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Rohnert Park, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
RPMC § 1.23.020(T)
State references incorporated
Health & Safety Code §§ 17920.3, 17920.10; Civil Code §§ 1941, 1941.1
Minimum correction period
15 calendar days for building/health/safety issues
First-violation fine cap
$130 under Title 15, § 1.16.010(F)
Repeat within 12 months
Up to $1,300, then misdemeanor on 3rd conviction
Enforcement chapters
Chapters 1.24 (citations) and 1.25 (abatement)

Summary

Rohnert Park defines "habitability standards" in its nuisance code as the minimum requirements for a property to be safe and livable, pulling in California Health and Safety Code Sections 17920.3 and 17920.10, Civil Code Sections 1941 and 1941.1, and the International Property Maintenance Code the city has adopted. A rental that falls below these standards becomes a code enforcement target, not just a landlord-tenant dispute.

T."Habitability standards" refer to the minimum requirements for a property to be considered safe, livable, and in compliance with this code and other applicable codes including, but not limited to, California Health and Safety Code [Sections] 17920.3 and 17920.10, California Civil Code Sections 1941 and 1941.1, Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 22, § 81088(a—e), and the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) as adopted herein.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

1, licensed care-facility rules in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, and the International Property Maintenance Code as the city has adopted it. 23, "Nuisance Defined," which the city uses to trigger its own enforcement machinery rather than leaving habitability solely to a tenant's civil lawsuit. 040(A), shorter if the condition is an immediate danger to health or safety. 160 for conditions that pose an imminent danger. 010(F) apply: up to $130 for a first violation, up to $700 for a second within twelve months, and up to $1,300 for further violations of the same code provision, rising to $2,500 for a repeat commercial violation tied to unremoved refuse or unauthorized property use within two years.

Violations & Fines

A habitability-related nuisance is enforced like any other code violation: a compliance officer issues a pre-citation notice, then an administrative citation if the owner misses the correction deadline. Escalating infraction fines under Section 1.16.010(F) run $130, $700, and $1,300 for repeat violations of the same provision within twelve months, and a third conviction within a year converts the offense to a misdemeanor. Owners may request an administrative appeal hearing within fifteen calendar days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rohnert Park mean by "habitability standards"?
Under Municipal Code Section 1.23.020(T), habitability standards are the minimum requirements for a property to be safe and livable, drawing on California Health and Safety Code Sections 17920.3 and 17920.10, Civil Code Sections 1941 and 1941.1, Title 22 care-facility regulations, and the International Property Maintenance Code as the city has adopted it. The definition lets the city treat a substandard rental as a code enforcement matter, not only a tenant's private claim.
How much time does a landlord get to fix a habitability violation?
At least fifteen calendar days for problems tied to building, plumbing, electrical or other structural conditions that aren't an immediate danger, per Section 1.24.040(A). The compliance officer can shorten that period if the condition threatens health or safety right away, and can extend it if more time is reasonably needed to complete the repair.
What happens if the landlord ignores the citation?
The city can escalate to nuisance abatement under Chapter 1.25, including summary abatement for imminent hazards under Section 1.25.160, and infraction fines climb from $130 to $700 to $1,300 for repeat violations of the same provision within twelve months under Section 1.16.010(F); a third conviction in a year becomes a misdemeanor.

Sources & Official References

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