Free California lease agreement, built for your tenant and address
Answer a few questions and get a California residential lease with your tenant, your address, and the required disclosures already in it. Download it as PDF or Word, or send it for e-signature. Free, no credit card, no account to start.
Build my California leaseAbout 5 minutes. Free.The template is written to the California Civil Code through the 2025 session, including laws effective January 1, 2026. Last reviewed July 6, 2026.
What is built into the California lease
- The state's required disclosures, built in
- The laws that took effect January 1, 2026, already reflected
How it works
- Answer a few questions. Property address, tenant names, rent, dates, deposit, and the handful of choices the lease actually turns on. About five minutes, one topic at a time.
- Watch the lease fill in. The real California document fills in as you go, so you can read every clause before anyone signs.
- Download it or send it for signature. Download as PDF or Word, or send it to your tenant to sign from any phone. Both are free.
California rules the lease leans on
- How long a California landlord has to return a security deposit
- How much notice California requires to raise rent
- Write a rent increase notice
Common questions
Is the California lease really free?
Yes. Building it, downloading it as PDF or Word, and sending it for e-signature are all free, with no credit card. You only need an account if you want to send it for signature and keep the signed copy on file.
Is it reviewed by a California attorney?
No. PropManager Editorial wrote it, and the template is written to the California Civil Code through the 2025 session, including laws effective January 1, 2026. It is an informational starting point, not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for a licensed California attorney reviewing your situation.
Can I edit the lease?
Yes. The Word download is fully editable, and the wizard lets you add your own house rules before you download. Anything you add is yours to check.
Does it work outside California?
No. This template is California-specific. Other states have their own templates, linked below, and the wizard tells you plainly when a state is not covered yet.
What if my state is not covered yet?
The wizard asks for your email and we build the state next, in the order landlords ask for them. Covered states are listed at the bottom of this page.
Free lease templates for other states
Not on the list? Start the wizard anyway. It tells you straight away whether your state is covered, and takes your email if it is not.
Build my California leaseAbout 5 minutes. Free.