0000720064 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001378Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001376Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000073387Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000130450Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:PrincipalRisks2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member oef:RiskLoseMoneyMember 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member oef:RiskNotInsuredMember 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Municipalsecuritiesrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:State-specificrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Interestraterisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Creditrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Highyieldsecuritiesrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Liquidityrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Valuationrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Marketrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Prepaymentrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:Managementrisk2Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2016-12-31 2016-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2017-12-31 2017-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2018-12-31 2018-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2019-12-31 2019-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2020-12-31 2020-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2021-12-31 2021-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2023-12-31 2023-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2024-12-31 2024-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2025-12-31 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsMember 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000000023Member oef:AfterTaxesOnDistributionsAndSalesMember 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001378Member 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001378Member 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001378Member 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001376Member 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001376Member 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000001376Member 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000073387Member 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000073387Member 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000073387Member 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000130450Member 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000130450Member 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:C000130450Member 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:BloombergUSMunicipalBondIndexreflectsnodeductionsforfeesexpensesortaxes31Member 2026-05-31 2026-05-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:BloombergUSMunicipalBondIndexreflectsnodeductionsforfeesexpensesortaxes31Member 2025-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:BloombergUSMunicipalBondIndexreflectsnodeductionsforfeesexpensesortaxes31Member 2021-01-01 2025-12-31 0000720064 cik0000720064:S000000016Member cik0000720064:BloombergUSMunicipalBondIndexreflectsnodeductionsforfeesexpensesortaxes31Member 2016-01-01 2025-12-31 iso4217:USD pure N-1A 2026-09-30 2026-09-30 DCAAX DCACX DCMIX DCAYX DRCAX Fund Summary Investment Objective The fund seeks as high a level of current income, exempt from federal and California state income taxes, as is consistent with the preservation of capital. Fees and Expenses This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and examples below. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the fund or shares of other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds that are subject to a sales charge. More information about sales charges, including these and other discounts and waivers, is available from your financial professional and in the Shareholder Guide section beginning on page 12 of the prospectus, in the Appendix on page A-1 of the prospectus and in the How to Buy Shares section and the Additional Information About How to Buy Shares section beginning on page II-1 and page III-1, respectively, of the fund's Statement of Additional Information. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in the fund or shares of other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds that are subject to a sales charge. 50000 Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment) 0.0450 0 0 0 0 0 0.0100 0 0 0 Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment) 0.0045 0.0045 0.0045 0.0045 0.0045 0 0.0075 0 0 0 0.0025 0.0025 0 0 0.0006 0.0015 0.0021 0.0016 0.0011 0.0015 0.0040 0.0046 0.0016 0.0011 0.0021 0.0085 0.0166 0.0061 0.0056 0.0066 Example The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be: 533 533 709 709 900 900 1452 1452 269 523 902 1965 169 523 902 1965 62 62 195 195 340 340 762 762 57 57 179 179 313 313 701 701 67 67 211 211 368 368 822 822 Portfolio Turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20.48% of the average value of its portfolio. 0.2048 Principal Investment Strategy To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in municipal bonds that provide income exempt from federal and California state personal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax. Municipal bonds are debt securities or other obligations issued by states, territories and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, or multistate agencies and authorities.The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in municipal bonds rated, at the time of purchase, investment grade (i.e., Baa/BBB or higher) or the unrated equivalent as determined by Insight North America LLC, the fund's sub-adviser. For additional yield, the fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in municipal bonds rated, at the time of purchase, below investment grade ("high yield" or "junk" bonds) or the unrated equivalent as determined by the fund's sub-adviser. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund's portfolio normally exceeds ten years, but the fund may invest without regard to maturity. A bond's maturity is the length of time until the principal must be fully repaid with interest. Dollar-weighted average maturity is an average of the stated maturities of the bonds held by the fund, based on their dollar-weighted proportions in the fund.The fund's sub-adviser focuses on identifying undervalued sectors and securities. To select municipal bonds for the fund, the sub-adviser uses fundamental credit analysis to estimate the relative value and attractiveness of various sectors and securities and actively trades among various sectors and securities based on their apparent relative values. The fund seeks to invest in several different sectors, and does not seek to overweight any particular sector but may do so depending on each sector's relative value at a given time.A rigorous sell discipline is employed to evaluate all fund holdings. Current holdings may become sell candidates if creditworthiness is deteriorating, if bonds with better risk and return characteristics become available, or if the holding no longer meets the sub-adviser's strategic or portfolio construction objectives.Although the fund seeks to provide income exempt from federal and California state income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax, income from some of the fund's holdings may be subject to these taxes. To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in municipal bonds that provide income exempt from federal and California state personal income taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax. Municipal bonds are debt securities or other obligations issued by states, territories and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities, or multistate agencies and authorities. <div style="border-bottom:0.25pt; border-bottom-style:solid; border-bottom-color:#000000; padding:0pt 0pt 1pt 0pt;"><div style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; text-align:left; color:#000000; font-weight:bold;">Principal Risks</div></div>An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money. · Municipal securities risk: Municipal securities are subject to interest rate, credit, liquidity, valuation, market and political risks. The amount of public information available about municipal securities is generally less than that for corporate equities or bonds. Special factors, such as legislative and regulatory changes, executive orders, voter initiatives, and state and local economic and business developments, may adversely affect the value of the fund's investments in municipal securities. Other factors include the general conditions of the municipal securities market, the size of the particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issue. Changes in economic, business or political conditions relating to a particular municipal project, municipality, or state, territory or possession of the United States in which the fund invests may have an impact on the fund's share price. Any credit impairment could adversely impact the value of municipal bonds, which could negatively impact the performance of the fund. In addition, income from municipal securities held by the fund could be declared taxable because of, among other things, unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities, or noncompliant conduct of an issuer or other obligated party. Loss of tax-exempt status for municipal securities held by the fund may cause interest received and distributed to shareholders by the fund to be taxable and may result in a significant decline in the values of such municipal securities. · State-specific risk: The fund is subject to the risk that California's economy, and the revenues underlying its municipal obligations, may decline. Investing primarily in the municipal obligations of a single state makes the fund more sensitive to risks specific to that state and may entail more risk than investing in the municipal obligations of multiple states as a result of potentially less diversification. · Interest rate risk: Prices of bonds and other fixed rate fixed-income securities tend to move inversely with changes in interest rates. Typically, a rise in rates will adversely affect fixed-income securities and, accordingly, will cause the value of the fund's investments in these securities to decline. A wide variety of market factors can cause interest rates to rise, including central bank monetary policy, rising inflation and changes in general economic conditions. It is difficult to predict the pace at which central banks or monetary authorities may increase (or decrease) interest rates or the timing, frequency, or magnitude of such changes. During periods of very low interest rates, which occur from time to time due to market forces or actions of governments and/or their central banks, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in the U.S., the fund may be subject to a greater risk of principal decline from rising interest rates. When interest rates fall, the fund's investments in new securities may be at lower yields and may reduce the fund's income. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from fund performance. The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of fixed-income securities is generally greater for securities with longer effective maturities and durations because such instruments do not mature, reset interest rates or become callable for longer periods of time. Unlike investment grade bonds, however, the prices of high yield ("junk") bonds may fluctuate unpredictably and not necessarily inversely with changes in interest rates. · Credit risk: Failure of an issuer of a security to make timely interest or principal payments when due, or a decline or perception of a decline in the credit quality of the security, can cause the security's price to fall, lowering the value of the fund's investment in such security. The lower a security's credit rating, the greater the chance that the issuer of the security will default or fail to meet its payment obligations. · High yield securities risk: High yield ("junk") securities involve greater credit risk, including the risk of default, than investment grade securities, and are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's ability to make principal and interest payments. These securities are especially sensitive to adverse changes in general economic conditions, to changes in the financial condition of their issuers and to price fluctuation in response to changes in interest rates. During periods of economic downturn or rising interest rates, issuers of below investment grade securities may experience financial stress that could adversely affect their ability to make payments of principal and interest and increase the possibility of default. · Liquidity risk: When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities in a timely manner at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund's share price may fall dramatically. Investments that are illiquid or that trade in lower volumes may be more difficult to value. The market for below investment grade securities may be less liquid and therefore these securities may be harder to value, buy or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline. Liquidity risk also may refer to the risk that the fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within the allowable time period stated in this prospectus because of unusual market conditions, including those resulting in a significant amount of the fund's assets becoming illiquid, an unusually high volume of redemption requests, or other reasons. · Valuation risk: The price that the fund could receive upon the sale (or other disposition) of an investment may differ from the fund's valuation of the investment, particularly for investments that trade in lower volumes, investments that are valued using a fair valuation methodology or a price provided by an independent pricing service, or during market turmoil or volatility. As a result, the price received upon the sale of an investment may be less than the value ascribed by the fund, and the fund could realize a greater than expected loss or lesser than expected gain upon the sale of the investment. The fund's ability to value its investments also may be impacted by technological issues and/or errors by pricing services or other third-party service providers. · Market risk: The value of the securities in which the fund invests may be affected by political, regulatory, economic and social developments, and developments that impact specific economic sectors, industries or segments of the market. In addition, turbulence in financial markets and reduced liquidity in equity, credit and/or fixed-income markets may negatively affect many issuers, which could adversely affect the fund. Global economies and financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, and conditions and events in one country, region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. These risks may be magnified if certain events or developments adversely interrupt the global supply chain; in these and other circumstances, such risks might affect companies world-wide. Local, regional or global events such as war, military conflicts, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, elevated levels of government debt, changes in trade regulation or economic sanctions, internal unrest and discord, or other events could have a significant impact on the fund and its investments. · Prepayment risk: Some securities give the issuer the option to prepay or call the securities before their maturity date, which may reduce the market value of the security and the anticipated yield-to-maturity. Issuers often exercise this right when interest rates fall. If an issuer "calls" its securities during a time of declining interest rates, the fund might have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, and therefore might not benefit from any increase in value as a result of declining interest rates. During periods of market illiquidity or rising interest rates, prices of "callable" issues are subject to increased price fluctuation. · Management risk: The investment process used by the fund's sub-adviser could fail to achieve the fund's investment goal and cause your fund investment to lose value. Performance The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Class Z shares from year to year. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart and, if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond Index, a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. Performance for each share class will vary due to differences in expenses. More recent performance information may be available at www.bny.com/investments. The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. Sales charges, if any, are not reflected in the bar chart and, if those charges were included, returns would have been less than those shown. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of the Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond Index, a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. www.bny.com/investments Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) During the periods shown in the chart: Best Quarter 2023, Q4: 7.43 Worst Quarter 2022, Q1: (6.72) <p style="margin-top:revert; margin-bottom:revert;font-size:9.0pt; font-family:Serif; text-align:left; color:#000000; text-indent:-4.3pt; font-weight:normal; margin-left:8.6pt; text-decoration:none; font-style:italic;">The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class Z shares as of June 30, 2026 was 2.38%. Best Quarter 2023-12-31 0.0743 Worst Quarter 2022-03-31 -0.0672 The year-to-date total return of the fund's Class Z shares as of 2026-06-30 0.0238 After-tax performance is shown only for Class Z shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through U.S. tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than returns before taxes or returns after taxes on distributions due to an assumed tax benefit from losses on a sale of the fund's shares at the end of the period. After-tax performance is shown only for Class Z shares. After-tax performance of the fund's other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates, and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on the investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown, and the after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through U.S. tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares may be higher than returns before taxes or returns after taxes on distributions due to an assumed tax benefit from losses on a sale of the fund's shares at the end of the period. Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/25) returns before taxes 0.0291 0.0032 0.0177 returns after taxes on distributions 0.0291 0.0030 0.0172 returns after taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares 0.0292 0.0084 0.0201 returns before taxes -0.0194 -0.0080 0.0108 returns before taxes 0.0081 -0.0068 0.0076 returns before taxes 0.0295 0.0034 0.0180 returns before taxes 0.0300 0.0029 0.0178 Bloomberg U.S. Municipal Bond Index reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes 0.0425 0.0080 0.0234 485BPOS 2026-05-31 0000720064 false 2026-09-25 ~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ShareholderFeesData row dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Summary1Member row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Member ~ ~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/OperatingExpensesData row dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Summary1Member row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Member ~ ~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ExpenseExample row dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Summary1Member row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Member ~ ~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ExpenseExampleNoRedemption row dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Summary1Member row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Member ~ ~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/PerformanceTableData column period compact * row dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Summary1Member row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact cik0000720064_S000000016Member row oef_ClassAxis compact * row oef_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * ~ BNY MELLON CALIFORNIA AMT-FREE MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC. -0.0073 0.0585 0.0017 0.0706 0.0409 0.0195 -0.1042 0.0606 0.0191 0.0291000008583069 Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $250,000 or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year. ~ http://www.dreyfus.com/20260531/role/RRRiskTable3 ~ Class A shares bought without an initial sales charge as part of an investment of $250,000 or more may be charged a deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within one year. Includes interest expense in the amount of .03% in connection with inverse floater securities.