Novato, CA Rental Inspections: Tenant Complaint Process (2026)

Section 4-14.05 is short and broad. Nothing in the periodic housing inspection program limits or restricts the authority of the city's code enforcement officials to inspect an apartment building or hotel, any apartment or guest room within it, or the real property in response to a complaint made by any person. The complaint has to concern code violations or other violations of law at that building or on its property. Because the text says any person, a tenant, a neighbor, or anyone else can set a complaint inspection in motion, and the section prints no complaint form, fee, or deadline. Section 4-14.02 defines the buildings it reaches: an apartment building holds three or more apartments on one parcel, and a hotel holds four or more guest rooms.

Once an inspector finds a violation, the same section lets the city pursue all code enforcement remedies permissible under the code or any other state or municipal law. Section 4-14.08 adds the nuisance abatement procedures in section 1-6, and section 1-6.2 deems any condition in violation of the Novato Municipal Code a public nuisance. The community development director can also refer a case to the Housing and Building Codes Appeals Board for a hearing on whether a nuisance exists (section 1-6.6).

The scheduled-inspection mechanics are written separately. The 20-day written notice in section 4-14.06 is addressed to the periodic inspections, and section 4-14.07 sets the entry rules: consent from the owner for common and unrented areas, consent from the tenant for rented areas, and an inspection warrant under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1822.50 et seq. if consent is refused. Section 1-6.5 separately provides for inspecting private property suspected of holding a public nuisance after obtaining an inspection warrant when the owner refuses.

Separately, section 4-17.11(c) bars a landlord from decreasing housing services or raising rent or other service charges with the intent to retaliate against a tenant for asserting or exercising rights under section 4-17 or under applicable state or federal law.