Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.4
California Civil Code
Operative Text
The lessor of a building intended for the residential occupation of human beings shall be responsible for installing at least one usable telephone jack and for placing and maintaining the inside telephone wiring in good working order, shall ensure that the inside telephone wiring meets the applicable standards of the most recent California Electrical Code, and shall make any required repairs. The lessor shall not restrict or interfere with access by the telephone utility to its telephone network facilities up to the demarcation point separating the inside wiring. “Inside telephone wiring” for purposes of this section, means that portion of the telephone wire that connects the telephone equipment at the customer’s premises to the telephone network at a demarcation point determined by the telephone corporation in accordance with orders of the Public Utilities Commission.
California Civil Code § 1941.4 places responsibility on residential landlords to install at least one working telephone jack and to keep the interior telephone wiring in good repair and up to the standards set by the most recent California Electrical Code. The rule also prohibits landlords from blocking or interfering with the telephone utility's access to its own network equipment up to the demarcation point — the boundary where the utility's network ends and the building's inside wiring begins. 'Inside telephone wiring' is defined as the wiring that runs from a tenant's telephone equipment to that demarcation point, as established by the telephone corporation under Public Utilities Commission orders.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.4, compliant residential property operators generally ensure that at least one telephone jack is installed and functional at the time of occupancy, and they periodically verify that all inside telephone wiring meets current California Electrical Code standards. Operators also avoid any action — physical, contractual, or otherwise — that would restrict the telephone utility's access to its network facilities up to the demarcation point. Keeping maintenance records and promptly addressing wiring deficiencies are practices commonly associated with meeting the repair obligations this section imposes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.4 gives residential tenants the right to a unit with at least one usable telephone jack and inside telephone wiring maintained in good working order at the landlord's expense. If wiring is defective or a jack is missing or non-functional, this provision may be relevant to habitability complaints filed with a local rent board (where one exists) or raised as a defense in certain housing proceedings. Tenants who believe their landlord is not meeting these obligations can document the issue in writing, contact a local tenant-rights organization, or seek guidance from a housing counselor familiar with California law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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