California Tenant Question Library
What Is a 3-Day Notice to Quit?
Short answer
It's a 3-day notice used for serious lease violations that can't be fixed — it asks the tenant to move out, without an option to correct the problem.
There are a few kinds of 3-day notice, and they don't all work the same way. Unlike a "pay or quit" notice (about rent) or a "perform covenants or quit" notice (which gives a chance to fix a fixable violation), a 3-Day Notice to Quit is used for serious breaches the law treats as not curable.
Examples include committing waste, maintaining a nuisance, using the property for an unlawful purpose, or unauthorized subletting (Code of Civil Procedure §1161(4)). It doesn't offer a chance to fix the problem — it asks the tenant to leave. Because these notices carry serious allegations, knowing exactly which kind of notice you've received matters.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
- It's used for serious lease violations the law treats as not curable (Code of Civil Procedure §1161(4)).
- Unlike a "cure or quit" notice, it doesn't offer a chance to fix the problem.
- It's one of three kinds of 3-day notice — identifying which you have is the first step.
The Tool for This Moment
Identify the Notice You Have
The California Tenant Rapid Response System helps you identify what kind of notice you've received and what it's asking.