Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1851. Section 1851.
A deposit not gratuitous is called storage. The depositary in such case is called a depositary for hire.
ARTICLE 3. Storage [1851. - 1857.]
Cal. Civil Code - CIV 3.
in effectCal. Civil Code - CIV § 1852. Section 1852.
A depositary for hire must use at least ordinary care for the preservation of the thing deposited.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1853. Section 1853.
In the absence of a different agreement or usage, a depositary for hire is entitled to one week’s hire for the sustenance and shelter of living animals during any fraction of a week, and to half a month’s hire for the storage of any other property during any fraction of a half month.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1854. Section 1854.
In the absence of an agreement as to the length of time during which a deposit is to continue, it may be terminated by the depositor at any time, and by the depositary upon reasonable notice.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1855. Section 1855.
Notwithstanding an agreement respecting the length of time during which a deposit is to continue, it may be terminated by the depositor on paying all that would become due to the depositary in case of the deposit so continuing.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1856. Section 1856.
A depositary for hire has a lien for storage charges and for advances and insurance incurred at the request of the bailor, and for money necessarily expended in and about the care, preservation and keeping of the property stored, and he also has a lien for money advanced at the request of the bailor, to discharge a prior lien, and for the expenses of a sale where default has been made in satisfying a valid lien. The rights of the depositary for hire to such lien are regulated by the title on liens.
Cal. Civil Code - CIV § 1857. Section 1857.
If from any cause other than want of ordinary care and diligence on his part, a depositary for hire is unable to deliver perishable property, baggage, or luggage received by him for storage, or to collect his charges for storage due thereon, he may cause such property to be sold, in open market, to satisfy his lien for storage;
provided
, that no property except perishable property shall be sold, under the provisions of this section, upon which storage charges shall not be due and unpaid for one year at the time of such sale.
All Acts and parts of Acts in conflict with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.
This Act shall take effect from and after its passage.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026