How San Bernardino Handles Rental Property Rules: A Practical Guide

San Bernardino maintains 124 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where San Bernardino falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Rent Control

San Bernardino has no local rent stabilization, but AB 1482 (Civil Code 1947.12) caps annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI (max 10%) and imposes just cause eviction.

Key details: Annual Cap: 5% plus CPI, max 10%. Just Cause Trigger: After 12 months tenancy. Relocation Payment: One month rent for no-fault. Corporate-Owned: Single-family covered. New Construction: Exempt under 15 years.

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

Rent Increase Notice

In San Bernardino mobile home parks, when a resale rent increase of up to 10% is applied at a new resident's move-in, Municipal Code § 8.90.050 requires the landlord to give written notice showing the previous base rent, the new base rent in both dollars and percentage, and the tenant's annual adjustment anniversary date.

Key details: Applies to: mobile home park space rent only. Trigger for notice: resale/vacancy rent increase. Increase cap: up to 10% of existing rent. Notice must show: old rent, new rent, % change, anniversary date. Governing law: Municipal Code § 8.90.050(B).

Chapter 8.90 is enforced through the City Manager's administration of the rent ceiling and adjustment process rather than a standalone criminal penalty for a missing notice; § 8.90.105 lets the hearing officer deny any future rent adjustment to a park owner who has failed to comply with the chapter's requirements or with applicable state or local housing, health or safety law, which reaches a landlord who skips the required resale-increase notice.

Repairs & Habitability

City code sets minimum exterior and interior maintenance standards for every rental unit in San Bernardino, covering landscaping, trash, structural repair, sewage connection and safe sanitary interior conditions. The duty falls on owners, renters and managers alike, and a landlord who lets a rental fall below these standards is committing a code violation enforceable as an infraction or civil nuisance action.

Key details: Governing section: § 15.24.040, Property Maintenance Code. Applies to: Owners, renters, occupants and managers. Interior standard: Good repair, safe, sanitary condition. Exterior items covered: 14 listed standards, (A)(1)-(14). First infraction fine: Up to $100.

Falling below the § 15.24.040 minimum standards 'shall constitute a violation of this code,' charged as an infraction under § 15.24.050 and § 1.12.010: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 after that, with a fourth violation in twelve months becoming a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. The City Attorney may also file a civil nuisance-abatement action.

Rental Registration

Every owner of a single-family rental property in San Bernardino must hold a current business registration under Title 5 before renting the unit, as a condition of the city's rental inspection program. Failing to register alongside other inspection-program noncompliance can draw an infraction or misdemeanor citation.

Key details: Governing section: § 15.26.050, Business Registration Compliance. Applies to: Single-family rentals, 3 units or fewer. Cross-referenced requirement: Title 5 business registration. Excluded: Multi-family complexes of 4+ units. Penalty for noncompliance: Misdemeanor or infraction under § 15.26.180.

An owner who has not complied with the Title 5 business registration requirement is in violation of Chapter 15.26 and can be charged, at the City Attorney's discretion, as a misdemeanor or an infraction under § 15.26.180 and § 1.12.010, with infraction fines up to $100 for a first offense rising to $500 for later offenses within a year, and a fourth violation becoming a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail.

Just Cause Eviction

San Bernardino tenants are protected by California AB 1482 (Civil Code 1946.2). Landlords must state a just cause to end tenancies of 12+ months, and no-fault evictions require one month of relocation assistance.

Key details: Governing law: California AB 1482 (Civil Code 1946.2). Threshold: Applies after 12 months of tenancy. Relocation assistance: One month of rent for no-fault evictions. Main exemptions: Single-family homes with proper notice, duplexes with owner on-site, buildings under 15 years old. Notice rule: Just cause must be stated in writing in the termination notice.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. San Bernardino actively enforces its just cause eviction requirements.

The Bottom Line

San Bernardino is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in San Bernardino, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that San Bernardino 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.