California Tenant Notice of Intent to Vacate

California Tenant Notice of Intent to Vacate

Use this form for an ordinary periodic-tenancy termination or departure at the end of a fixed term. Protected early termination requires a separate ground-specific notice and documentation.

California Timing and Delivery Gate

Under Civil Code §§ 1946 and 1946.1, a tenant terminating a periodic tenancy must give written notice for a period at least as long as the periodic term. For a month-to-month tenancy, give at least 30 days' notice. Section 1946 caps the ordinary implied-term period at 30 days and permits a tenancy agreement made at creation to set a period of at least 7 days. The tenant notice may be served in the manner prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure § 1162 or sent by certified or registered mail; § 1946 also permits delivery to the landlord's rent-collection agent as specified there.

• Tenancy: ☐ Month-to-month ☐ Week-to-week/other periodic ☐ Fixed term ending [__/__/____]
• Notice equals at least the periodic term and any enforceable lease period: ☐ Yes
• Month-to-month notice is at least 30 days: ☐ Yes ☐ Not applicable
• Delivery method complies with §§ 1946/1946.1: ☐ Yes
• Local, subsidized-housing, and lease requirements checked: ☐ Yes

1. Notice

Date: [__/__/____]

To: [LANDLORD / AUTHORIZED AGENT NAME]
Notice address: [________________________________]

From tenant(s): [________________________________]
Rental premises: [________________________________]

I give written notice that I am terminating the tenancy and will vacate and surrender possession on [TERMINATION / MOVE-OUT DATE].

• Periodic term: [________________________________]
• Notice delivery date: [__/__/____]
• Applicable notice period: [____] days
• Effective-date calculation: [________________________________]
• Lease section, if any: [________________________________]

This is not a ground-specific early-termination notice and does not waive any right or duty under controlling state, local, subsidy, or lease law.

2. Move-Out Coordination

• Requested pre-move-out inspection date/time: [________________________________]
• Keys/access devices will be returned at: [________________________________]
• Utilities scheduled for transfer/termination: ☐ Yes ☐ Not applicable
• Forwarding address for deposit/accounting and later communications:

[____________________________________________________________]

• Other move-out arrangements: [________________________________]

3. Signatures

Tenant signature/name/date: [________________________________]

Co-tenant signature/name/date: [________________________________]

Phone/email: [________________________________]

4. Delivery Record

• Method: ☐ Personal delivery under verified law ☐ Certified mail ☐ Registered mail ☐ Other § 1162-compliant method: [________]
• Person/address delivered to: [________________________________]
• Date/time delivered or mailed: [__/__/____] [____]
• Receipt/tracking/witness: [________________________________]
• Signed copy and proof retained: ☐ Yes

Sources and References

• Cal. Civ. Code § 1946 — California Legislature — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1946.&lawCode=CIV
• Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1 — California Legislature — https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1946.1&lawCode=CIV