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Rental Inspections in San Rafael, CA (2026)

2 verified rental inspections rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Inspection Programs

Every San Rafael apartment building and hotel gets a code enforcement inspection at least once every five years, whether or not a tenant has complained.

San Rafael Five-Year Rental Inspections

Significant Restrictions

San Rafael Municipal Code § 12.310.030

Every owner of an apartment or hotel located within the City of San Rafael shall permit the city's periodic inspection of the apartment and hotel...The community development director, or his or her designee, shall cause each apartment and hotel to be inspected by the city's code enforcement officials once every five (5) years, or more frequently as needed, to ensure compliance with all applicab...

Tenant Complaint Process

San Rafael tenants can trigger a rental inspection any time by filing a code violation complaint: the city doesn't have to wait for the five-year cycle.

San Rafael Complaint-Based Rental Inspections

Some Restrictions

San Rafael Municipal Code § 12.310.050

Nothing contained herein shall prevent or restrict the authority of the city's code enforcement officials to inspect any apartment or hotel, or the premises thereof, in response to a citizen complaint alleging code violations or other violations of law at such an apartment or hotel, and to pursue all code enforcement remedies permissible under this code or other laws following such a complaint-...

Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.

Rental Inspections in Marin County