Civil Code section 1985

A notice which is in substantially the following form given to a person (other than the former tenant) the landlord reasonably believes to be the owner of personal property satisfies the requirements of Section 1983:
Notice of Right to Reclaim Abandoned Property
To:(Name)
(Address)
When (name of former tenant) vacated the premises at
(address of premises, including room or apartment number, if any) ,
the following personal property remained:
(insert description of the personal property)
If you own any of this property, you may claim it at (address where property may be claimed).
If you claim this property by ____ (insert date not less than 2 days after the former tenant vacated the premises), you may minimize the costs of storage.
If you fail to claim this property by ____ (insert date not less than 2 days after the former tenant vacated the premises), unless you pay the landlord’s reasonable cost of storage and take possession of the property to which you are entitled not later than ___________________ (insert date not less than 15 days after notice is personally delivered or, if mailed, not less than 18 days after notice is deposited in the mail) this property may be disposed of pursuant to Civil Code Section 1988.
Dated: _______
(Signature of landlord)
(Type or print name of landlord)
(Telephone number)
(Address)

Source: Section 1985, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=1985.­ (updated Jan. 1, 2013; accessed Dec. 29, 2025).

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Verified:
Dec. 29, 2025

§ 1985's source at ca​.gov