[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000720064
[NAME] DREYFUS CALIFORNIA TAX EXEMPT BOND FUND, INC.
[MULTIPLIER] 1000
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 12-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] MAY-31-2000
[PERIOD-END] MAY-31-2000
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 1048791
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 1018930
[RECEIVABLES] 30850
[ASSETS-OTHER] 11
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 1049791
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 2015
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 1783
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 3798
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 1085526
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 76628
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 83899
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] (9673)
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] (29860)
[NET-ASSETS] 1045993
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 0
[INTEREST-INCOME] 64514
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 8186
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 56328
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] (9707)
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] (73920)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] (27299)
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] (56805)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] (3840)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 3771
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] (13860)
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 2818
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] (188863)
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 476
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 3874
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 6719
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 12
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 8186
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 1119858
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 14.72
[PER-SHARE-NII] .06
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] (.37)
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (.71)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (.05)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] .00
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 13.65
[EXPENSE-RATIO] .007
</TABLE>
