Do this today
- Write the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told in advance.
- Keep texts, emails, or posted notes about entry.
- If you felt unsafe, that is a safety issue as well as a tenancy issue — 911 if someone is in danger.
- Do not change locks without confirming California rules and the lease.
What usually depends on the reason?
Emergencies, agreed-upon repairs, and showings to buyers or new tenants are often treated differently in California Civil Code — hiring of real property. A national “24 hours” line is a rumor, not a rule we will print. The hour-count, if California has one, is in the chapter.
What if it keeps happening?
Repeated unannounced entry is worth a dated log. Whether California treats that as a breach, a privacy violation, or something a court can stop is a legal-aid question. The log is what you take them.
Where is the official California renter page?
The Attorney General’s landlord-tenant page and California Legislative Information for the Civil Code. LawHelpCA is the legal-aid directory. This classroom cites those. It does not replace them.
The California chapter
California Civil Code — hiring of real property (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1940 to 1954.06) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
California publishes its residential tenancy rules in the Civil Code, and the Attorney General maintains a plain-language landlord–tenant page for renters. Many California cities layer their own rent and just-cause ordinances on top of state law, so the city matters as much as the state here.
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Berkeley and Santa Monica are among the California cities that run their own rent or eviction-protection programs. City rules can add protections the state does not require.
Official sources
- StatuteCalifornia Civil Code — Hiring of Real Property (Div. 3, Title 5, Ch. 2)California Legislative Information, the state's official code publisher.
- State agencyCalifornia Attorney General — Landlord–Tenant IssuesState consumer guidance for renters, plus complaint routes.
- Free legal helpLawHelpCAStatewide legal-aid directory operated for California residents.
- Statute indexCornell LII landlord-tenant tableCal. Civ. Code §§ 1940 to 1954.06
- FederalHUD — California
- Free legal helpLawHelp.org — California
Common questions
Can my landlord in California enter without notice?
Sometimes, for emergencies. For other reasons, California Civil Code — hiring of real property usually requires notice of some kind. We do not print an hour-count. Write down what happened and confirm the chapter.
Can I refuse entry in California?
It depends on the reason, the notice, and the lease. Refusing a lawful entry can become a lease issue. Ask legal aid before you change locks or bar a posted repair visit.
Where is the official California renter page?
The Attorney General’s landlord-tenant page and California Legislative Information for the Civil Code. LawHelpCA is the legal-aid directory. This classroom cites those. It does not replace them.
The national landlord entry guide has the full sequence. Open the landlord entry guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org