Squatter or tenant? Why you can’t just change the locks
In California you cannot remove an occupant — even a squatter — by changing the locks, shutting off utilities, or removing belongings. Self-help eviction is illegal and can make you liable for damages. The correct path depends on whether the occupant is a trespasser or has acquired tenancy rights, which determines whether you use a police trespass remedy or a formal unlawful detainer.
It feels obvious: someone is in your property without permission, so you change the locks. In California, that instinct can turn your problem into a lawsuit against you. Self-help removal is illegal regardless of how the person got in.
Why self-help is off the table
California prohibits landlords and owners from using self-help to remove occupants — that includes changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the occupant’s belongings. Doing so can expose you to statutory penalties and civil liability, even when the occupant clearly has no right to be there.
Trespasser or tenant?
- A true trespasser — someone who broke in and never had permission — may sometimes be removed with law-enforcement help as a criminal matter.
- An occupant who was let in, paid anything resembling rent, or has stayed long enough may have acquired tenancy rights, which requires a formal eviction.
- The line is often blurry, and guessing wrong is what creates liability. The classification drives everything that follows.
The right way to regain possession
The correct process starts with determining the occupant’s legal status. If they are a tenant or arguably one, you proceed through an unlawful detainer — notice, filing, and, if needed, a sheriff-conducted lockout. Doing it right from the start is almost always faster than an illegal shortcut that gets unwound in court.