When does just cause apply in California?

For AB 1482-covered units, after the tenant has lived there 12 months (or after 24 months if an adult was added later), per Civ. Code §1946.2.

Do I have to pay relocation assistance?

Yes for a no-fault termination — generally one month’s rent, paid directly or as a waiver of the last month’s rent.

California Just Cause Eviction Rules (AB 1482, §1946.2)

General information, not legal advice. This page summarizes California law for educational purposes and may not reflect the latest amendments, court rulings, or your city’s local rent-control ordinances, which can be stricter. Always verify against the official statute (linked at the bottom of this page) and consult a licensed California attorney before acting on a specific situation.

For units covered by AB 1482, once a tenant has occupied the unit for 12 months you generally need a "just cause" to terminate the tenancy (Civ. Code §1946.2). Just causes fall into two groups.

At-fault just cause

These are tenant-caused grounds, such as:

Failure to pay rent
Material breach of the lease that is not cured after notice
Nuisance, waste, or criminal activity on the property
Refusing to sign a similar renewal lease

No-fault just cause (relocation assistance required)

No-fault grounds include an owner or close relative moving in, withdrawal of the unit from the rental market, demolition or substantial remodel, and compliance with a government order.

For a no-fault termination, you must either pay the tenant one month’s rent in relocation assistance or waive the final month’s rent, within the timeframe the statute requires.

Does this apply to your property?

Answer these before ending a tenancy:

Is the unit covered by AB 1482 (not otherwise exempt)? — If exempt, §1946.2 just-cause requirements do not apply, though other notice rules may.
Has the tenant occupied the unit for 12 months (or 24 months if an adult was added to the lease later)? — If not yet, just cause is not required.
Is the reason for ending the tenancy tenant-caused (at-fault) or not (no-fault)? — This determines whether relocation assistance is owed.
If no-fault, will you pay one month’s rent in relocation assistance, or waive the final month’s rent? — One of the two is required for a no-fault termination.

Example — sample property

A landlord wants to move a close relative into a unit (a no-fault just cause). The current tenant has lived there 18 months, so AB 1482’s 12-month threshold is already met and just cause is required.

Because this is a no-fault termination, the landlord must either pay the tenant one month’s rent in relocation assistance or waive the tenant’s final month’s rent, within the statutory timeframe.

How Veluna monitors this

After you add a property, Veluna tracks whether §1946.2’s just-cause categories or relocation-assistance rules change for your property type and sends a push alert if they do. We do not draft or auto-generate eviction notices for you — confirm the correct notice and timeline with the current statute or a licensed attorney.

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Frequently asked questions

When does just cause apply in California?: For AB 1482-covered units, after the tenant has lived there 12 months (or after 24 months if an adult was added later), per Civ. Code §1946.2.
Do I have to pay relocation assistance?: Yes for a no-fault termination — generally one month’s rent, paid directly or as a waiver of the last month’s rent.

Official sources — verify it yourself:

Citations: Cal. Civ. Code §1946.2 (AB 1482).

This page is general information about California law, not legal advice, and may not reflect the latest changes or your city’s local ordinances. Verify against the current statute or consult a California attorney before acting. Last reviewed: June 26, 2026.