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California • 3 Business Days • California Code of Civil Procedure § 1161(3); Civil Code § 1946.2(c)

California 3-Day Notice to Cure or Quit (2026)

A California 3-Day Notice to Cure or Quit is served when a tenant violates a term of their lease agreement — such as keeping an unauthorized pet, creating a nuisance, or subletting without permission. Under CCP § 1161(3), the landlord must describe the specific violation and give the tenant three business days to fix (cure) it or vacate.

Statutory Authority

The legal foundation for this notice type

Citation

California Code of Civil Procedure § 1161(3); Civil Code § 1946.2(c)

Notice Period3 Business Days
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When to Use This Notice

Use this notice when a tenant has violated a specific, curable provision of the lease agreement. The violation must be something the tenant can realistically fix within the notice period.

What Must Be Included

Every element below is required under California Code of Civil Procedure § 1161(3); Civil Code § 1946.2(c) — missing any one can void the notice

Full legal name(s) of all tenants on the lease
Complete property address including unit number
A specific, detailed description of the lease violation
The exact lease clause or provision that was violated
A clear statement that the tenant must cure the violation or vacate within the notice period
The precise expiration date printed verbatim on the notice

Common Mistakes That Void This Notice

Courts routinely dismiss eviction cases when landlords make these errors

Using vague language like 'lease violation' without specifying the exact breach
Failing to reference the specific lease clause that was violated
Counting weekends or court holidays in the 3-day period
Serving a Cure or Quit for a non-curable violation (use Unconditional Quit instead)
Not giving the tenant a realistic opportunity to actually cure the breach
Skipping the Notice to Cure step on AB 1482-covered properties — a two-step process is required

Related California Notice Types

Other notices you may need for your California rental property

California 3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit

3 Business Days

California 3-Day Unconditional Quit Notice

3 Business Days

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