CHAPTER 6. Unperformed Contracts for Sale of Real Property [886.010. - 886.050.]

Cal. Civil Code - CIV 6.

in effect

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 886.010. Section 886.010.

As used in this chapter: (a) “Contract for sale of real property” means an agreement wherein one party agrees to convey title to real property to another party upon the satisfaction of specified conditions set forth in the contract and which requires conveyance of title within one year from the date of formation of the contract, whether designated in the agreement a “contract for sale of real property,” “land sale contract,” “deposit receipt,” “agreement for sale,” “agreement to convey,” or otherwise. (b) “Recorded contract for sale of real property” includes the entire terms of a contract for sale of real property that is recorded in its entirety or is evidenced by a recorded memorandum or short form of the contract.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 886.020. Section 886.020.

If the party to whom title to real property is to be conveyed pursuant to a recorded contract for the sale of real property fails to satisfy the specified conditions set forth in the contract and does not seek performance of the contract or restitution of amounts paid under the contract, the party shall, upon demand therefor made after the operative date of this chapter, execute a release of the contract, duly acknowledged for record, to the party who agreed to convey title. Willful violation of this section by the party to whom title is to be conveyed without good cause makes the party liable for the damages the party who agreed to convey title sustains by reason of the violation, including but not limited to court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees in an action to clear title to the real property. Nothing in this section makes a release or a demand therefor a condition precedent to an action to clear title to the real property.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 886.030. Section 886.030.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a recorded contract for sale of real property expires of record at the later of the following times: (1) Five years after the date for conveyance of title provided in the contract or, if no date for conveyance of title is provided in the contract, five years after the last date provided in the contract for satisfaction of the specified conditions set forth in the contract. (2) If there is a recorded extension of the contract within the time prescribed in paragraph (1), five years after the date for conveyance of title provided in the extension or, if no date for conveyance of title is provided in the extension, five years after the last date provided in the extension for satisfaction of the specified conditions set forth in the contract. (b) The time prescribed in this section may be waived or extended only by an instrument that is recorded before expiration of the prescribed times.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 886.040. Section 886.040.

Upon the expiration of record of a recorded contract for sale of real property pursuant to this chapter, the contract has no effect, and does not constitute an encumbrance or cloud, on the title to the real property as against a person other than a party to the contract.

Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 886.050. Section 886.050.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, this chapter applies on the operative date to all recorded contracts for sale of real property, whether recorded before, on, or after the operative date. (b) This chapter shall not cause a recorded contract for sale of real property to expire of record before the passage of two years after the operative date of this chapter.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026