Non-compete map · California
Dentist non-compete rules in California
California voids employee non-competes almost entirely, including ones signed elsewhere for work performed in California.
General rule for employees; no dentist-specific statute · Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §16600, §16600.5 · verified 2026-09-12
Each entry was checked against the statute or the leading case and law-firm summaries on the review date shown, and carries its citation. An entry retires 180 days after review, or on the day a change it names takes effect, and the page then says so and asks not to be indexed.
General information only, not legal advice. Non-compete law changes frequently, healthcare-specific rules apply in several states, and non-solicitation, tail-coverage and repayment terms are separate obligations. Have a licensed attorney in your state review your agreement before you rely on any of this.
To see what a radius covers around a practice in California, and the rule for your own agreement date, draw it on the non-compete map.
Practice owners comparing a template: the employer contract benchmark.