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California Legal Rights

The strongest tenant, worker, and consumer protections in the country. Know exactly what you're entitled to — and let Main AI enforce it automatically.

Analyze my California documents free → Security deposit calculator

Tenant rights

California Tenant Protections

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Security deposit maximum

2 months rent (unfurnished) · 3 months (furnished)

CA Civil Code §1950.5

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Deposit return deadline

21 days after move-out. Must include itemized list of any deductions.

CA Civil Code §1950.5

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Entry notice required

Landlords must give reasonable advance notice before entering your unit except in genuine emergencies. Repeated entry without notice may constitute harassment.

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Habitability rights

Your landlord must maintain heat, hot water, structural safety, and freedom from pests regardless of what your lease says. Most "as-is" clauses are void.

✓ If your landlord violated these rules

Send a certified demand letter with the exact statute violated and amount owed
File in small claims court for deposits (usually up to $10,000-$15,000)
Report habitability violations to your local housing authority
Main AI generates demand letters and court filing summaries automatically

Employment rights

California Workplace Protections

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Non-compete agreements

Non-competes are almost entirely banned in California. Business & Professions Code §16600 voids nearly all of them.

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Wage protections

Minimum wage $16/hr statewide. Overtime after 8 hours/day (not just 40 hrs/week). Meal break required every 5 hours.

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Pay transparency

Yes — employers 15+ must post salary ranges. SB 1162.

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Severance rights

Severance is never legally required — it's negotiable. Workers 40+ get 21 days to review any waiver of age discrimination claims plus 7 days to revoke (federal OWBPA).

✓ Know before you sign

Never sign a severance agreement without understanding what rights you're waiving
Get any non-compete reviewed before accepting a job offer — they're often negotiable
Wage theft has a statute of limitations — file within 2-3 years
Main AI analyzes your offer letter, NDA, and severance in under 60 seconds

Medical billing rights

California Healthcare Protections

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Itemized bill rights

Hospital charge limits under AB 774. Surprise billing protections. Right to itemized bill within 10 days of request.

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Surprise billing protection

The federal No Surprises Act (2022) caps out-of-network emergency bills at in-network rates. You cannot be balance-billed for emergency care or care at in-network facilities without prior written consent.

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Dispute window

You typically have 30-120 days from your Explanation of Benefits to dispute a bill. Request itemization and dispute duplicate charges, upcoding, and services never received.

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Financial assistance

Nonprofit hospitals must offer charity care programs and cannot charge more than the ACA benchmark amounts to patients who qualify. Always ask before paying.

✓ If your bill looks wrong

Request an itemized bill immediately — they must provide it
Cross-reference CPT codes against your Explanation of Benefits
Dispute duplicate charges and services never received in writing within 30 days
Main AI reads your medical bill and flags every suspicious charge automatically

Common questions

California Rights FAQ

My landlord kept my deposit and it's been 22 days. What do I do?+

Under CA Civil Code §1950.5, your landlord had 21 days to return your deposit with an itemized list of deductions. They've missed the deadline — this means they may have forfeited their right to ANY deductions. Send a certified demand letter immediately. Main AI generates this in under 2 minutes.

My employer gave me a non-compete to sign. Is it enforceable?+

Almost certainly not. California Business & Professions Code §16600 voids non-competes with very narrow exceptions. Even if you signed one, it's likely unenforceable. You can work for a competitor immediately after leaving.

Can I negotiate my severance in California?+

Yes. Severance is never legally required — it's offered in exchange for a release of claims. That means it's always negotiable. Workers 40+ also get 21 days to review plus 7 days to revoke under the OWBPA.

My medical bill seems wrong. What are my rights?+

You have the right to an itemized bill within 10 days of requesting it. You can dispute any charge within 30 days. Surprise billing is capped under the No Surprises Act. Hospitals must offer charity care if your income qualifies.

Main AI enforces your California rights automatically.

Upload any document — lease, offer letter, medical bill, severance agreement. Main AI reads it, flags every violation, cites the exact California statute, and prepares everything ready to send.

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