, on or before [date]. You are required to quit and deliver possession of the premises on or before that date.
Signed: [Landlord]
Just-cause (AB 1482) overrides
Under California's statewide rent cap (AB 1482), most multi-unit buildings older than 15 years are subject to just-cause eviction rules. A landlord cannot serve a 60-day no-fault notice without stating one of the allowed reasons — owner move-in, substantial rehabilitation, withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act), or government order — and paying one month of relocation assistance. A 60-day notice that omits the just-cause reason is invalid.
Service and filing
- Personal service, substituted service, or posting and mailing.
- Certified mail adds time and is valid if the lease permits.
- Include the local relocation-assistance disclosure where required (LA, Oakland, SF).
FAQs
When is a 60-day notice required?
Most commonly in California, where a landlord must give 60 days' notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy when the tenant has lived there for one year or more (Civil Code § 1946.1). A 60-day notice is also required in California for any rent increase exceeding 10% in any 12-month period.
Does a tenant have to give 60 days?
No — tenant-side notice in California stays at 30 days regardless of tenure. The extended 60-day requirement applies only to the landlord's side. Some leases contractually require 60 days from both sides, which is enforceable.
What happens if a landlord serves a 30-day notice instead of 60?
The notice is invalid and the eviction action can be dismissed. The landlord must restart the clock with a proper 60-day notice — a costly delay. Courts will not shorten the period retroactively.
Related: 30-day notice · 3-day pay or quit · Generate a lease