Rental Property Rules in San Diego, CA (2026)
9 verified rental property rules for San Diego, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
San Diego's Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance (SDMC §§98.0701-98.0709), adopted May 16, 2023, provides tenant protections that exceed California's AB 1482 Tenant Protection Act. Under state law, annual rent increases are capped at 5% plus local CPI-U, not exceeding 10% total. San Diego's ordinance provides protections from the start of tenancy (AB 1482 requires 12 months). Enhanced relocation assistance of 3 months' rent applies for senior and disabled tenants.
San Diego Rent Control & Stabilization
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 (Tenant Protection Act)
1947.12. (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 pri...
Just Cause Eviction
SDMC §98.0704 prohibits landlords from terminating tenancy without just cause, effective immediately upon commencement of tenancy. At-fault causes include nonpayment of rent, lease violations, nuisance, property damage, refusal to renew lease, and criminal activity. No-fault causes include owner move-in, family member move-in, withdrawal from rental market, and substantial remodel. Wrongful eviction penalties include 3x actual economic damages. Landlords must register termination notices with the San Diego Housing Commission within 3 business days.
San Diego Just Cause Eviction Protections
Heavy 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 ...
Rental Registration
San Diego requires landlords to file termination notices with the San Diego Housing Commission's Tenant Termination Notice Registry within 3 business days of serving notice to the tenant for both at-fault and no-fault terminations per SDMC §98.0705. Landlords must provide written notice in 12-point font informing tenants of their rights under California Civil Code §1947.12 and local protections. The Housing Commission maintains the registry for tracking and enforcement.
San Diego Rental Property Registration
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 (Tenant Protection Act)
1947.12. (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 pri...
Relocation Assistance
San Diego's Tenants' Right to Know Ordinance (SDMC §98) and California's Ellis Act require landlords ending a tenancy through no-fault grounds to pay relocation assistance equal to two months of rent, plus extra for protected households.
Relocation Assistance for No-Fault Tenant Removals
Heavy 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 Civil Code §1950.5, amended by AB-12 effective July 2024, caps residential security deposits at one month's rent statewide. San Diego follows state law without adding a local cap or registration requirement.
Security Deposits Capped at One Month
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 (AB-12)
(a) This section applies to security for a rental agreement for residential property that is used as the dwelling of the tenant. (b) As used in this section, "security" means any payment, fee, deposit, or charge, including, but not limited to, any payment, fee, deposit, or charge, except as provided in Section 1950.6, that is imposed at the beginning of the tenancy to be used to reimburse the l...
No-Fault Evictions
San Diego's Tenants' Right to Know Ordinance (SDMC §98) and California AB-1482 limit no-fault evictions to enumerated reasons such as owner move-in, substantial remodel, withdrawal from market, and government orders, each requiring relocation pay.
No-Fault Eviction Grounds and Notice Rules
Heavy 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 ...
Tenant Anti-Harassment
San Diego has not enacted a comprehensive Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance like Los Angeles. Tenants rely on California Civil Code §1940.2, §1942.5, and general unfair-business statutes when landlords retaliate or harass.
No Citywide Anti-Harassment Ordinance Yet
Few RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 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 Government Code §12955, amended by SB-329 in 2019, prohibits housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. The San Diego Human Relations Commission supports complaints alongside state DFEH enforcement.
Source of Income Including Section 8 Protected
Some RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code § 12955 (FEHA – Source of Income Discrimination, SB-329)
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. (b) For the owner o...
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
The San Diego Housing Commission administers Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for the city. California Government Code §12955(p) bars landlords from refusing voucher holders, treating refusal as illegal source-of-income discrimination.
Section 8 Vouchers via SDHC and SOI Protection
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.
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Diego city rules.
Rental Property Rules in San Diego County →