California Lease Template, LeaseKit vs LegalZoom vs Rocket Lawyer in 2026
For California landlords in 2026, the cheapest statute-cited option is LeaseKit at $29 one-time. LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer offer broader legal services but their California templates are generic at the state level. eForms is free but blank. LawDepot is cheaper than LegalZoom but state-genericness is similar.
The most-missed California rule across generic templates: post-AB 12 deposit cap (1 month, July 2024) and post-AB 414 renumbering of Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5(c)(5)(A) (effective January 2026).
## What matters in a California lease 2026
A California lease in 2026 needs to reflect:
- AB 12 (effective Jul 1, 2024): 1-month deposit cap (reduced from 2 months unfurnished / 3 months furnished).
- AB 414 (effective Jan 1, 2026): renumbering of small-owner carve-out from Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5(c)(4)(A) to (c)(5)(A).
- AB 2801 (Jul 1, 2025): photographic documentation requirement at move-in and move-out.
- AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act): 5% + CPI or 10% rent cap, just-cause termination after 12 months.
- AB 646 (Cal. Gov. Code 8589.45): flood disclosure for properties with flood history.
- Civ. Code 1962: owner and agent disclosure with California street address.
- Megan's Law disclosure (Cal. Civ. Code 2079.10a).
Price: $29 one-time, no subscription.
Statute citations: Every clause references the underlying section (Civ. Code 1950.5(c)(5)(A) post-AB 414, 1947.12, 1946.2, 1962, 1947.5, 2079.10a, Penal Code 290.46, etc.).
Coverage: AB 12 + AB 414 + AB 2801 + AB 1482 + AB 646 + AB 2747. Post-2024 audited.
Format: Signature-ready PDF, no account required.
Trade-off: California-only. If you also need a Texas lease, that's a separate $29 purchase.
Generate California lease at leasekit.io.
Price: $39-69 one-time per document, or $39/month subscription with multiple docs.
Statute citations: Generic. The California lease is templated similarly to the Texas lease with state-specific name swap.
Coverage: Pre-AB 414 renumbering (most generic templates still cite (c)(4)(A)). Pre-AB 2801 photo requirements.
Format: Online editor + PDF download.
Trade-off: Broader legal services brand, but California compliance is shallow. Best if you need a one-stop legal services subscription, not California-specific accuracy.
Price: $39.99/month subscription with 7-day free trial. No standalone purchase option.
Statute citations: Generic. Similar template engine to LegalZoom.
Coverage: Pre-AB 414 in most cases. Pre-AB 2801.
Format: Online editor.
Trade-off: Cost-effective if you generate many leases per year (3+ per year breaks even vs $29 each at LeaseKit). Generic California compliance.
Price: Free.
Statute citations: Some references in the boilerplate, mostly outdated.
Coverage: Pre-AB 12 (still cites 2-month cap). No AB 414 awareness. No AB 2801 photo requirements.
Format: Word/PDF download. Many fields are blank — landlord fills in manually.
Trade-off: Free is good for a starting point or for landlords who plan to have an attorney review. Not advisable to use as-is in California.
Price: $35-50 one-time, or $39/month subscription with multiple docs.
Statute citations: Some, but inconsistent across documents.
Coverage: Updated more recently than eForms, but still pre-AB 414 in most templates we audited (early 2026).
Format: Online editor + PDF.
Trade-off: Slightly cheaper than LegalZoom for one-time purchases. State-specificness is weaker than LeaseKit, broader than eForms.
| Use case | Best choice | |---|---| | One-time California lease, statute-cited | LeaseKit ($29) | | Multi-state portfolio, monthly subscription | LegalZoom or Rocket Lawyer | | Free starting template (will review with attorney) | eForms | | Mid-tier one-time | LawDepot |
For California specifically, LeaseKit is the only template service we audited that has AB 414, AB 2801, and the full post-AB 12 deposit cap structure correctly cited. The 8 audit rounds against primary California sources is documented at leasekit.io/statute-updates.
If you want to verify any clause yourself before purchasing, the Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5 text is at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov; AB 414 bill text is at the same source. Compare any template you're considering against the primary text.