Tenant property left after vacating (Civ. Code 1965): tenant's written request for surrender within 18 days of vacating
18 days after date the tenant vacated the premises, under Cal. Civ. Code 1965(a)(1).
Rule text
(1) The tenant requests, in writing, within 18 days of vacating the premises, the surrender of the personal property and the request includes a description of the personal property held by the landlord and specifies the mailing address of the tenant.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Tuesday, November 24, 2026
- Trigger (Date the tenant vacated the premises): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 18 calendar days: Tuesday, November 24, 2026.
Rules applied
Cal. Civ. Code 1965(a)(1)
(1) The tenant requests, in writing, within 18 days of vacating the premises, the surrender of the personal property and the request includes a description of the personal property held by the landlord and specifies the mailing address of the tenant.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- Request must describe the property and state the tenant's mailing address. Chapter does not apply once disposition under Civ. Code 1980 et seq. has begun (1965(c)). Roll assumes CCP 12a.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the tenant vacated the premises on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Friday, April 2, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the tenant vacated the premises): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 18 calendar days: Friday, April 2, 2027.
Notes
Request must describe the property and state the tenant's mailing address. Chapter does not apply once disposition under Civ. Code 1980 et seq. has begun (1965(c)). Roll assumes CCP 12a.
Related deadlines
- Residential security deposit: itemized statement and refund of remainder no later than 21 calendar days after tenant vacates (21 days after)
- Security deposit: final itemization and documents within 14 calendar days after completing repair or receiving vendor documentation (good-faith estimate used) (14 days after)
- Security deposit: earliest date for the tenant-requested initial (pre-move-out) inspection (two weeks before termination) (14 days before)
- Change of terms of month-to-month tenancy (Civ. Code 827(a)): earliest effective date, not less than 30 days after notice (30 days after)
- Rent increase of 10% or less (Civ. Code 827(b)(2)): earliest effective date, at least 30 days after notice delivered (30 days after)
- Rent increase over 10% within 12 months (Civ. Code 827(b)(3)): earliest effective date, at least 90 days after notice delivered (90 days after)
- Tenant retaliation (Civ. Code 1942.5(a)): end of 180-day period during which landlord may not evict, raise rent, or decrease services (180 days after)
- Tenant victim of abuse or crime (Civ. Code 1946.7): last day to give 14-day notice to terminate (180 days after order, report, or act) (180 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.