Quick Answer
The notices you put in a California residential lease depend on your unit. A covered unit needs the rights statement in Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(f). An exempt single-family home or condominium needs the exemption notice in the lease instead (§ 1946.2(e)(8) and § 1947.12(d)(5)). Every written lease carries the Megan’s Law notice (§ 2079.10a), you give bed bug information before the tenancy starts (§ 1954.603), and a building built before 1978 adds the federal lead pamphlet. Statute text last checked October 2, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Pick one AB 1482 notice. A covered unit gets the § 1946.2(f) rights statement. An exempt single-family home or condominium gets the exemption notice. The exemption depends on the owner giving that notice in the lease.
- The rights statement is in 12-point type. You may give it in the lease, as an addendum, or as a signed written notice for tenancies that began or renewed on or after July 1, 2020.
- Megan’s Law is a short fixed notice. Put it in the written lease in at least 8-point type (§ 2079.10a).
- Bed bug information comes first. Give a prospective tenant the § 1954.603 information before the tenancy starts, in at least 10-point type.
- Lead applies to older buildings. Give the federal pamphlet for housing built before 1978 (42 U.S.C. § 4852d).
1. Start With Your Unit Type
Most of the notices in this guide go into every residential lease. The AB 1482 notice is the one that changes with your property, so settle it first. A unit is covered by the statewide rent limits and just cause rules unless an exemption in § 1947.12(d) or § 1946.2(e) applies. If you are not sure which side your unit falls on, give the covered-unit rights statement and ask your attorney whether an exemption fits.
2. The AB 1482 Notices
Covered Units: The Rights Statement (§ 1946.2(f))
For a tenancy that began or renewed on or after July 1, 2020, give your tenant this statement in at least 12-point type. You may place it in the lease, in an addendum to the lease, or in a written notice your tenant signs:
“California law limits the amount your rent can be increased. See Section 1947.12 of the Civil Code for more information. California law also provides that after all of the tenants have continuously and lawfully occupied the property for 12 months or more or at least one of the tenants has continuously and lawfully occupied the property for 24 months or more, a landlord must provide a statement of cause in any notice to terminate a tenancy. See Section 1946.2 of the Civil Code for more information.”
Exempt Single-Family Homes and Condominiums: The Exemption Notice
A single-family home or condominium is exempt only when the owner is not a real estate investment trust, a corporation, or an LLC with at least one corporate member, and your tenant has the written exemption notice. For tenancies that began on or after July 1, 2020, the statute places that notice in the lease:
“This property is not subject to the rent limits imposed by Section 1947.12 of the Civil Code and is not subject to the just-cause requirements of Section 1946.2 of the Civil Code. This property meets the requirements of Sections 1947.12 (d)(5) and 1946.2 (e)(8) of the Civil Code and the owner is not any of the following: (1) a real estate investment trust, as defined by Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a corporation; or (3) a limited liability company in which at least one member is a corporation.”
Copy the wording from the current statute text when you draft your lease. Because the exemption depends on this notice, treat a lease that lacks it as a covered tenancy until you add it.
3. Bed Bug Information (§ 1954.603)
Before a new tenancy begins, give the prospective tenant written bed bug information in at least 10-point type. It covers:
- General information about bed bug identification, behavior, and biology, and why cooperation matters for prevention and treatment.
- The importance of reporting a suspected infestation promptly and in writing.
- The procedure for reporting a suspected infestation to you.
Under § 1954.602, you may not show, rent, or lease a vacant unit that you know has a current bed bug infestation. You have no duty to inspect for bed bugs unless you have notice of a suspected or actual infestation, and an infestation that is evident on a visual inspection counts as notice.
4. Megan’s Law Notice (§ 2079.10a)
Put this notice in your written lease, in at least 8-point type:
“Pursuant to Section 290.46 of the Penal Code, information about specified registered sex offenders is made available to the public via an Internet Web site maintained by the Department of Justice at www.meganslaw.ca.gov.”
After you deliver the notice, you do not have to provide more information about the proximity of registered sex offenders. Other statutory duties can still apply.
5. Summary Matrix: California Lease Notices
| Notice | Statutory Reference | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| AB 1482 rights statement | Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(f) | Covered units |
| AB 1482 exemption notice | Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(e)(8), § 1947.12(d)(5) | Exempt single-family homes and condominiums |
| Megan’s Law notice | Cal. Civ. Code § 2079.10a | Written leases |
| Bed bug information | Cal. Civ. Code § 1954.603 | New tenancies, before they start |
| Lead-based paint pamphlet | 42 U.S.C. § 4852d | Housing built before 1978 |
Some properties need further notices because of where the building sits or what it contains, such as a mapped flood hazard area or a condition that triggers a Proposition 65 warning. Those depend on the property, so confirm them with your attorney.
What This Guide Does Not Cover
This guide covers the lease notices listed above under California and federal law. It describes what the statutes say as of the check date above and does not predict how a court will rule on your facts.
It does not cover:
- Commercial leases and short-term lodging.
- Local rent registration and city-specific notices, such as those in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
- Homeowner association rules.
- Federal Section 8 tenancy addendum terms (HUD-52641-A).