Rental Property Rules in Long Beach, CA

If you live in Long Beach or are thinking about moving there, rental property rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Long Beach has 10 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of rental property rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Repairs & Habitability

Long Beach Municipal Code § 18.02.020 defines a 'substandard building', the city's own habitability yardstick for rental units, covering sanitation, structural, wiring, plumbing and weather-protection defects severe enough to endanger occupants' life, health or safety. The Building Official and Fire Code Official enforce it under Chapter 18.20, which lets the City order repairs, vacate, or demolish rental units that fail these standards.

Key details: Governing section: LBMC § 18.02.020 (Definitions. Substandard Building). Enforcing officials: Building Official, Fire Code Official, Health Officer. Notice period: 30 days to start, 90 days to complete repairs. Occupied-building process: 30-day notice of intent before vacate order. Unoccupied building: Vacate order may be immediate.

Occupying a building after it has been posted vacated, or removing the vacate placard, is a separate misdemeanor under § 18.20.060. General Code violations of Title 18 are prosecuted under § 1.32.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or an infraction capped at $1,000, with each day of continuing violation charged separately, and any substandard condition additionally deemed a public nuisance the City may summarily abate.

Security Deposit Rules

California Civil Code section 1950.5 caps residential security deposits at one month's rent for most landlords statewide, and Long Beach landlords must return the deposit, with itemized deductions, within twenty-one days after the tenant vacates.

Key details: Code: Cal. Civ. Code 1950.5. Cap: One month's rent. Small-landlord: Up to two months. Refund window: 21 days.

Charging deposits over the statutory cap, missing the twenty-one-day refund window, or failing to itemize deductions can trigger statutory damages of up to twice the deposit plus the wrongful retention amount under Civil Code 1950.5.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Long Beach gives residents more flexibility on security deposit rules.

AB-1482 Notice Disclosure

California Civil Code section 1946.2 requires Long Beach landlords of covered units to give written notice of just-cause eviction protections and the statewide rent cap, using the state-prescribed language at lease signing or by August 1 each year.

Key details: Code: Cal. Civ. Code 1946.2. Cap: 5% + CPI, max 10%. Just cause: After 12 months. Notice: At signing or annually.

Failure to deliver the AB 1482 disclosure can prevent landlords from enforcing exemptions, leaving the unit subject to default state rent cap and just-cause rules, and may support tenant defenses in eviction.

Compared to other cities, Long Beach takes a harder line on ab-1482 notice disclosure. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Source-of-Income Discrimination

California Government Code section 12955 prohibits Long Beach landlords from refusing to rent based on lawful source of income including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, treating voucher payments as part of the tenant's income for screening purposes.

Key details: Code: Cal. Gov. Code 12955. Effective: January 1, 2020. Covered: Section 8 vouchers. Enforcer: CA Civil Rights Department.

Refusing voucher applicants, advertising no-Section-8 listings, or applying screening criteria that count only the tenant share of rent can trigger CRD complaints, statutory damages, and injunctive relief under Government Code 12955.

This is one of the stricter rules in Long Beach's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

No-Fault Evictions

Long Beach Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance LBMC 8.97 lists permitted no-fault eviction grounds including owner move-in, withdrawal from rental market, government order, and substantial remodel, each requiring relocation payments to the displaced tenant.

Key details: Code: LBMC 8.97. Grounds: Owner-move-in, Ellis, remodel. Relocation: Required payment. Higher payment: Senior/disabled/low-income.

No-fault notices that omit the statutory cause, skip city filings, or fail to deliver relocation assistance are defective, support eviction defenses, and can expose landlords to wrongful-eviction damages.

Compared to other cities, Long Beach takes a harder line on no-fault evictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Cash-for-Keys Agreements

California Civil Code section 1946.2 and Long Beach LBMC 8.97 allow voluntary buyouts where landlords pay tenants to surrender possession, but require written disclosure of tenant rights, signed agreement, and a tenant rescission window.

Key details: Statute: Cal. Civ. Code 1946.2. Local layer: LBMC 8.97. Disclosure: Right to refuse. Rescission: Statutory cooling-off.

Coercive or undisclosed buyouts, agreements without statutory disclosures, or buyouts paying less than the underlying relocation floor without informed consent may be voidable and expose landlords to civil liability.

Tenant Anti-Harassment

Long Beach landlords are barred from harassing tenants to force them out, including utility shut-offs, lockouts, threats, and bad-faith entry, under California Civil Code section 1940.2 and Long Beach Tenant Helpline guidance.

Key details: Code: Cal. Civ. Code 1940.2. Entry rule: 24-hour notice. Penalty: Up to $2,000 per act. Local intake: Tenant Helpline.

Lockouts, utility shut-offs, threats, repeated unannounced entry, or immigration-status intimidation can trigger civil penalties up to two thousand dollars per violation, injunctions, and tenant retaliation defenses.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Long Beach gives residents more flexibility on tenant anti-harassment.

Relocation Assistance

Long Beach Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance LBMC 8.97 requires landlords pulling no-fault evictions or imposing rent hikes above ten percent in twelve months to pay displaced tenants a fixed relocation amount before regaining possession.

Key details: Code: LBMC 8.97. Trigger: No-fault or 10%+ raise. Bonus tenants: Senior, disabled, low-income. Timing: Before notice expires.

Failing to pay relocation assistance when due, or under-paying despite a qualifying household status, blocks the eviction, supports tenant defenses, and can result in civil damages plus attorney fees under LBMC 8.97.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Long Beach actively enforces its relocation assistance requirements.

Rental Registration

Long Beach requires rental property owners to comply with the city's tenant protection ordinances. Landlords must provide required notices under LBMC Ch. 8.99 and Ch. 8.101 (anti-harassment). Business license may be required for rental operations.

Key details: Notices: Required under LBMC Ch. 8.99. Anti-Harassment: LBMC §8.101.030. Business License: May be required. State Law: AB 1482 compliance required.

Just Cause Eviction

Long Beach enforces a Just Cause for Termination of Tenancies ordinance under LBMC Ch. 8.99 (adopted 2020). Landlords must have an enumerated at-fault or no-fault reason. No-fault terminations require relocation assistance of 1 month's rent or $4,500 for demolition/remodel.

Key details: Code: LBMC Ch. 8.99. Adopted: 2020. Relocation: $4,500 or 2 months rent (demolition). Other No-Fault: 1 month's rent relocation.

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

The Bottom Line

Long Beach is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 10 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Long Beach, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Long Beach's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.