Just Cause Eviction Checker
See if AB 1482's just-cause protections apply to this tenancy, which notice category fits, and whether relocation assistance is owed.
Just-cause protection kicks in once a tenant has been in place 12 months (24 if a new adult tenant joined partway through). A termination reason then falls into one of two buckets: at-fault (tenant conduct, no relocation payment usually required) or no-fault (owner move-in, Ellis Act, government order, or substantial remodel — relocation assistance of at least one month's rent required).
Answer a few questions about the tenancy and the reason for termination to see your category and any relocation assistance owed.
Just Cause Eviction Checker
Your Just Cause Result
How this is calculated
First, the tool checks whether just-cause protection has kicked in at all: 12 months of tenancy normally, or 24 months if a new adult tenant was added and the original tenants haven't yet hit that mark. Below that threshold, a landlord generally doesn't need just cause to end a month-to-month tenancy (standard 30/60-day notice rules still apply).
Once protection applies, the termination reason is sorted into at-fault (tenant conduct — nonpayment, lease violations, nuisance, criminal activity) or no-fault (owner/family move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, government-ordered vacancy, or substantial remodel/demolition). Curable at-fault violations require a prior notice-to-cure before termination; nonpayment and serious/repeat violations generally don't.
No-fault reasons trigger a relocation assistance requirement of at least 1 month's rent (as a payment or a rent waiver), which this tool estimates from your entered rent — though several cities require more than the state floor, so always check local ordinances too.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do just-cause eviction protections start under AB 1482?
After a tenant has occupied the unit for 12 months. If a new adult tenant was added to the lease partway through and all original tenants haven't been there 24 months, the threshold becomes 24 months, unless the landlord agreed otherwise in writing.
What's the difference between an at-fault and a no-fault eviction reason?
At-fault reasons involve tenant conduct — like nonpayment of rent, lease violations, or nuisance — and generally don't require relocation payment (though curable violations require a written notice-to-cure first). No-fault reasons — owner/family move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, government order to vacate, or substantial remodel/demolition — require the landlord to pay relocation assistance because the tenant did nothing wrong.
How much relocation assistance is required for a no-fault eviction?
The state minimum is one month's rent, paid or waived within a set window of serving the notice. Some cities require significantly more — for example, San Diego requires two months' rent — so always check local ordinances on top of the state floor.
Does AB 1482 apply to every rental unit in California?
No. Common exemptions include single-family homes/condos individually owned with the required exemption notice given, units built within the last 15 years, and owner-occupied duplexes — similar exemptions to those under the AB 1482 rent cap.
What happens if a landlord doesn't give proper just-cause notice?
An eviction (unlawful detainer) filed without a legally sufficient just-cause reason, or without required relocation assistance for a no-fault reason, can be challenged in court and may be dismissed or defended successfully by the tenant.
This tool provides an educational estimate only and is not legal advice. Eviction law is fact-specific and heavily litigated — consult a tenant or landlord attorney before serving or responding to any notice.