California landlords — what's your system for tracking required notices and deadlines

[Rachid Abadli]

I self-manage 4 units in Sacramento and I swear California adds a new landlord requirement every legislative session. Between AB 1482 rent cap notices, AB 2801 security deposit documentation, local just-cause requirements, and the standard 30/60-day notice windows, there's a lot to keep straight.

For the first year I used a spreadsheet with reminder dates. It worked okay until I missed a rent increase notice deadline by 3 days and had to eat a month of below-market rent.

Now I keep a compliance calendar with every notice deadline mapped out per lease. The key dates I track:

• Annual AB 1482 rent cap notice (must be given before a rent increase takes effect)
• Lease renewal/non-renewal windows (60 days for tenancies over 1 year)
• Security deposit return deadline (21 days in California — AB 2801 added itemization requirements)
• Move-in/move-out inspection scheduling
• Local rent registry deadlines (if applicable)

Curious how other California landlords handle this. Are you tracking manually, using software, or just hoping for the best? And has anyone else been caught off guard by the AB 2801 changes that went into effect this year?