San Bernardino, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 15.24.040, Property Maintenance Code
- Applies to
- Owners, renters, occupants and managers
- Interior standard
- Good repair, safe, sanitary condition
- Exterior items covered
- 14 listed standards, (A)(1)-(14)
- First infraction fine
- Up to $100
Summary
City code sets minimum exterior and interior maintenance standards for every rental unit in San Bernardino, covering landscaping, trash, structural repair, sewage connection and safe sanitary interior conditions. The duty falls on owners, renters and managers alike, and a landlord who lets a rental fall below these standards is committing a code violation enforceable as an infraction or civil nuisance action.
Any person owning, renting, occupying, managing or otherwise having charge of any single-family residence, multi-residential, commercial and industrial property shall maintain the property in accordance with the following minimum standards. Failure to comply with these minimum standards shall constitute a violation of this code... (B) Interior requirements. The interiors of all buildings and structures on the property, both existing and new, and all parts thereof, shall be maintained in good repair and safe, sanitary conditions in conformance with the building code under which it was built or remodeled and any retroactive codes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-2: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. MC-1666, passed 8-5-2026).
Full Breakdown
040 of the Property Maintenance Code imposes 'minimum standards' on 'any person owning, renting, occupying, managing or otherwise having charge of any single-family residence, multi-residential, commercial and industrial property,' which reaches every landlord and tenant in the city. Fourteen exterior items apply, including keeping required setbacks and front or visible side yards landscaped, maintaining lawns and trees, keeping the property free of weeds and dead vegetation, storing trash and inoperative furniture out of sight, keeping vehicles in a garage, carport or improved surface, painting and repairing structures, maintaining driveways and walkways, and removing graffiti.
' Pools and spas must be securely fenced under item (12), and fencing materials must be acceptable under item (14). Because the section names renters and occupants alongside owners, a tenant can be cited directly for interior conditions within their control, while the owner remains responsible for the structure itself. 27, both of which check compliance with these same maintenance standards along with the California Fire Code, Building Code and Uniform Housing Code.
Violations & Fines
Falling below the § 15.24.040 minimum standards 'shall constitute a violation of this code,' charged as an infraction under § 15.24.050 and § 1.12.010: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 after that, with a fourth violation in twelve months becoming a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. The City Attorney may also file a civil nuisance-abatement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Bernardino have a habitability code for rental housing?
Can my landlord blame me for maintenance violations?
What happens if a rental fails these maintenance standards?
How does this differ from San Bernardino's rental inspection programs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle repairs & habitability.