San Jose requires all multifamily rental properties to obtain a Residential Occupancy Permit (ROP) under SJMC Section 17.20.520, renewed annually. Code Enforcement routinely inspects building exteriors, common areas, and a percentage of individual units for safe, decent, and sanitary conditions.
Under SJMC Section 17.20.520, all apartments, hotels, motels, fraternities, sororities, emergency shelters, and residential service facilities in San Jose must obtain an active Residential Occupancy Permit (ROP), renewed annually. The Multiple Housing Inspection Program conducts routine inspections of multifamily buildings including building exteriors, common areas, and a sampling of dwelling units. Inspections verify compliance with building, fire, health, and safety codes to ensure safe, decent, and sanitary living conditions. Properties with outstanding code violations may be subject to more frequent inspection cycles. The program is administered by the Code Enforcement division of the Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department. Properties under the Apartment Rent Ordinance (ARO, SJMC Chapter 17.23) face additional registration requirements and landlords may not serve annual rent increases if they have not registered, with penalties of $500 per unregistered unit.
ROP suspension or revocation for persistent violations. Administrative citations of $500 per unregistered unit under ARO. Property may be declared substandard.
San Jose, CA
San Jose Municipal Code Title 7 (Animal Care and Control) requires dogs in public places, city parks, and trails to be on a leash no longer than six feet, re...
San Jose, CA
San Jose imposes no general restriction on year-round lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private residential property. The sign code (SJMC Ch...
San Jose, CA
San Jose has no city ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Size, height, and motor noise are not restricted by the munic...
San Jose, CA
San Jose has no ordinance limiting the duration, brightness, or hours of residential holiday lighting. The general nuisance provisions in SJMC Title 6 and th...
San Jose, CA
A built-in outdoor kitchen in San Jose typically requires multiple permits: a building permit for any structural roof or counter exceeding the patio cover ex...
San Jose, CA
San Jose does not have a dedicated ordinance for backyard smokers, pellet grills, or wood-fired ovens. Use is governed by the multifamily balcony restriction...
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