Late Rent and Three-Day Notices in California
When rent is late, a clear process matters. Understand the notice period, payment options and boundaries before you take the next step.
General information about California law, not legal advice. City rent control and local rules can change the answer. Updated November 1, 2026. RNB Property Management, DRE license #01900856.
Three court days. Not calendar days.
A three-day notice to pay rent or fix a violation counts court days only. Skip weekends and judicial holidays; do not count the day of service.
Example: served Thursday, with no holidays
- ThursdayNotice servedService day does not count
- FridayDay 1First court day
- SaturdaySkipWeekend
- SundaySkipWeekend
- MondayDay 2Second court day
- TuesdayDay 3Notice deadline
This is a notice period, not three days to eviction or removal.
A lease cannot shorten the notice period. Rent offered in full within the notice period must be accepted.
Give tenants a way to pay.
Tenants must be able to pay rent and the deposit by at least one method that is neither cash nor electronic transfer, such as a check or money order.
No fee for paying by check
This protection has applied since January 1, 2025.
The limited cash-only exception
After a bounced or stopped check, cash-only payment is permitted for up to three months, with written notice. It is not a general cash-only rule.
Only the court process.
Only a court case can remove a tenant, and only a sheriff, marshal or constable may carry out the removal.
Changing locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities to make a tenant leave is illegal, whatever is owed.
A lockout can cost up to $100 each day and at least $250 per separate cause of action.
Force or threats to make a tenant leave carry a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation.
You don’t have to manage the follow-up alone.
When RNB manages your rental, we follow up on late rent, prepare and serve notices correctly, and work with your attorney if the case goes to court.
Talk to us about your rental
Prefer to call? (916) 435-2424 A little clarity before you act.
- How long is a three-day notice?
- Three court days, not the next three calendar days. Exclude the day of service, weekends and judicial holidays.
- Can I require online-only payment?
- No. Tenants need at least one method to pay rent and the deposit that is neither cash nor electronic transfer, such as a check or money order.
- Can I change the locks for unpaid rent?
- No. Removal requires a court case and may be carried out only by a sheriff, marshal or constable. Unpaid rent does not allow a lockout.
Sources · California law
- Code Civ. Proc. 1161 ↗Three-day notices
- Civ. Code 1947.3 ↗Payment methods
- Civ. Code 789.3 ↗Lockouts & utilities
- Civ. Code 1940.2 ↗Force & threats