California WARN Notices

WARN Act rules in California

California has its own layoff notice law on top of the federal WARN Act, the California WARN Act. An employer has to satisfy both, so the stricter rule is the one that applies to you.

Notice required

60 days

Employers covered

Any industrial or commercial facility employing 75 or more people at any time in the preceding 12 months.

What triggers notice

A mass layoff of 50 or more employees in 30 days, a relocation of operations 100 or more miles away, or a cessation of operations.

Statute

Cal. Lab. Code 1400-1408

If an employer does not comply

Back pay and lost benefits for up to 60 days, plus a civil penalty of up to $500 per day of violation.

Administered by

California Employment Development Department

Source: California Employment Development Department. Checked 2026-08-10. Plain-language summary, not legal advice. State legislatures amend these rules; confirm the current text before relying on it.