California evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and holidays), and lease violations require a 3-day notice to cure or quit. No-fault terminations of covered tenancies require 30, 60, or 90 days. Self-help lockouts are illegal.
A landlord cannot remove a tenant without a court judgment. Code of Civil Procedure § 1161(2) requires "three days' notice, excluding Saturdays and Sundays and other judicial holidays, in writing, requiring its payment" for unpaid rent, and § 1161(3) requires a 3-day notice to perform a lease covenant or quit for curable breaches. The pay-or-quit notice must state the amount due and how to pay. After the notice expires without compliance, the landlord files an unlawful detainer; the tenant generally has five days to respond, and a contested case goes to trial. For AB 1482 covered units, no-fault just-cause terminations require 30, 60, or 90 days' notice depending on the ground.
Only a sheriff may carry out a lockout after a judgment. A landlord who locks out a tenant, removes belongings, or cuts utilities is liable under Civ. Code § 789.3 for actual damages plus $100 per day (minimum $250).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto Airport (PAO) enforces a voluntary curfew and noise abatement procedures, with FAA preemption limiting local authority over flight operations.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto prohibits amplified music audible beyond the property line during quiet hours and requires a special event permit for outdoor amplification in publ...
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto enforces strict decibel limits by zone under PAMC 9.10.040: 60 dBA day / 50 dBA night in residential, scaling up to 70 dBA in manufacturing zones.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto permits construction Monday-Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 6pm, with no work allowed on Sundays or holidays under PAMC 9.10.060.
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto requires encroachment permits for new driveways, regulates curb cut dimensions, and prohibits blocking sidewalks or adjacent driveways under traffi...
Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto restricts RV, trailer, and boat storage on public streets and requires screening for large recreational vehicles on residential property under zoni...
See how Palo Alto's eviction notice & process rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.