Pismo Beach, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Section 15.04.010 adopts the 2024 edition of the International Property Maintenance Code, published by the International Code Council, together with the California building codes, as the Building Construction Regulations of the City of Pismo Beach. Section 15.08.070 prints the city's amendments to it. The city retitles it the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Pismo Beach, creates an office of property maintenance inspection headed by the code official, and sets fees for code official services by the schedule the governing authority establishes. The code official, or a duly authorized agent, can issue citations under Section 836.5(a) of the California Penal Code. Repairs, additions, alterations or changes of occupancy follow the California Building Standards Code and other applicable laws and ordinances. The Pismo Beach text prints only the city's amendments; none of the sections read for this page mention landlords, tenants or rental units.

The unsafe-conditions standard is in § 15.08.010, Section 116.1. Structures or existing equipment are an unsafe condition when they are unsafe, unsanitary or deficient because of inadequate means of egress facilities, inadequate light and ventilation, or a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life or public welfare, or involve illegal or improper occupancy or inadequate maintenance. Unsafe structures must be taken down and removed or made safe as the building official deems necessary, and a vacant structure not secured against entry is deemed unsafe. Section 114.1 makes it unlawful to use a discarded, salvaged, abandoned or replaced travel trailer, trucking trailer, cargo container, streetcar, bus body, rail car or other vehicle body for habitation, storage or any structural purpose, and unlawful to use a travel trailer or recreational vehicle for residential purposes except in an approved campground or recreational vehicle park.

Appeals of building official orders under the Property Maintenance Code go to the five-member Board of Appeals, which also serves as the Housing Appeals Board and has no authority to waive requirements of the adopted codes (§ 15.08.010, Section 113; § 15.08.070, Section 106.1).