Rental Property Rules in Inglewood, CA

Every city handles rental property rules a little differently. In Inglewood, California, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Repairs & Habitability

Inglewood law makes it a public nuisance to maintain a rental or owner-occupied dwelling that is unsanitary or unfit for human habitation because of dilapidation, decay, or faulty construction, or that lacks adequate light, air, and sanitation facilities. Municipal Code Section 11-70.2(18) lets the Health Officer make that determination, and the City Administrator or designee can order the property rehabilitated, repaired, or demolished.

Key details: Governing section: IMC § 11-70.2(18)(k)-(l), List of Public Nuisances. Habitability finding: Health Officer determines unfit for human habitation. Correction notice: Up to 30 days to fix violation. Appeal deadline: 7 days, $100 filing fee, to City Council. Inspection hours: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. under § 11-70.6.

Each day an unfit or unsanitary dwelling condition continues after notice is a separate infraction under Section 11-70.7, and the City Prosecutor can instead pursue a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 in fines and six months in jail. The City Administrator can also abate the nuisance directly through rehabilitation, repair, or demolition after a Construction Appeals Board hearing, and may seek a Superior Court injunction with civil penalties and attorneys' fees for continued noncompliance.

Rent Control

Inglewood has a local rent control ordinance (IMC Chapter 8, Articles 9 and 10). Covered multi-unit buildings: increases limited to greater of 3% or CPI in 12 months. Properties with 4 or fewer units: increases capped at lower of 5% + CPI or 10%. Covers units built before February 1, 1995 (with 15-year rolling exemption for new construction).

Key details: Multi-Unit Cap: Greater of 3% or CPI. Small Property Cap: Lower of 5%+CPI or 10%. Coverage: Built before Feb 1, 1995. New Construction: 15-year rolling exemption. Code: IMC Chapter 8, Art 9 & 10.

Rental Registration

All Inglewood property owners with rental units (including single-family, condos, townhomes, duplexes) must register annually with the city. Registration includes a fee and updated tenant information. This applies to all landlords, not just those under rent control.

Key details: Registration: Annual, mandatory for all rental units. Coverage: SFR, condos, townhomes, duplexes. Fee: Annual registration fee. Info Required: Tenant information updates.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Inglewood actively enforces its rental registration requirements.

Just Cause Eviction

After 12 months of continuous occupancy, landlords can only terminate covered tenancies for just cause under IMC Article 8-9. No-fault evictions require relocation assistance of 3x monthly rent plus $2,000 if minors reside in the unit. Anti-harassment and buyout provisions included.

Key details: Trigger: 12 months continuous occupancy. Relocation: 3x monthly rent. Minors Bonus: +$2,000 if minors in unit. Anti-Harassment: Provisions included. Code: IMC Article 8-9.

Compared to other cities, Inglewood takes a harder line on just cause eviction. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Inglewood is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Inglewood, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Inglewood's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.