Rialto, CA Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)
Key Facts
- Certificate term
- Biennial, expires 2 years after issuance
- Registration deadline
- Last business day of December
- Late fee
- 10% of application fee per month late
- Misdemeanor fine
- $250 to $1,000, up to 6 months jail
- Owner-occupied units
- Exempt, no fee for exemption certificate
- Appeal window
- 15 days to city administrator
Summary
Rialto requires every rental dwelling unit, motel, hotel and lodging house to hold a valid biennial inspection certificate. Owners of buildings with two or more rental units must register with code enforcement and pass a city inspection before renting, with certificates renewed every two years.
A. No person or entity shall permit to be occupied a rental dwelling unit, or operate a motel, hotel, or lodging house without possession of an unexpired, unrevoked, unsuspended biennial inspection certificate for each structure and payment of the requisite fee to the city, as set forth by council resolution. B. Unless an owner is in good standing by possessing a biennial certificate of inspection, or a certificate of exemption as provided by Section 15.60.100 of this chapter, the owner of every building or structure containing two or more rental dwelling units shall register such building or structure, and each rental dwelling unit therein, with code enforcement on or before the last business day in December.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 39).
Full Breakdown
040(A)). 040(B)). 040(D)-(E)). 050). 060). 051). 071). 100).
Violations & Fines
Failure to correct a noticed violation within three months voids the pending certificate application and forces a new application and fee; conditions that pose an immediate threat to life or safety can lead to condemnation or summary abatement (15.60.080). Any violation of Chapter 15.60, including failing to post the certificate, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $250 to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of violation a separate offense (15.60.130). The city can also pursue civil or administrative enforcement and recover attorney's fees and costs in a lien-foreclosure action (15.60.140). Aggrieved owners have fifteen days to appeal a code enforcement determination in writing to the city administrator (15.60.120).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all Rialto rental properties need a biennial inspection certificate?
What happens if I re-rent a unit without registering it first?
Can code enforcement inspect the inside of my rental unit?
Are owner-occupied units subject to this program?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rialto
California rules heatmap·Compare Rialto to another location·View the California rental inspections overview
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Inspection Programs in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle inspection programs.