Landautomate keeps an operating calendar for independent landlords: what needs doing on a rental, when it is due, and why. This page is the California content from our reviewed rule base. Every item below carries its sources and the date we last checked them.
This guide is the reading version of our California rule base. In the app, the same rules become dated tasks on each of your California properties, timed to your purchase date, lease dates, property age, and climate, with an email before each one is due. The free preview shows a sample of that schedule for California in under a minute, no account needed.
California landlords commonly track 7 state and local compliance obligations, each listed below with its schedule, its sources, and the date we last verified it. Among them: confirm the LLC Statement of Information is current (LLC-owned rentals), confirm the six-year balcony and deck inspection (3+ unit buildings), and pay first property tax installment before December 10 delinquency.
If the rental is held in a California LLC or an out-of-state LLC registered in California, the Secretary of State requires a $20 Statement of Information within 90 days of formation and every two years during the six months ending with the formation anniversary month, and a missed filing can bring a $250 penalty and eventual suspension of the LLC's powers, rights, and privileges.
Buildings with three or more dwelling units must have a licensed architect, engineer, qualifying contractor, or certified building inspector check the balconies, decks, stairways, and walkways that sit more than six feet above ground and rely on wood for support, with the first round due by January 1, 2026 and a repeat every six years, and repairs still unfinished 30 days after the inspector notifies the local enforcement agency can draw civil penalties of $100 to $500 per day.
The first installment is due November 1 and a 10% penalty attaches automatically if it is not paid by 5 p.m. on December 10.
The second installment is due February 1, and a 10% penalty plus a cost charge are added if it is not paid by 5 p.m. on April 10.
If the rental property is held in an LLC, the $800 annual LLC tax (often called the franchise tax, paid with FTB Form 3522 or Web Pay) is due by the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year, April 15 for a calendar year LLC, and it is owed every year until the LLC is canceled, even with no income, with late payment adding penalties and interest.
California law (Civil Code 1950.5(h)) requires furnishing the itemized statement of deductions by personal delivery or first-class mail (or by email if you both agreed) and returning any remaining deposit within 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with receipts and the before-and-after repair photos included when repair and cleaning deductions exceed $125 and the refund sent electronically when the tenant paid electronically unless you agreed otherwise in writing, because a bad-faith failure forfeits every deduction and can bring damages of up to twice the deposit.
California law requires smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level, plus carbon monoxide alarms outside each sleeping area and on every level of any unit with a gas, oil, or other fossil fuel heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage, all working when each new tenant moves in, so testing them at every turnover and once a year keeps the unit compliant and catches a failed alarm before an emergency.
The free preview takes your state and property facts and shows the schedule Landautomate would run for you, no account needed. Every new account starts with a 30-day free Pro trial, no card required.
Landlords in California plan upkeep around a temperate climate: this guide lists 7 seasonal maintenance items for California in calendar order, each with its timing and the date we last verified it. Among them: exterior paint and siding moisture check, smoke and CO detector seasonal test, and clear defensible space around all structures before fire season.
Checking paint and siding after the wet season prevents rot and moisture intrusion in mild climates.
An annual full test of smoke and CO detectors (beyond battery swaps) confirms every alarm actually sounds.
California law requires 100 feet of defensible space around buildings in state responsibility areas and in very high fire hazard severity zones (not beyond the property line), and clearing dead vegetation, dry grass, and roof debris each spring, before the long summer dry season, lowers the chance that a wildfire or its embers ignites the structure.
A shoulder-season HVAC service keeps heating and cooling efficient before temperature swings.
On properties near grass, brush, or forest, dead vegetation builds up again after spring cleanup, so a July walk-through that trims annual grass to 4 inches (working carefully so equipment does not throw sparks), clears leaves and needles from roofs and gutters, and restores 10 feet of bare ground around propane tanks keeps defensible space working through summer, California's peak wildfire season.
California gets most of its rain from November to March, often in atmospheric-river storms that can drop torrential rain in a day, so an early October check of the roof and flashing plus a clearing of the gutters, downspouts, and yard drains keeps that water running off the roof and away from the foundation instead of into the house.
An October check, timed with the Great California ShakeOut drill, that the water heater is still strapped, tall furniture and shelves are anchored to wall studs, and emergency food, water, and supplies are stocked limits injuries and damage when an earthquake strikes.
Every rental needs the same baseline care regardless of state: this guide tracks 16 recurring upkeep items, each with its schedule and the date we last verified it. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement.
Organized records make tax filing accurate and deductions defensible.
Clear gutters prevent water intrusion, foundation, and roof damage.
Clean filters protect HVAC equipment and keep energy costs down.
Confirms coverage limits and premiums still match the property risk.
Keeps the ownership entity in good standing with state filings.
Planning renewals ahead of time reduces vacancy and turnover costs.
Keeps small maintenance issues from turning into expensive repairs.
Verifies owner cash distributions reconcile with rent and expenses.
Early pest detection prevents structural damage and habitability complaints.
Reviewing assessments can surface appeal opportunities and budget changes.
Confirms rent was received on time and surfaces collection issues early.
Keeps rent aligned with market rates and local rent regulations.
Working smoke and CO detectors are a life-safety and legal requirement.
Confirms vacant-property utilities stay at minimal service so pipes, alarms, and sump pumps keep working.
Catches billing errors and unexpected usage spikes on property utilities.
Regular walkthroughs of a vacant property deter break-ins, squatting, and unnoticed damage.
Our reviewed rule base currently lists 7 state and local compliance obligations that California landlords commonly track. Among them: confirm the LLC Statement of Information is current (LLC-owned rentals), confirm the six-year balcony and deck inspection (3+ unit buildings), and pay first property tax installment before December 10 delinquency. Each obligation shows its schedule, the sources it was checked against, and the date we last verified it. This guide is general information for planning reminders, not legal advice.
The California guide lists 7 seasonal maintenance items timed to a temperate climate, in calendar order. Among them: exterior paint and siding moisture check, smoke and CO detector seasonal test, and clear defensible space around all structures before fire season. Landautomate turns each item into a dated reminder on your property calendar so the work is planned before the season arrives.
Alongside state specific work, the California guide tracks 16 baseline upkeep items that apply to nearly every rental. Among them: CPA tax document preparation, gutter inspection, and HVAC filter replacement. These recur on a regular schedule, and Landautomate schedules each one automatically for every property you add.
Every rule in the California guide goes through human review before it is published, and each rule shows the date we last verified it. Each compliance obligation links the primary sources it was checked against. Laws and deadlines change, so if you believe something here is outdated or incorrect, contact us at support@landautomate.com and we will review it promptly.
The same reviewed calendar, for other states.
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The free preview takes your state and property facts and shows the schedule Landautomate would run for you, no account needed. Every new account starts with a 30-day free Pro trial, no card required.