Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
This act shall be known as the “California Self-Service Storage Facility Act.”
California Business and Professions Code — §§ 21700-21716
Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
This act shall be known as the “California Self-Service Storage Facility Act.”
Amended (as amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 36, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2022, Ch. 420, Sec. 1. (AB 2960) Effective January 1, 2023.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
self-service storage facility for residential purposes. A self-service storage facility is not a warehouse, nor a public utility, as defined in Section 216 of the Public Utilities Code. If an owner issues a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, or other document of title for the personal property stored, the owner and the occupant are subject to the provisions of Division 7 (commencing with Section 7101) of the Commercial Code, and the provisions of this chapter do not apply.
their sublessee, successor, or assign, who is entitled to the use of the storage space at a self-service storage facility under a rental agreement, to the exclusion of others.
the occupant in a subsequent written notice of a change of address.
Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 88, Sec. 10. (AB 176) Effective January 1, 2010.
is not subject to regulation under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code, provided that all of the following requirements are met:
(commencing with Section 5101) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code.
with respect to that transfer.
The disclosure of terms and conditions required by this subdivision, and the rental agreement, shall be received by the customer a minimum of 72 hours prior to delivery of the empty individual storage container; however, the customer may, in writing, knowingly and voluntarily waive that receipt. The company shall record in writing, and retain for a period of at least six months after the end of the rental, the time and method of delivery of the information, any waiver made by the customer, and the times and dates of initial pickup and redelivery of the containerized goods.
in the company’s handling of the containers and in light of any limitation of liability contained in the rental agreement.
its own discretion, nor for the delivery of a container to a customer’s premises if the customer advises the company, at least 24 hours before the agreed time of container dropoff, orally or in writing, that he or she is rescinding the request for service.
Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 2002.
The owner of a self-service storage facility and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns have a lien upon all personal property located at a self-service storage facility for rent, labor, late payment fees, or other charges, present or future, incurred pursuant to the rental agreement and for expenses necessary for the preservation, sale, or disposition of personal property subject to the provisions of this chapter. The lien may be enforced consistent with the provisions in this chapter.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 778, Sec. 1. (AB 983) Effective January 1, 2015.
registration or identification under the Vehicle Code shall be enforced in accordance with Section 3071 of the Civil Code, in the case of a vehicle, or Section 503 of the Harbors and Navigation Code, in the case of a vessel, and not as prescribed in Sections 21705 to 21711, inclusive.
of pursuant to Section 3073 of the Civil Code, in the case of a vehicle, or Section 507.5 of the Harbors and Navigation Code, in the case of a vessel.
12520 of the Vehicle Code, and shall act in accordance with Section 22658 of the Vehicle Code in removing the property.
Amended (as amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 36, Sec. 4) by Stats. 2022, Ch. 420, Sec. 3. (AB 2960) Effective January 1, 2023.
If any part of the rent or other charges due from an occupant remain unpaid for 14 consecutive days, an owner may terminate the right of the occupant to the use of the storage space at a self-service storage facility by sending a notice to the occupant’s last known address and to the alternative address specified in subdivision (b) of Section 21712. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, postage prepaid, by regular first-class mail if the owner obtains a certificate of mailing indicating the date the notice was mailed, or by email pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 21712. The notice shall contain all of the following:
time of the notice and the date when the sums became due.
Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
A notice in substantially the following form shall satisfy the requirements of Section 21703:
Amended (as amended by Stats. 2020, Ch. 36, Sec. 6) by Stats. 2022, Ch. 420, Sec. 5. (AB 2960) Effective January 1, 2023.
by first-class mail if the owner obtains a certificate of mailing, postage prepaid, addressed to the occupant’s last known address, and to the alternative address specified in subdivision (b) of Section 21712, or by email pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 21712, both of the following:
will be sold to satisfy the lien after a specified date that is not less than 14 days from the date of mailing the notice, unless the occupant executes and returns by certified mail a declaration in opposition to lien sale in the form set forth in paragraph (2).
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 778, Sec. 3. (AB 983) Effective January 1, 2015.
If a declaration in opposition to the lien sale, executed under penalty of perjury, is not received by the owner on or prior to the date specified in the notice of lien sale by certified mail, is not completed and signed by the occupant, or if the occupant withdraws the declaration in opposition to the lien sale in writing, the owner may, subject to Sections 21708 and 21709, sell the property upon complying with the requirements
set forth in Section 21707.
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 80, Sec. 13. (SB 1525) Effective January 1, 2025.
(A) Once per week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the public notice district where the sale is to be held or in the county where the self-service storage facility is located.
(B) Once in a newspaper of general circulation published in the public
notice district where the sale is to be held or in the county where the self-service storage facility is located and once on any publicly accessible internet website that customarily conducts or advertises online auctions or sales. The online advertisement shall remain online for seven days before the sale.
goods are being stored and the name and location of the storage facility.
any remaining excess proceeds to the treasury of the county in which the sale was held.
Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
Any person who has a perfected security interest under Division 9 (commencing with Section 9101) of the Commercial Code may claim any personal property subject to the security interest and subject to a lien pursuant to this chapter by paying the total amount due, as specified in the preliminary lien notice, for the storage of the property, if no declaration of opposition to the lien sale is executed and returned by the occupant. Upon payment of the total amount due, the owner shall deliver possession of the particular property subject to the security interest to the person who paid the total amount due. The owner shall not be liable to any person for any
action taken pursuant to this section if the owner has fully complied with the requirements of Sections 21704 and 21705.
Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 439, Sec. 5. (AB 655) Effective January 1, 2011.
Prior to any sale pursuant to Section 21707, any person claiming a right to the goods may pay the amount necessary to satisfy the lien together with one month’s rent in advance. In that event, the goods shall not be sold, but shall be retained by the owner pending a court order directing the disposition of the property. If a court order is not obtained within 30 days following the date of the payment pursuant to this section, the
claimant shall pay the owner the monthly rental charge for the space where the property is stored pursuant to the terms of the rental agreement. If the claimant does not pay this rent, the owner may sell or dispose of the personal property in accordance with Section 21707. The owner shall have no liability for the sale or other disposition of the personal property to any claimant who fails to secure a court order or pay the required rental charge as set forth in this section, provided the owner has fully complied with the requirements of this chapter.
Repealed and added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 439, Sec. 7. (AB 655) Effective January 1, 2011.
Procedure, provided that the amount of the lien is within the monetary jurisdiction of the court. If the action is filed in small claims court, all of the procedures set forth in that chapter shall apply, including the procedures for service of the summons and complaint.
Section 21707.
Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
A purchaser in good faith of goods sold to enforce a lien or a judgment entered on the lien in favor of the owner on goods stored at a self-service storage facility takes the goods free of any rights of persons against whom the lien was claimed, despite noncompliance by the owner of the storage facility with the requirements of this chapter.
Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 369, Sec. 1. (AB 498) Effective January 1, 2026.
address of another person to whom the preliminary lien notice and subsequent notices required to be given under this chapter may be sent. Notices sent pursuant to Section 21703 or 21705 shall be sent to the occupant’s address and the alternative address, if both addresses are provided by the occupant. Failure of an occupant to provide an alternative address shall not affect an owner’s remedies under this chapter or under any other law.
(A) The rental agreement states that lien notices may be sent to the occupant and to the alternate by email.
(B) The occupant provides a written signature on the rental agreement consenting to receive lien notices by email.
delivered to the occupant’s email address, and there is evidence demonstrating that the occupant downloaded, printed, viewed, opened, or otherwise acknowledged receipt of the document.
receipt of the electronic transmission of the document by replying to the email communication, and there is delivery path evidence that the reply email was sent from the occupant’s email address.
Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 91, Sec. 1. (AB 1916) Effective January 1, 2025.
date before which the claim must be made. The date specified in the notice shall be a date not less than 15 days after the notice is personally delivered or emailed, or, if mailed, not less than 18 days after the notice is deposited in the mail.
Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 91, Sec. 2. (AB 1916) Effective January 1, 2025.
above.”
Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 91, Sec. 3. (AB 1916) Effective January 1, 2025.
The personal property described in the notice shall either be left at the self-service storage facility or be stored by the owner in a place of safekeeping until the owner either releases the property pursuant to Section 21712.7 or disposes of the property pursuant to Section 21712.8. The owner shall exercise reasonable care in storing the property, but the owner is not liable to the former occupant or any other person for any loss not caused by the owner’s deliberate or negligent act.
Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 91, Sec. 4. (AB 1916) Effective January 1, 2025.
Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 91, Sec. 5. (AB 1916) Effective January 1, 2025.
Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 778, Sec. 4. (AB 983) Effective January 1, 2015.
This chapter shall not be construed to impair or affect the right of the parties to create additional rights, duties, and obligations in and by virtue of the rental agreement, including, but not limited to, the right to limit the value of the property the occupant may store in the storage space. The rights provided by this chapter shall be in addition to all other rights provided by law to a creditor against his or her
debtor.
Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 156, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2001.
amount of the late payment fee shall be specified in the occupant’s rental agreement.
agreement provides for monthly rent of one hundred dollars ($100) or more.
Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
The provisions of this chapter shall only apply to rental agreements entered into, or extended, or renewed after the effective date of this chapter.
Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
All rental agreements entered into before the effective date of this chapter, and not extended or renewed after that date, and the rights, duties, and interests flowing from them, shall remain valid, and may be enforced or terminated in accordance with their terms or as permitted by any other statute or law of this state.
Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 353, Sec. 1. (SB 709) Effective January 1, 2026.
first 12 months following the date of the rental agreement.
clearly calls attention to the language and meet either of the following criteria:
Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 91, Sec. 6. (AB 1916) Effective January 1, 2025.
The owner may, upon the expiration of a period of at least 30 days from giving notice in writing to the occupant by personal delivery, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the last known address of the occupant, or by email pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 21712, change the terms of the rental agreement. The notice, upon the expiration of a period of at least 30 days from the date of service, shall in and of itself operate and be effectual to create and establish, as a part of the rental agreement, the terms, rents, and conditions specified in the notice, if the occupant continues to store personal property at the self-service storage facility after the notice takes effect.
Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.
If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.