Redding's Rental Property Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles rental property rules a little differently. In Redding, 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.

Rent Control

Redding has no local rent control ordinance. Rent in Redding is governed by California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Civil Code §1947.12), which caps annual rent increases on covered units at the lower of 5%+CPI or 10% per 12-month period. Single-family homes not owned by a corporation or REIT and housing built within the last 15 years are exempt. The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §1954.50) bars any local rent control on single-family homes and post-1995 construction.

Key details: Local Rent Control: None in Redding. State Cap: 5% + CPI, max 10%. Statute: Civil Code §1947.12 (AB 1482). Preemption: Costa-Hawkins (§1954.50). SFR Exemption: If not corporate-owned.

AB 1482 violations are enforced through private civil action in Shasta County Superior Court. A tenant overcharged in violation of Civil Code §1947.12 may recover the excess rent paid, plus damages and attorney fees in willful cases. Redding does not operate a local rent board, so the city has no administrative enforcement mechanism; complaints route to Legal Services of Northern California or California DOJ housing complaints.

Security Deposit Rules

Security deposits on Redding residential rentals are capped at one month's rent under California AB 12, effective July 1, 2024, codified at Civil Code §1950.5(c). Small landlords owning two or fewer properties with no more than four total units may charge up to two months' rent. Deposits must be returned within 21 days of move-out with an itemized statement of deductions.

Key details: Standard Cap: 1 month rent. Small-Landlord Cap: 2 months (2 props/4 units max). Return Window: 21 days. Receipt Threshold: Required >$125 deductions. Statute: Civil Code §1950.5 (AB 12).

A Redding landlord who fails to return the deposit, charges an unlawful amount, or makes bad-faith deductions may be liable to the tenant for the wrongfully withheld amount plus statutory damages up to twice the amount of the deposit under Civil Code §1950.5(l). Small-claims jurisdiction in Shasta County Superior Court reaches up to $12,500. Pattern violations may be referred to the California Attorney General under the Unfair Competition Law (B&P Code §17200).

Rental Registration

Landlords who rent out more than two residential units in Redding must hold a business license and pay an annual per-unit fee under Municipal Code Section 6.04.150. Owners of two or fewer rental units are exempt, while commercial landlords pay a separate fee scaled to the square footage of leased nonresidential space.

Key details: Fee trigger: 3+ residential rental units in Redding. Residential fee: $5 per rental unit per year. Exemption: Owners of 2 or fewer units. Nonresidential fee: Tiered by square footage, $20-$120+/yr. Late penalty: 10%/month, capped at 50%.

A landlord who rents three or more residential units without the license owes a penalty of twenty-five percent of the fee due, subject to a two-month grace period for a newly acquired rental business (§ 6.02.180(A)). An unpaid annual fee adds a ten percent penalty for each month it stays unpaid, capped at fifty percent of the fee (§ 6.02.180(B)). Any violation of the licensing chapter is an infraction under Section 6.02.190.

Just Cause Eviction

Redding has no local just-cause ordinance, so the statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Civil Code §1946.2) controls. After 12 months of continuous occupancy, a landlord may terminate tenancy only for at-fault cause (non-payment, breach, nuisance) or no-fault cause (owner move-in, withdrawal from market, substantial remodel, government order). No-fault terminations require one month of rent as relocation assistance or waiver of the final month's rent.

Key details: Local Just-Cause: None. AB 1482 only. Trigger: 12 months continuous occupancy. Relocation: 1 month rent for no-fault. Statute: Civil Code §1946.2. Exemption Notice: Lease addendum required.

A landlord who terminates a covered Redding tenancy without just cause, or fails to pay required relocation assistance, may be liable in Shasta County Superior Court for actual damages, treble damages and attorney fees if the violation is willful (§1946.2(h)). Tenants commonly assert AB 1482 as a defense to unlawful detainer actions. The California Department of Real Estate and Attorney General's Office investigate patterns of violation; the city itself does not enforce AB 1482 administratively.

The rules around just cause eviction in Redding lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Redding's rental property rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Redding is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Redding can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.