Placer County, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Article 15.56, Dangerous Buildings, applies to all new and existing rental buildings or portions used or intended for human habitation, per Section 15.56.030. The board of supervisors adopted it because 'substandard rental housing and/or dangerous buildings are a nuisance that threatens the health and welfare' of the community, per the findings in Section 15.56.010, and the article implements the State Housing Law (Health and Safety Code Sections 17920 through 17999) and Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations. Section 15.56.050 makes it unlawful and a misdemeanor to rent or lease, or offer to rent or lease, a substandard dwelling or a dangerous building, and any substandard dwelling is itself declared a nuisance requiring correction, repair, reconstruction or demolition.

A unit is 'untenantable' if it lacks the affirmative standard characteristics set out in Civil Code Section 1941.1. Enforcement runs through the Environmental Health Division of Health and Human Services and the Building Services Division of the Community Development Resource Agency, whose director or chief building official holds law-enforcement-officer powers for this purpose under Section 15.56.070. Inspectors may enter with occupant consent, or with an inspection warrant under Code of Civil Procedure Section 1822.50, but may not enter an occupied unit between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. without consent, per Section 15.56.090.

When a notice and order for repair issues, permits must be secured within 30 days and work must start within 60 days under Section 15.56.110(B)(3)(a); owners choosing demolition instead face the same 30-day permit deadline.