Bed-Bug Rules: San Jose vs Santa Clara
How do bed-bug rules rules compare between San Jose, CA and Santa Clara, CA?
San Jose and Santa Clara have similar restriction levels.
San Jose, CA
Santa Clara County
California Civil Code §1954.603 requires every San Jose landlord to give tenants a written bed-bug information notice and disclose known infestations before signing a lease. SJ Code Enforcement and SCC DEH handle complaints; treatment cost typically falls on the landlord under habitability law.
View full San Jose rules →Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara County
California Civil Code §1954.603 requires every Santa Clara County landlord to give new tenants a written bed-bug information notice and disclose known infestations. SCC DEH and city code enforcement respond to habitability complaints; treatment cost normally falls on the landlord.
View full Santa Clara rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Jose | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| Disclosure law | Civil Code §1954.603 (2017) | Civil Code §1954.603 (2017) |
| Tenant duty | Cooperate with inspection, treatment | Cooperate with inspection, treatment |
| Treatment cost | Usually landlord pays | Usually landlord pays |
| Apartment complaints | SJ Code Enforcement Multiple Housing | City housing or code enforcement |
| Hotel oversight | Santa Clara County DEH | SCC DEH |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Jose FAQ
Can my San Jose landlord refuse to treat bed bugs?
No. Bed bugs render a unit substandard under Civil Code §1941.1. The landlord must hire a licensed pest control operator within a reasonable time, normally at landlord expense, and cannot retaliate against reporting tenants.
Who inspects bed bugs in a San Jose hotel?
Santa Clara County DEH licenses and inspects hotels and motels in San Jose. File a complaint through the DEH portal or call (408) 918-3400 to trigger an inspection of the lodging facility for bed bug conditions.
Must San Jose landlords disclose past infestations?
Yes if the landlord knew. Civil Code §1954.603 requires written disclosure of any known infestation, plus posted notice in common areas of buildings with three or more units, before a tenant signs a new lease.
Santa Clara FAQ
Can my Santa Clara County landlord refuse to treat bed bugs?
No. Bed bugs render a unit substandard under Civil Code §1941.1. The landlord must hire a licensed pest control operator within a reasonable time, normally at landlord expense, and cannot retaliate against reporting tenants.
Who do I call about bed bugs in a hotel?
Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health licenses and inspects hotels and motels. File a complaint through the DEH portal or call (408) 918-3400 to trigger an inspection of the lodging facility.
Must landlords disclose prior infestations?
Yes if the landlord knew. Civil Code §1954.603 requires written disclosure of any known infestation, plus posted notice in common areas of buildings with three or more units, before a tenant signs a new lease.
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