California law ยท Updated 2026-08-23
California's Right to Repair Act, explained for phone repair.
SB 244 became operative July 1, 2024. This guide explains the access framework, coverage conditions, timelines, repair-shop disclosure rule, limitations, and primary sources. It is general information, not legal advice.
For covered electronic products, manufacturers must make sufficient documentation, functional parts, and tools available to owners and repair businesses on fair and reasonable terms. The product, first-manufactured and first-sold-or-used dates, wholesale price, manufacturer repair-material practices, and statutory exceptions all matter.
What does SB 244 require?
The chaptered act states an intent to create a fair repair marketplace and prohibit intentional barriers to third-party repair. It requires repair materials for covered products even when the required availability period extends beyond the warranty period.
Which products are covered?
California's current consumer guide says a covered product must be manufactured and sold or used in California starting July 1, 2021, have a wholesale cost of at least $50, and fall within a covered product definition that includes cell phones. The statutory text contains the controlling definitions and exclusions.
Do not infer coverage from the model year alone. A phone's facts still need to be compared with the statute.
What counts as repair material?
Manuals, diagrams, service-code descriptions, schematics, and similar information used for diagnosis, maintenance, or repair.
Replacement parts or assemblies made available by the manufacturer to an authorized repair provider.
Software, hardware, or other apparatus used to diagnose, repair, program, pair, or calibrate a product.
What must an unauthorized repair business disclose?
Before repairing a covered product, a service and repair facility or service dealer that is not an authorized repair provider must give the customer written notice that it is not authorized for that manufacturer. It must also disclose if it uses used replacement parts or parts supplied by someone other than the manufacturer. Businesses should read the statute and current state guidance and obtain legal advice for their own forms and practices.
Which limitations matter?
- The act does not require disclosure of trade secrets, licensing of intellectual property, or distribution of source code.
- It does not require special materials that bypass owner-set antitheft security without owner authorization.
- It does not require a manufacturer to sell a service part it no longer provides to authorized repair providers.
- It excludes specified product categories, including video game consoles.
- It does not make the manufacturer or authorized repair provider liable for damage caused by an owner or service dealer in the situations described by the act.