Santa Rosa, CA Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SRCC § 18-20.304.18
- State law incorporated
- California Civil Code § 1941.3
- Applies to
- Dwelling, room, and housekeeping units
- Standard applied
- Whichever rule is more restrictive
- Enforcing agency
- Santa Rosa Building Division / Code Enforcement
Summary
Santa Rosa requires every dwelling unit, room unit, or housekeeping unit to have doors, windows, and hatchways fitted with security devices meeting whichever standard is more restrictive: the city's local subsections or California Civil Code Section 1941.3.
304.18. Building Security. Doors, windows or hatchways for dwelling units, room units or housekeeping units shall be provided with devices designed to provide security for the occupants and property within as set forth in the California Civil Code, Section 1941.3, as required by Sections 304.18.1, 304.18 2, and 304.18.3, whichever is more restrictive.
Full Breakdown
3 specify, and the stricter of the two controls. The section carries the same amendment history as the rest of Chapter 18-20's Property Maintenance Code amendments, running through Ordinance 3851 (2007), Ordinance 3957 (2010), Ordinance 4015 (2013), Ordinance 4080 (2016), Ordinance 2019-022, Ordinance 2022-015, and most recently Ordinance 2026-001, effective January 13, 2026. Building inspectors and code enforcement officers apply this standard when investigating habitability complaints or during permit-triggered inspections of rental housing, checking that locking hardware on egress doors and operable windows in habitable rooms functions and meets the security threshold state law sets for dwelling units.
Violations & Fines
A unit found without compliant locking hardware is cited as a Property Maintenance Code violation and, because the standard incorporates Civil Code Section 1941.3, can also support a state-law habitability claim. The Building Official issues a correction notice with a compliance deadline; landlords who fail to install or repair required security devices face administrative citation and civil penalties under the city's standard code enforcement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What locking standard applies to rental unit doors in Santa Rosa?
Does this rule cover windows as well as doors?
Who enforces the door and window security requirement in Santa Rosa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Door Locking Hardware in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sonoma County handle door locking hardware.