When entry becomes abuse
It can be. While landlords have a limited right to enter for legitimate reasons with proper notice, using repeated "inspections" or entries to intrude, intimidate, or pressure a tenant can amount to harassment and a violation of your privacy.
Under Civil Code Section 1954, entry is meant to be for specific purposes — like necessary repairs, agreed services, showing the unit, or emergencies — and generally requires proper advance notice, usually at least 24 hours in writing, during reasonable hours. When a landlord schedules constant, unnecessary inspections, enters far more than any real need requires, or uses entry to watch, confront, or unsettle you, that pattern can cross into abuse.
A serious or repeated violation of the entry rules is exactly the kind of conduct the harassment laws address, and it can also interfere with your right to quiet enjoyment of your home.
Keep a log of each entry — the date, time, stated reason, and notice given or not given. If your landlord is abusing entry to harass you, that record matters. A free, confidential review can explain your rights and options.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.