California Tenant Question Library
What Is a Pay or Quit Notice?
Short answer
A "Pay or Quit" notice is a written demand giving you a short deadline to either pay overdue rent or move out. It's the landlord's first step, not an eviction.
The most common is the 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Code of Civil Procedure §1161(2)): pay the full rent it demands within three days (excluding weekends and judicial holidays) or move out.
It is a required step before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit for nonpayment — but on its own it removes no one. If you don't pay or move, the landlord still has to go to court and win a judgment for possession before anyone can make you leave.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
- The 3-day count excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and judicial holidays, and starts the day after proper service.
- A pay-or-quit notice is for rent; including non-rent charges like late fees can make the notice defective.
- Paying the full amount demanded within the deadline generally cures it.
The Tool for This Moment
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