Example
A landlord in California wants to show the unit to a buyer on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 2 p.m. California asks for 24 hours’ written notice, so a notice handed to the tenant on Wednesday at 11 a.m. is enough, while a knock on Thursday morning is not. Notice sent by mail needs more lead time: California treats mailing six days ahead as reasonable. If a pipe bursts on Wednesday night, the landlord can go in right away.
In a lease it looks like…
Landlord may enter the premises at reasonable times to make repairs, inspect or show the unit, after giving Tenant at least 24 hours’ written notice, except in an emergency.
By state
States set the notice, from 12 hours in Wisconsin to 48 in states such as Alabama and Delaware, and some have no statewide rule, leaving it to the lease and to reasonableness.
Plain English, not legal advice. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.