Required Disclosures for California Residential Leases
A California lease is more than rent and dates. State and federal law require a set of notices and disclosures, some on every lease and some only when a condition applies. Here is the checklist, and how RPM Ventura County keeps every lease complete.
Federal lead disclosure rule · California Civil Code · Government Code 8589.45
Included on Every Lease
- Flood hazard. Leases signed since July 1, 2018 must say whether the owner knows the property is in a flood hazard area (carrying flood insurance, or having a lender require it, counts as knowing), link the state’s MyHazards site, and recommend renter’s and flood insurance.
- Bed bugs. Every new tenancy since July 1, 2017 gets the required bed bug information and the procedure for reporting an infestation.
- Owner and rent payment details. Every written lease must name the manager and the owner or agent for service, with phone numbers and addresses, and say who receives rent, how, and in what forms. The tenant gets a copy of the signed lease within 15 days.
- Megan’s Law. A notice pointing tenants to the state’s sex offender database. The law requires it for single-family homes and for buildings of five or more units, and we include it on every lease.
- Tenant Protection Act notice. Covered homes need the state notice on rent caps and just cause. Exempt single-family homes and condos need the exact exemption statement instead, or the exemption does not apply. See our AB 1482 guide.
- Stove and refrigerator. For leases signed, renewed, or amended from January 1, 2026, a tenant may provide their own refrigerator only by checking the statutory option in the lease. See our AB 628 article.
- Mold information. We give every new tenant the state health department’s mold booklet, and disclose any known mold problem in writing.
Key Facts
Lead Paint
Pre-1978
Homes built before 1978 need the lead disclosure
Flood Hazard
Since 2018
On every lease signed since July 1, 2018
Bed Bugs
Since 2017
On every new tenancy since July 1, 2017
Translation
5 Languages
When the lease is negotiated in one of them
Required When a Condition Applies
- Lead-based paint. Homes built before 1978 need the EPA pamphlet, any known lead information and records, and a lead warning statement in the lease. Signed copies are kept for three years.
- Shared utility meters. If the tenant’s gas or electric meter serves areas outside the unit, this must be disclosed before move-in, with a written agreement on payment.
- Pest control service. When the property has a periodic pest control contract, each new tenant gets a copy of the pesticide notice.
- No-smoking areas. Where smoking is banned, the lease must spell out the areas where it is not allowed.
- Demolition permit. An owner who has applied for a demolition permit must say so in writing before taking an application fee or signing a lease.
- Former military ordnance. Required when the owner knows of a former ordnance site within one mile.
- Translation. A lease longer than one month that is negotiated mainly in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean must come with a full translation before signing.
- Rent reporting offer. Some owners must offer tenants the option of reporting on-time rent to a credit bureau. Buildings with 15 or fewer units are exempt unless the owner is a corporation, a REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member and owns more than one building.
- Proposition 65. Owners with 10 or more employees must post the state chemical exposure warning where it applies.
Deaths in the home. California does not require disclosing a death that happened more than three years before the lease. Within three years, it may need to be disclosed when it matters to the tenant. An owner should never give a false answer to a direct question.
How RPM Ventura County Keeps Leases Complete
Every lease we sign starts from a current California form and a property-specific checklist.
- Lead, flood, bed bug, and Megan’s Law disclosures on every applicable lease
- Exemption or tenant protection notice matched to the property
- Mold booklet and pest control notices delivered at move-in
- Signed disclosures stored for each tenancy
- Translations provided when a lease is negotiated in another language
- Lease forms updated as new laws take effect
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from property owners about lease disclosures
What happens if a disclosure is left out?
It depends on the disclosure. A missing AB 1482 exemption statement means the home is not exempt from the rent cap. A missing lead disclosure can bring federal penalties. Other omissions can lead to damages or make lease terms unenforceable.
Does my newer home need a lead paint disclosure?
No. The federal lead disclosure applies only to homes built before 1978.
Do I need to disclose that someone died in the home?
Not if the death happened more than three years earlier. A death within three years may need to be disclosed when it would matter to a tenant, and a direct question should always get an honest answer.
Are the AB 2801 move-in photos a disclosure?
They are a separate requirement. Move-in and move-out photo rules are covered in our AB 2801 guide.
Disclaimer: General information about California residential lease disclosures for Ventura County rental owners, not legal advice. Laws and their interpretation can change. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed California attorney. RPM Ventura County is not a law firm.
Questions About Your Property?
Every property is different. Talk with our Ventura County team about which rules apply to your rental and how we keep it compliant.
Real Property Management Ventura County · 2655 First St #250, Simi Valley, CA 93065 · (805) 387-3682
