San Mateo County, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- County declares unit substandard
- Permanent displacement pay
- 3x HUD Fair Market Rent
- Immediate vacation add-on
- $1,000 extra payment
- Lease waivers
- Void, against public policy
- Nonpayment remedy
- County pays, then liens property
Summary
Unincorporated San Mateo County landlords must pay relocation benefits to tenants displaced when code enforcement declares their rental unit substandard or unsafe, under Chapter 3.108.
A tenant household shall be eligible for relocation payments from a property owner under this chapter if the tenant household is displaced from its dwelling or room due to the County's code enforcement activities.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 3.108 doesn't set habitability standards itself, but it attaches real consequences once a county Enforcement Officer issues a notice to vacate, a notice to abate a life-threatening condition, or a declaration of substandard condition against a rental dwelling or room. A displaced tenant household becomes eligible for a relocation payment from the property owner: three times the HUD Fair Market Rent for permanent displacement, plus moving costs, or actual moving and temporary housing costs for temporary displacement, with a $1,000 add-on for immediate vacations. Lease clauses waiving these rights are void, and the County can pay the tenant and then lien the property if the owner doesn't.
Violations & Fines
Failing to pay required relocation benefits before the tenant vacates lets the County pay on the owner's behalf and later record a lien against the property to recover the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this chapter set the habitability standards themselves?
How much must a landlord pay a displaced tenant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Mateo County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Mateo County to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.