California § 1946.1 - Notwithstanding Section 1946, a hiring of residential real property or commercial
Full text of California Public Contract Code - PCC § 1946.1 — Notwithstanding Section 1946, a hiring of residential real property or commercial, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 1946.1. Notwithstanding Section 1946, a hiring of residential real property or commercial
(a) Notwithstanding Section 1946, a hiring of residential real property or commercial real property by a qualified commercial tenant for a term not specified by the parties, is deemed to be renewed as stated in Section 1945, at the end of the term implied by law unless one of the parties gives written notice to the other of the partyâs intention to terminate the tenancy, as provided in this section. (b) An owner of a residential dwelling or commercial real property hired by a qualified commercial tenant giving notice pursuant to this section shall give notice at least 60 days prior to the proposed date of termination. A tenant giving notice pursuant to this section shall give notice for a period at least as long as the term of the periodic tenancy prior to the proposed date of termination. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), an owner of a residential dwelling or commercial real property hired by a qualified commercial tenant giving notice pursuant to this section shall give notice at least 30 days prior to the proposed date of termination if a tenant or resident has resided in the dwelling or occupied the property for less than one year. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), an owner of a residential dwelling giving notice pursuant to this section shall give notice at least 30 days prior to the proposed date of termination if all of the following apply: (1) The dwelling or unit is alienable separate from the title to any other dwelling unit. (2) The owner has contracted to sell the dwelling or unit to a bona fide purchaser for value, and has established an escrow with a title insurer or an underwritten title company, as defined in Sections 12340.4 and 12340.5 of the Insurance Code, respectively, a licensed escrow agent, as defined in Sections 17004 and 17200 of the Financial Code, or a licensed real estate broker, as defined in Section 10131 of the Business and Professions Code. (3) The purchaser is a natural person or persons. (4) The notice is given no more than 120 days after the escrow has been established. (5) Notice was not previously given to the tenant pursuant to this section. (6) The purchaser in good faith intends to reside in the property for at least one full year after the termination of the tenancy. (e) After an owner has given notice of the ownerâs intention to terminate the tenancy pursuant to this section, a tenant may also give notice of the tenantâs intention to terminate the tenancy pursuant to this section, provided that the tenantâs notice is for a period at least as long as the term of the periodic tenancy and the proposed date of termination occurs before the ownerâs proposed date of termination. (f) The notices required by this section shall be given in the manner prescribed in Section 1162 of the Code of Civil Procedure or by sending a copy by certified or registered mail. (g) This section may not be construed to affect the authority of a public entity that otherwise exists to regulate or monitor the basis for eviction. (h) A notice given by an owner pursuant to this section shall contain, in substantially the same form, the following: âState law permits former tenants to reclaim abandoned personal property left at the former address of the tenant, subject to certain conditions. You may or may not be able to reclaim property without incurring additional costs, depending on the cost of storing the property and the length of time before it is reclaimed. In general, these costs will be lower the sooner you contact your former landlord after being notified that property belonging to you was left behind after you moved out.â (i) A landlord or its agent shall not charge a tenant a fee for serving, posting, or otherwise delivering any notice, as described in this section. (j) A landlord of a commercial real property shall include in the notice required by this section information on the provisions of this section. (k) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) âCommercial real propertyâ means all real property in this state, except dwelling units subject to this chapter, mobilehomes as defined in Section 798.3, and recreational vehicles as defined in Section 799.29. (2) âMicroenterpriseâ has the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision (a) of Section 18000 of the Business and Professions Code. (3) âNonprofit organizationâ means any private, nonprofit organization that qualifies under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (4) âQualified commercial tenantâ means a tenant of commercial real property that meets both of the following requirements: (A) The tenant is a microenterprise, a restaurant with fewer than 10 employees, or a nonprofit organization with fewer than 20 employees. (B) (i) Subject to clause (ii), the tenant has provided the landlord, within the previous 12 months, a written notice that the tenant is a qualified commercial tenant and a self-attestation regarding the number of employees, at such time the protections under this section come into place. (ii) Unless the tenancy is from week to week, month to month, or other period less than a month, the tenant provided the notice and self-attestation described in clause (i) before or upon execution of the lease, and annually thereafter, at such time the protections under this section come into place.
Source: official California text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About California § 1946.1
What does Public Contract Code - PCC § 1946.1 cover?
Section 1946.1 ("Notwithstanding Section 1946, a hiring of residential real property or commercial") is part of the Public Contract Code - PCC, the codified statutory law of California. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite California § 1946.1?
A common citation format is "Public Contract Code - PCC § 1946.1" (California). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of California law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the California official source linked on this page or consult a licensed California attorney.
How does California § 1946.1 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in California can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in California.