Landlord-Tenant Law · Chico, California

Counsel for California
rental property owners.

Evictions, leases, notices, and every dispute in between. Potter & Harvey has represented North Valley landlords for over four decades, with more than 50 years of combined experience in this area of law.

Request a consultation(530) 399-8028
Practicing in Chico since 1982CA State Bar #107091 & #317193
Practicing in Chico since 1982
50+ years of combined experience
North Valley Property Owners Association industry partners
Faculty at CSU Chico & Cal Northern School of Law
Practice areas

One area of law, done thoroughly

The firm's practice is devoted to landlord-tenant law for rental property owners, alongside conservatorship and probate matters.

Unlawful Detainer & Evictions

When a tenancy has to end, the process is unforgiving of mistakes. We handle unlawful detainer actions from first notice through lockout, done right the first time.

  • Residential & commercial evictions
  • Sheriff lockout coordination
  • Post-judgment enforcement

Notices & Compliance

California landlord-tenant law changes constantly, and the wrong notice can reset an eviction by months. We prepare and serve notices that hold up.

  • Pay-or-quit & cure-or-quit notices
  • Termination notices
  • Statutory compliance review

Leases & Rental Agreements

A well-drafted lease prevents most disputes before they start. We draft and review residential and commercial leases built for California law.

  • Lease drafting & review
  • Addenda & disclosures
  • Commercial lease terms

Landlord-Tenant Litigation

Security deposit claims, habitability disputes, damage claims, and the rest. When a dispute goes to court, you want counsel that lives in this area of law.

  • Deposit & damage disputes
  • Habitability defense
  • Civil litigation

Property Owner Counsel

Ongoing advice for owners and property managers: tenant problems, screening questions, entry rules, and the judgment calls that come up every month.

  • Ongoing advisory relationships
  • Property manager support
  • Portfolio-wide guidance

Conservatorship & Probate

The firm also handles conservatorship and probate matters, guiding families through court processes with the same care we bring to our landlord practice.

  • Conservatorships
  • Probate administration
  • Court-supervised matters
The attorneys

Your counsel, by name

A two-partner firm. The attorney you meet is the attorney who handles your matter.

Dirk D. Potter

Partner

DP

CA State Bar #107091 · Admitted December 1982

Dirk Potter has practiced law in Chico for more than four decades, with a practice devoted to landlord-tenant law along with conservatorship and probate matters. Generations of Butte County rental owners have relied on his counsel through every kind of tenancy problem, market cycle, and change in California housing law.

Beyond his practice, Dirk has spent his career teaching the law he works in, as an adjunct professor of Business Law at CSU Chico since 1983 and an instructor in Administrative Law, Employment Law, and Contracts at Cal Northern School of Law since 2000.

Education

  • J.D., University of California, Davis (1982)
  • B.A. Political Science with honors, CSU Chico (1979)
  • A.A., Butte College

Highlights

  • Practicing law in Chico since 1982
  • Past President, Butte County Bar Association (1999)
  • Past President, North Valley Property Owners Association
  • Adjunct Professor of Business Law, CSU Chico, since 1983
  • Instructor at Cal Northern School of Law since 2000

Dirk is married and has three adult children.

Samuel E. Harvey

Partner

SH

CA State Bar #317193 · Admitted 2017

Sam Harvey found his path in a CSU Chico classroom and never left the trade: he joined the firm as a paralegal while finishing his undergraduate degree, worked as a Certified Law Student through law school at Cal Northern, and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2017. He has practiced landlord-tenant law ever since, becoming a partner in 2022.

That ground-up path means Sam knows the practical side of rental housing disputes as well as the courtroom side: the notices, the paperwork, the timelines, and the phone calls that keep a small problem from becoming a big one.

Education

  • J.D., Cal Northern School of Law (2017)
  • B.A., California State University, Chico

Highlights

  • Focused on landlord-tenant law since admission
  • Rose from paralegal to partner in the same practice
  • Certified Law Student and paralegal before admission
  • Partner since 2022

Sam enjoys spending time with his family and golfing.

How we work

A clear process, start to finish

Legal problems are stressful enough. Ours is a practice built on plain English, honest assessments, and no surprises.

01

Consultation

Tell us what is happening with your property or tenancy. We listen, ask the right questions, and tell you honestly where you stand.

02

Strategy

You get a clear plan: the notices, the timeline, the costs, and the realistic outcomes, explained in plain English before anything is filed.

03

Action

We prepare and serve the paperwork, make the filings, and handle the court appearances. You stay informed at every step.

04

Resolution

Whether it ends in an agreement, a judgment, or a lockout, we see the matter through and help you avoid the next one.

Common questions

Answers before you call

General information about how the process works in Butte County. Every situation is different; none of this is legal advice about your case.

It depends on the notice type, whether the tenant contests the case, and the court calendar. An uncontested unlawful detainer generally moves much faster than a contested one. What we can control is starting with a valid notice and clean paperwork, which is where most delays are born.

No. California law prohibits self-help evictions, and lockouts, utility shutoffs, and removing doors can expose you to serious liability to the tenant. The lawful path runs through notice, an unlawful detainer action, and the sheriff.

After judgment, the sheriff posts a notice of eviction at the property and schedules the lockout. You or a representative must be present, and a deputy meets you at the property to restore possession. We coordinate the scheduling and tell you exactly what to bring and when to be there.

Usually a properly prepared and properly served notice to pay rent or quit. The amounts, the form of the notice, and how it is served all matter, and errors can invalidate the case that follows. Call before serving anything; getting the first step right saves weeks.

Our practice is devoted to representing rental property owners and managers. That focus is exactly why owners hire us: this is the law we work in every day.

Call us at the office and we will explain our fees for your situation up front. No surprises, and no pressure.

Tenant trouble does not improve with time.

The sooner the first notice is done right, the sooner the problem is behind you.

Request a consultation(530) 399-8028
Contact the firm

Tell us about your situation

Call the office or send a note with the basics. We will follow up to discuss your matter and how we can help.

Call the office
(530) 399-8028
Office
45 Jan Ct, Suite 165, Chico, CA 95928
Service area
Chico, Butte County & the North Valley

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