Source-of-Income Discrimination: Palo Alto vs Sunnyvale
How do source-of-income discrimination rules compare between Palo Alto, CA and Sunnyvale, CA?
Palo Alto and Sunnyvale have similar restriction levels.
Palo Alto, CA
Santa Clara County
California Government Code §12955, expanded by SB-329 in 2020, prohibits housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. Santa Clara County enforces statewide rules through state CRD; no separate county code exists.
View full Palo Alto rules →Sunnyvale, CA
Santa Clara County
California Government Code §12955, expanded by SB-329 in 2020, prohibits housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. Santa Clara County enforces statewide rules through state CRD; no separate county code exists.
View full Sunnyvale rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Palo Alto | Sunnyvale |
|---|---|---|
| State law | Cal. Gov. Code §12955 | Cal. Gov. Code §12955 |
| Voucher protection | SB-329 (effective 2020) | SB-329 (effective 2020) |
| Veteran benefits | Protected by SB-222 (2020) | Protected by SB-222 (2020) |
| Enforcer | California Civil Rights Department | California Civil Rights Department |
| Income test | Apply to tenant share only | Apply to tenant share only |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Palo Alto FAQ
Can a Santa Clara landlord post "no Section 8" in an ad?
No. Government Code §12955 and SB-329 prohibit refusing rental or advertising preferences based on subsidy status. Such postings are direct evidence of discrimination and trigger immediate CRD investigation.
How is income screening allowed to work?
Landlords applying a multiple-of-rent income standard must measure against the tenant's share only, not full contract rent. Standard credit, criminal-history, and reference checks remain permitted within fair-housing limits.
Sunnyvale FAQ
Can a Santa Clara landlord post "no Section 8" in an ad?
No. Government Code §12955 and SB-329 prohibit refusing rental or advertising preferences based on subsidy status. Such postings are direct evidence of discrimination and trigger immediate CRD investigation.
How is income screening allowed to work?
Landlords applying a multiple-of-rent income standard must measure against the tenant's share only, not full contract rent. Standard credit, criminal-history, and reference checks remain permitted within fair-housing limits.
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