California Tenant Question Library
How Is a 3-Day Notice Usually Served in California?
Short answer
California law allows a 3-day notice to be served in one of three specific ways — and how a notice is delivered is part of the process the law sets out.
Under California law (Code of Civil Procedure §1162), a 3-day notice is generally served in one of three ways.
It can be handed to the tenant in person; left with someone of suitable age at the tenant's home or workplace with a copy mailed; or, when those aren't possible, posted at the property with a copy mailed. How a notice reaches you is part of the process the law lays out, so understanding which method was used with your notice is part of understanding where you stand.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
- California law sets out three specific service methods (Code of Civil Procedure §1162).
- They range from personal delivery to a "post-and-mail" method.
- How a notice was delivered is part of the process the law describes.
The Tool for This Moment
Understand How Your Notice Was Served
The California Tenant Rapid Response System helps you identify how your notice was delivered and what that means for your timeline.