Cal. Civ. Code § 17972
California Health and Safety Code
Operative Text
No person authorized by this article to enter buildings shall enter any dwelling between the hours of 6 o'clock p.m. of any day and 8 o'clock a.m. of the succeeding day, without the consent of the owner or of the occupants of the dwelling, nor enter any dwelling in the absence of the occupants without a proper written order executed and issued by a court having jurisdiction to issue the order.
California Health & Safety Code § 17972 restricts the hours and conditions under which authorized inspectors or officials may enter a dwelling. Entries are generally limited to the daytime window between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and nighttime entry requires the consent of either the owner or the occupants. Additionally, entering a dwelling when no occupant is present requires a proper written court order, regardless of the time of day.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17972, property owners should be aware that authorized inspectors operating under this article face specific constraints on when and how they may access a dwelling. A compliant operator generally keeps records of any consent given for after-hours entry and understands that inspections conducted in a tenant's absence require a court-issued written order. Familiarity with these procedural requirements helps owners recognize whether an inspection is being conducted within the bounds the law sets.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17972 establishes protections for occupants against unauthorized or untimely entry by officials acting under this article. Tenants generally have the right to withhold consent for entries attempted between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., and any entry made while no occupant is home should be backed by a written court order. Tenants who believe an entry violated these conditions may consider documenting the circumstances, contacting a local tenant-rights organization, or raising the violation through appropriate administrative or legal channels.
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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.