Civil Code section 1941.9
(a)
(1)When the hiring of residential real property is terminated pursuant to paragraph (2) of Section 1932 or paragraph (4) of Section 1933, the landlord shall return to the tenant any advance rental payments made by the tenant that cover any period after the date of the termination.(2)
Any payment from the landlord to the tenant required pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made within 21 days of the date of the termination and shall be sent to the address provided by the tenant. If the hirer does not provide an address, mailings pursuant to this subdivision shall be sent to the address of the unit that was the subject of the terminated hiring.(3)
For purposes of this subdivision, the date of the termination shall be either of the following, as applicable:(A)
The date that the tenant informs the landlord or the landlord’s agent of the tenant’s intent to terminate the hiring pursuant to paragraph (2) of Section 1932.(B)
The date that the residential real property was destroyed, if the termination happened pursuant to paragraph (4) of Section 1933.(b)
During any period during which a tenant in residential real property is unable to occupy their rental unit due to a mandatory evacuation order pursuant to a disaster, as defined in Section 1941.8, the tenant’s obligation to pay rent shall be discharged for the period during which the tenant must be evacuated. If the tenant already paid rent for the period of an evacuation, the landlord shall return the rent within 10 calendar days after the evacuation order is lifted or the tenant may deduct the amount from the next month’s rent.
Source:
Section 1941.9, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1941.9. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
