Rental Property Rules in Riverside, CA (2026)
10 verified rental property rules for Riverside, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) applies to most rental properties in Riverside built more than 15 years ago. The law caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local CPI or 10%, whichever is less. Riverside does not have a separate local rent control ordinance. Exempt properties include qualifying single-family homes, new construction less than 15 years old, and certain owner-occupied duplexes.
Riverside Rent Control & Stabilization
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1947.12 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019, AB 1482)
(a) (1) Subject to subdivision (b), an owner of residential real property shall not, over the course of any 12-month period, increase the gross rental rate for a dwelling or a unit more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for that dwelling or unit at any time during the 12 months prior to the...
Just Cause Eviction
Under California's AB 1482, landlords in Riverside must have just cause to evict tenants who have occupied the unit for 12 months or more. At-fault causes include nonpayment, lease violations, and nuisance. No-fault causes include owner move-in, substantial renovation, and withdrawal from the rental market. No-fault evictions require relocation assistance equal to one month's rent. Riverside does not have additional local protections.
Riverside Just Cause Eviction Protections
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019, AB 1482)
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, after a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a residential real property for 12 months, the owner of the residential real property shall not terminate the tenancy without just cause, which shall be stated in the written notice to terminate tenancy. [...] (b) For purposes of this section, "just cause" includes either of the following: (1) At-fault just...
Rental Registration
Riverside requires rental properties to comply with property maintenance and building safety standards. The city enforces rental housing conditions through code enforcement. While the city does not have a mandatory annual rental registration program, landlords must maintain properties to International Property Maintenance Code standards. Business licenses are required for rental property operations.
Riverside Rental Property Registration
Some RestrictionsRelocation Assistance
Riverside tenants displaced through code-enforcement actions, condemnation, or qualifying no-fault evictions may receive relocation assistance under California law and city programs targeting habitability-driven displacement.
Relocation Assistance for Displaced Tenants
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act)
1946.2. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, after a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a residential real property for 12 months, the owner of the residential real property shall not terminate a tenancy without just cause, which shall be stated in the written notice to terminate tenancy. If any additional adult tenants are added to the lease before an existing tenant has continuously ...
Security Deposit Rules
California law caps security deposits and requires Riverside landlords to return deposits within twenty-one days of move-out with itemized statements for any deductions, following AB 12 reductions to one-month rent.
Security Deposit Limits and Returns
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1950.5
(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), (3), or (5), a landlord shall not demand or receive security, however denominated, in an amount or value in excess of an amount equal to one month's rent, in addition to any rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy. (2) This subdivision does not prohibit an advance payment of not less than six months' rent if the term of the lease...
No-Fault Evictions
Under AB 1482, Riverside landlords ending tenancies for no-fault reasons such as owner move-in, withdrawal, or substantial remodel must pay relocation assistance equal to one month of rent or waive the final month.
No-Fault Eviction and Relocation
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1946.2(b)(2) and (d) (Tenant Protection Act of 2019, AB 1482)
(2) No-fault just cause, which includes any of the following: (A) (i) Intent to occupy the residential real property by the owner or their spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents. [...] (B) Withdrawal of the residential real property from the rental market. (C) (i) The owner complying with any of the following: (I) An order issued by a government agency or co...
Tenant Anti-Harassment
California Civil Code prohibits landlord harassment intended to force tenants to vacate, with remedies including statutory penalties and injunctive relief that apply fully to Riverside rental units regardless of local rent-control status.
Tenant Anti-Harassment Protections
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1940.2
(a) It is unlawful for a landlord to do any of the following for the purpose of influencing a tenant to vacate a dwelling: (1) Engage in conduct that violates subdivision (a) of Section 484 of the Penal Code. (2) Engage in conduct that violates Section 518 of the Penal Code. (3) Use, or threaten to use, force, willful threats, or menacing conduct constituting a course of conduct that interferes...
Source-of-Income Discrimination
California SB 329 prohibits Riverside landlords from refusing to rent based on source of income, including federal Section 8 housing choice vouchers, treating voucher refusal as illegal housing discrimination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Section 8 Source-of-Income Protections
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Government Code Section 12955 (SB 329); Section 12927(i)
It shall be unlawful: (a) For the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability, or genetic information of that person. [...] (p) (1) For the purposes of this section,...
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
Riverside Housing Authority administers federal Section 8 housing choice vouchers locally, and California law requires landlords to accept vouchers from qualified tenants on the same terms as cash-paying applicants.
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
Some RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code § 12955 (Fair Employment & Housing Act)
12955. It shall be unlawful: (a) For the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability, veteran or military status, or genetic information of that person.
AB-1482 Notice Disclosure
California AB 1482 requires Riverside landlords to give written notice to tenants explaining rent-cap and just-cause protections or, where exempt, providing the prescribed exemption disclosure on standard form language.
AB 1482 Tenant Notice Requirements
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1946.2(f) (Tenant Protection Act of 2019, AB 1482)
(f) An owner of residential real property subject to this section shall provide notice to the tenant as follows: (1) For any tenancy commenced or renewed on or after July 1, 2020, as an addendum to the lease or rental agreement, or as a written notice signed by the tenant, with a copy provided to the tenant. (2) For a tenancy existing prior to July 1, 2020, by written notice to the tenant no la...
Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Riverside city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Riverside County →