How to send a late rent notice in California

In California, a late rent notice may be delivered by hand delivery, substituted service, posting at the property; certified mail is not a listed method. The notice period is 3 days.

Last reviewed September 21, 2026 · Business research, not legal advice.

Requirement	California late rent notice
Delivery method	Hand delivery, substituted service, posting at the property — Cortul also sends a First-Class copy.
Notice period	3 days (not counting Saturdays, Sundays or California court holidays)
Deemed received	When it is served
Notice must include	State only the rent due; no late fees or other charges; include name/phone/address for payment and days/hours payment is accepted The day the three days end, so it is clear by when the tenant must pay (Eshagian v. Cepeda, 2025)
If refused or unclaimed	keep the certified record.
Statutes	Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §1161(2), §1162; Eshagian v. Cepeda (2025) B340941

Step by step

Write the notice with every required element (the California template in Cortul already has them).
Verify the recipient's mailing address with USPS.
Serve it the way California law requires (hand delivery or posting at the property or substituted service); mail alone doesn't serve it. Record the service in Cortul, which also mails a First-Class copy.
Keep the mailing and tracking records, and your own record of any service you did yourself.
Calendar the deadline from the mailing date.