Rental Property Rules in Riverside County, CA (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in Riverside County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Unincorporated Riverside County has no local rent-control ordinance. California AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, applies statewide and caps annual rent increases on qualifying units at 5 percent plus regional CPI (capped at 10 percent total) for rental units more than 15 years old that are not single-family homes owned by non-corporate landlords.
Rent Control in Riverside County
Light 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
California AB 1482 requires just cause to terminate any tenancy in a covered unit in Riverside County after the tenant has continuously occupied the unit for 12 months (or 24 months if a new adult tenant joined). The law distinguishes at-fault reasons (no relocation fee) from no-fault reasons (requires one month of rent as relocation assistance).
Just Cause Eviction in Riverside County
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1946.2 (Chapter 2. Hiring of Real Property)
(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 and lawf...
Relocation Assistance
AB 1482 requires one month of relocation assistance for no-fault evictions in Riverside County. Additional relocation may be triggered when a county code enforcement order forces tenants to vacate due to substandard conditions or red-tag actions.
Relocation Pay for No-Fault and Code Cases
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3 (Chapter 2. Rules and Regulations - Substandard Building Definition)
Any building or portion thereof, regardless of zoning designation or approved uses of the building, including any dwelling unit, guestroom or suite of rooms, or the premises on which the same is located, in which there exists any of the following listed conditions to an extent that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety, or welfare of the occupants of the building, nearby residents,...
Security Deposit Rules
California AB 12, effective July 2024, caps residential security deposits at one month of rent for most Riverside County landlords. Small landlords owning two or fewer properties may collect up to two months on unfurnished units.
Security Deposit Cap of One Month
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1950.5 (Chapter 2. Hiring of Real Property)
(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
Under AB 1482, Riverside County landlords removing covered tenants for no-fault reasons such as owner move-in, withdrawal from the rental market, or substantial remodel must provide one month of rent as relocation assistance or waive the final month of rent.
No-Fault Evictions Require Relocation Pay
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1946.2 (Chapter 2. Hiring of Real Property)
(b) For purposes of this section, 'just cause' means either of the following: [...] (2) No-fault just cause, which means any of the following: (A)(i) Intent to occupy the residential real property by the owner or the owner's spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents for a minimum of 12 continuous months as that person's primary residence. [...] (B) Withdrawal o...
Tenant Anti-Harassment
California Civil Code 1940.2 prohibits Riverside County landlords from using force, threats, fraud, or repeated unreasonable entries to push tenants out. Violations can result in civil penalties up to 2,000 dollars per harassment incident plus actual damages.
Landlord Harassment Banned Under State Law
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1940.2 (Chapter 2. Hiring of Real Property)
(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 amended FEHA to prohibit Riverside County landlords from refusing to rent to applicants who use Section 8 housing choice vouchers or other government rental assistance. Source-of-income discrimination became unlawful statewide in January 2020.
Section 8 Vouchers Are Protected Income
Significant RestrictionsCalifornia Government Code Section 12955 (Article 2. Housing Discrimination)
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. [...] (o)(1) In ins...
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
The Housing Authority of the County of Riverside administers federal Housing Choice Vouchers across unincorporated areas and most cities. Landlords accepting vouchers sign a HAP contract setting rent at a reasonable level and pass annual housing quality inspections.
RivCo Housing Authority Issues Section 8 Vouchers
Some RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code Sec. 12955 (FEHA — Unlawful Housing Practices, including source of income)
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. (b) For the ...
AB-1482 Notice Disclosure
California Civil Code section 1946.2 requires landlords of covered Riverside County rentals to include a specific just-cause and rent-cap disclosure in every lease and in a separate notice to existing tenants. Failure to deliver the notice undermines later eviction efforts.
AB 1482 Notice Required on Most RivCo Leases
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 1946.2(f) (Chapter 2. Hiring of Real Property)
(f) An owner of residential real property subject to this section shall provide notice to the tenant as follows: (1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), for any tenancy commenced or renewed on or after July 1, 2020, in the lease or rental agreement, 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. (B) For a ...
Rent Increase Notice
Riverside County requires mobile home park owners to certify compliance with the space rent stabilization ordinance in every rent adjustment notice; the county's arbitrator or rent board can deny the increase outright if the owner has not complied.
Riverside County Mobilehome Rent Increase Notice
Some RestrictionsRiverside County Code § 5.36.100
The arbitrator or board shall have the right to deny any rent adjustment under this chapter if the owner; Has failed to comply with any provisions of this chapter and/or regulations issued thereunder by the director or the board of supervisors.
Rental Property Rules by City in Riverside County
7 cities in Riverside County have their own rental property rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
10 verified rules • AB-1482 Notice Disclosure, Repairs & Habitability
4 verified rules • Repairs & Habitability, Just Cause Eviction
5 verified rules • Repairs & Habitability, Just Cause Eviction
1 verified rule • Rental Registration
2 verified rules • Just Cause Eviction, Rent Control
2 verified rules • Rent Control, Rent Increase Notice
5 verified rules • Repairs & Habitability, Just Cause Eviction
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