Lease Disclosures Checklist for an Auburn Rental

Why the paperwork comes before the keys

You have a signed application for your Auburn rental and the move-in date is a week away. The lease itself is only part of the packet. California and federal law add a set of disclosures that have to be given, and in some cases signed, before the tenant is bound by the lease.

Missing one can cost you more than a form. A lease that leaves out the AB 1482 exemption statement can leave an otherwise exempt home under the rent cap, and a missing lead form is a federal violation. The checklist below is grouped by how often each item applies, with the code section so you can read the rule yourself.

Disclosures nearly every Auburn lease carries

Auburn's housing is older than many places in the region: the Census Bureau puts the median year built for the city's homes at 1978, so the lead rule reaches a large share of local rentals.

• Lead-based paint (homes built before 1978). Before the tenant is bound, give the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home," disclose any known lead paint or hazards and hand over available reports. The lease or an attachment carries the federal Lead Warning Statement and signatures (40 CFR 745, subpart F).
• Megan's Law notice. The statutory database notice pointing to www.meganslaw.ca.gov, in at least 8-point type. The statute names single-family leases and buildings with more than four units; many owners include it in every lease (Civil Code 2079.10a).
• Flood hazard. Every residential lease since July 1, 2018 must say whether the owner knows the home is in a flood hazard area, point tenants to the state's MyHazards website, and explain that the owner's insurance does not cover tenant belongings (Gov. Code 8589.45).
• Bed bugs. A written notice in at least 10-point type with the statutory information and how to report a suspected infestation, given before a new tenancy begins (Civil Code 1954.603).
• AB 1482 status. Either the exact exemption statement, placed in the lease, or the covered-tenancy notice in at least 12-point type. The covered-or-exempt guide gives the exemption wording in full.

Items that depend on the property

Check each of these against the specific home. If it applies, put it in writing before the lease is signed.

• Shared utility meter. If the tenant's gas or electric meter also serves areas outside the unit, disclose it and sign a written agreement on who pays (Civil Code 1940.9).
• Pest control contract. With a periodic pest control service, give each new tenant a copy of the pest company's notice (Civil Code 1940.8).
• Demolition permit. If you have applied for one, tell prospective tenants in writing before signing a lease or taking any fee (Civil Code 1940.6).
• Former military ordnance. If you actually know of a former ordnance site within one mile, give written notice before signing (Civil Code 1940.7).
• Smoking. If smoking is banned anywhere on the property, the lease must name the no-smoking areas (Civil Code 1947.5).
• A death in the home. A death more than three years before the offer to rent need not be disclosed, but you may never lie when asked directly (Civil Code 1710.2).
• Drug lab remediation order. While one is pending, written notice and a copy of the order go to applicants and are attached to the lease (Health and Safety Code 25400.28).

Newer additions from 2025 and 2026

Tenant-supplied refrigerator. Since 2026, the landlord must provide a working stove and refrigerator for leases entered, amended or extended on or after January 1, 2026. A tenant may bring their own refrigerator only if they ask, and the lease includes the statutory checkbox statement (Civil Code 1941.1).

Electronic deposit refund notice. If the tenant paid rent or the deposit electronically, AB 414 requires the remaining deposit to go back electronically unless you agreed in writing on another method, and you must tell the tenant of that right in writing once either side gives notice to end the tenancy. Many owners settle the method in the lease so the question is answered early. The move-in and move-out guide covers the rest of the deposit process.

Rent reporting offer. AB 2747 requires some landlords to offer reporting of on-time rent to a credit bureau, but an owner of a building with 15 or fewer units is exempt unless the owner holds more than one building and is a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member. Most owners of one or two Auburn houses fall under the exemption.

Mold. The mold disclosure statutes hinge on state exposure standards, and the Department of Public Health says no such limits exist in California. Visible mold is still a habitability problem, so disclose and fix what you know about.

Coming April 1, 2027, and keeping the records

SB 1296 adds a written pet policy or addendum, even a "no pets" one, given with every application. The pets and livestock guide explains what it has to cover.

Keep signed copies of everything. The lead rule alone requires the landlord and any agent to keep the signed lead form for at least 3 years from the start of the lease, and federal rules make a leasing agent responsible for telling the owner about these duties. The older post on Auburn rental laws lists a shorter set of disclosures; this checklist is the fuller, current version.