A California 3-day notice to pay rent or quit is commonly used when a residential tenant has unpaid rent and the landlord wants to demand payment or possession within a short statutory window. This CaliFormas page offers a guided sample template for that notice style. It is self-help information only — not legal advice, not a guarantee that a court will accept the notice, and plainly marked as pending attorney review.
Who it is for. Landlords and managers dealing with unpaid residential rent in California who need a structured draft with party names, property address, rent breakdown, and a place to document how the notice was served. Tenants may also read this page to understand what such a notice often contains. It is not a substitute for unlawful-detainer counsel, and it is not tailored to every commercial tenancy or every local emergency ordinance.
California rules in general terms. California unlawful detainer practice often requires a carefully worded notice before certain eviction lawsuits for nonpayment. Timing, what counts as rent, how weekends and holidays affect deadlines, and how the notice must be served (personal delivery, substituted service, posting and mailing, and related proof) can all matter. Some jurisdictions temporarily change notice periods or require extra language during emergencies. Serving a defective notice is a common reason cases are delayed. This site does not calculate your deadline or decide whether you must use a 3-day, longer, or different notice type.
What is included. The wizard asks for landlord and tenant information, premises, amounts owed with itemization fields, and service details. The sample output is formatted like a formal notice with a caption-style header, clear demand language, rent table, signature area, and a proof-of-service section plus a short cover of service reminders. English/Spanish UI is available; English controls if both versions exist.
How to use it. Complete the questionnaire, preview the sample, and pay $9 one-time via Stripe if you want the download. Before posting or mailing anything, verify local rules and, for contested cases, speak with a California landlord-tenant attorney or legal aid resource.
CaliFormas is not a law firm. This page provides general information only.
Before you start
- Landlord / agent and tenant full names
- Rental property address
- Rent period(s) unpaid and exact dollar amount demanded as rent
- Notice date and how you plan to serve the notice
- Rent ledger or payment records for the unpaid months
What you get
- Filled sample document you can preview before paying
- Download as PDF and Microsoft Word (DOCX)
- Bilingual English / Spanish questionnaire and document options
- Short instructions cover with the sample (pending attorney review)
- One-time Stripe checkout — no subscription