Lathcheck checklist › Rule explainers
Right to cancel: three, five or seven business days
Not legal advice. This page is a plain-English summary for general information. It may be incomplete, and the statute text controls. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Contractors State License Board or any government agency. For advice about your contract, consult a licensed California attorney.
What the statute says
Short quotes and close paraphrases; “…” marks omitted text. Read the full section at the link.
“You, the buyer, have the right to cancel this contract within three business days. You may cancel by emailing, mailing, faxing, or delivering a written notice to the contractor at the contractor's place of business …”
For contracts with a senior citizen, “three” becomes “five”. Civil Code §1689.5(f) defines a senior citizen as 65 or older.
For repair or restoration of residential premises damaged by a sudden or catastrophic event for which a state or local emergency has been declared, a Seven-Day Right to Cancel notice applies.
The three-day notice is not required if the contract is negotiated at the contractor's place of business, is subject to the seven-day notice, or is with an Alarm Company Act licensee.
In plain English
- Most home improvement contracts need a Three-Day Right to Cancel notice. If an owner signing is 65 or older, it becomes five days. Repairs after a declared emergency use a seven-day notice.
- Since January 1, 2026 the notice must let the buyer cancel by email as well as by mail, fax or delivery (the CSLB bulletin lists this among the 2026 changes).
- The notice may be attached to the contract instead of printed in it, if the contract has the checkbox statement the statute gives (§7159(e)(6)(C)(v), (e)(7)(B)(v)).
- Placement, type size and language rules apply: near the owner's signature, in at least 12-point bold type, and in the same language as the sales presentation.
What the checklist looks for
- The right notice for the answers you give (3, 5 or 7 days), and whether the day count in the text matches.
- The 2026 email wording.
- The attachment checkbox statement (shown as “review”: make sure the notice really is attached).
What it can't check
- Type size, placement, or the language of the sales presentation.
- The Alarm Company Act exception.
Sources
Open the checklist (runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded).