What does AB 1414 do?

California Civil Code section 1942.8 requires a landlord or agent to allow a qualifying residential tenant to opt out of paying for a third-party internet service provider subscription offered in connection with the tenancy. The statute covers wired internet, cellular and satellite service and expressly includes bulk-billing arrangements as an example.

Does AB 1414 ban bulk internet programs?

No. The statute expressly says it does not prevent a landlord or agent from offering bulk-billing arrangements. The key issue is whether a tenant covered by the statute is allowed to opt out of paying for the third-party ISP subscription.

Does AB 1414 guarantee that another provider can serve my apartment?

No. The law addresses payment for a third-party ISP subscription offered with the tenancy. It does not itself guarantee that a different provider has facilities, building access, available wiring, or serviceability at a particular unit.

Is there a required statewide AB 1414 opt-out form?

Civil Code section 1942.8 does not prescribe a single statewide opt-out form. Keep written records of any request or response and use official or qualified professional guidance for situation-specific questions.

What if a landlord does not allow the opt-out?

The statute states that if a landlord or agent violates the opt-out requirement, the tenant may deduct the cost of the third-party ISP subscription from rent, and it also prohibits retaliation consistent with Civil Code section 1942.5. Because rent deductions can have legal consequences, tenants should verify the current law and consider qualified legal guidance before acting.

CALIFORNIA APARTMENT INTERNET · AB 1414

Understand your internet choices when service is tied to your tenancy.

Q: When does the law apply?

The enacted language applies to residential tenancies commenced, renewed, or continuing on a month-to-month or other periodic basis on or after January 1, 2026. The exact facts and documents still matter in any individual situation.

AB 1414 added Civil Code section 1942.8. This resource explains the enacted rule in plain language, helps renters and property teams identify common billing structures, and separates the right to opt out of paying from the separate question of which providers can actually serve an address.

Read the official bill text Check internet at my address

Educational resource · Reviewed September 22, 2026 · Not legal advice

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

The opt-out rule and the service-choice question are related, but they are not the same thing.

Opt out of paying

For covered residential tenancies, the tenant must be allowed to opt out of paying for a third-party ISP subscription offered in connection with the tenancy.

Bulk programs may still be offered

The statute does not prohibit a landlord or agent from offering a bulk-billing arrangement.

Availability is separate

Opting out of a charge does not prove that another ISP has network access or can activate service at a specific unit.

RENTERS

Start with the documents and the billing line—not the label alone.

Documentation to review

Executed lease agreement and any internet, technology or amenity addenda
Lease commencement, renewal, or month-to-month / periodic status
Rent ledger, statement, resident portal, or recurring fee description
Name of the company actually providing the internet subscription
Written notices, opt-out instructions, and management responses

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

A clear process can separate resident questions from serviceability questions.

1. Identify the charge

Confirm whether the resident is paying for a third-party ISP subscription, a broader package, or another type of fee.

2. Confirm tenancy timing

Review whether the tenancy was commenced or renewed, or is continuing on a month-to-month or other periodic basis, on or after January 1, 2026.

3. Document the response

Use clear written communication for opt-out procedures, billing changes, and effective dates.

4. Keep availability separate

Do not describe an alternate provider as available until that provider or a reliable serviceability source confirms the address or unit.

BILLING STRUCTURES & COMMON NAMES

The same type of arrangement can appear under different names.

“Bulk internet” is only one phrase residents may see. The billing label does not by itself determine whether Civil Code section 1942.8 applies.

Bulk internet / bulk billingA property-level arrangement under which service is offered to multiple residents, often at a negotiated rate.

Technology packageA bundled resident charge that may include internet plus other technology or building services.

Managed Wi-FiBuilding-wide or property-managed connectivity that may use shared infrastructure and centralized network management.

Community internet / resident internetProperty-branded terms sometimes used for internet included or offered through the community.

Amenity or technology feeA broader fee that may contain an internet component along with other services or amenities.

Bundled services / communications packageA combined charge that can include internet, television, telephone, security, or other services.

Coverage turns on the substance of the arrangement. The statutory language focuses on paying for a subscription from a third-party internet service provider offered in connection with the tenancy. A marketing label alone is not enough to classify a charge.

DEFINITIONS

Useful terms when reading a lease, addendum, or rent ledger.

Bulk-billing arrangement: A billing model in which a property or landlord has an arrangement involving internet service for multiple residents. AB 1414 uses bulk billing as an example of a third-party ISP subscription arrangement.
Third-party ISP subscription: A subscription for wired internet, cellular, or satellite service supplied by an internet service provider other than the landlord or agent.
Lease commencement: The date a residential tenancy begins under the applicable rental agreement.
Lease renewal: The start of a renewed tenancy term. The specific document and facts determine whether a transaction is a renewal.
Month-to-month / periodic tenancy: A tenancy that continues for recurring periods rather than a single fixed end date. Section 1942.8 expressly refers to month-to-month and other periodic tenancies.
Service availability: Whether an ISP can actually deliver and activate service at the specific address or unit. This is a technical and commercial serviceability question separate from billing rights.

FAQ

Common AB 1414 questions.

PUBLIC RESOURCES

Verify the law and housing guidance at the source.

California Legislative Information — AB 1414Official chaptered bill text, history, votes and analyses.California Courts — Landlord/Tenant Self-HelpState court self-help information for rental housing issues.California Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentState housing programs, policy and public information.FCC National Broadband MapProvider-reported broadband availability information by location.

RELATED AB 1414 RESEARCH

Bulk internet in apartments

Understand bulk billing, community internet and why serviceability remains a separate question.

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Mandatory apartment internet fees

Research recurring internet and technology-package charges using the current California framework.

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California apartment internet opt-out

Review AB 1414, Civil Code section 1942.8 and qualifying opt-out questions.

Read focused guide

Apartment technology-package fees

Separate internet, managed Wi-Fi and other bundled resident services.

Read focused guide

Property-manager AB 1414 workflow

Keep resident billing decisions separate from provider and unit-level serviceability.

Read focused guide

Can a California landlord require internet?

Identify what a charge actually covers before applying the statutory framework.

Read focused guide

Managed Wi-Fi apartment opt-out

Distinguish the network model from the underlying billing arrangement.

Read focused guide

Bulk internet versus managed Wi-Fi

Compare property billing arrangements with building network administration.

Read focused guide

What happens after an internet opt-out?

Plan the separate address-level research needed for replacement service.

Read focused guide

AB 1414 effective date and renewal

Understand why January 1, 2026 and the tenancy timeline both matter.

Read focused guide

SERVICE AVAILABILITY

Want to know what else may serve your address?

Connect Point ISP can help research likely internet options, but an alternate provider should not be treated as available until current address-level evidence supports it. Checking availability does not modify a lease or cancel a property charge.

Check my address

Important: Connect Point ISP is an independent internet research and comparison platform. This page provides general educational information, not legal advice, and does not interpret a lease or determine whether a specific charge is lawful. For a dispute or rent-deduction decision, verify the current statute and consider qualified legal guidance.

Understand your internet choices when service is tied to your tenancy.

The opt-out rule and the service-choice question are related, but they are not the same thing.

Start with the documents and the billing line—not the label alone.

Documentation to review

A clear process can separate resident questions from serviceability questions.

The same type of arrangement can appear under different names.

Useful terms when reading a lease, addendum, or rent ledger.

Common AB 1414 questions.

What does AB 1414 do?

When does the law apply?

Does AB 1414 ban bulk internet programs?

Does AB 1414 guarantee that another provider can serve my apartment?

Is there a required statewide AB 1414 opt-out form?

What if a landlord does not allow the opt-out?

Verify the law and housing guidance at the source.

Explore the question people are actually trying to solve.

Want to know what else may serve your address?