San Diego, CA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- State Housing Law + 1997 Uniform Housing Code
- Applies to
- All Residential Occupancies, any construction date
- Enforced by
- Neighborhood Code Compliance Department
- Division adopted
- 1985, by O-16511 N.S.
Summary
San Diego adopts the Uniform Housing Code and State Housing Law as its Housing Code, governing habitability, maintenance, and occupancy standards for every Residential Occupancy in the city, from apartments and condos to single-family rentals and boarding houses.
(a) Designation. Chapter IX, Article 8, Division 1 of this Code, together with the specified provisions of the State Housing Law, California Code of Regulations and Uniform Housing Code as adopted shall be known as the Housing Code for the City of San Diego.
(b) Scope. The requirements of this Division apply to the use, maintenance and occupancy of any Residential Occupancy approved for construction before or after adoption of this Division.
(c) Definitions. The definitions contained in the California Building Code as adopted in Section 91.0101, the Uniform Housing Code as adopted in Section 98.0103, the definitions contained in Chapters I, IX and X of the Municipal Code, and the following definitions apply to the administration and enforcement of this Division:
"Director" means the Director of the Neighborhood Code Compliance Department or any other official designated by the City Manager.
"Housing Regulated Business" means each Residential Occupancy and related activities as defined in Section 98.0101 for which a business tax is required to be paid pursuant to Section 31.0305(a) of the Municipal Code. "Housing
Full Breakdown
The Housing Code for the City of San Diego combines Chapter 9, Article 8, Division 1 of the Municipal Code with the State Housing Law, Title 25 California Code of Regulations, and the 1997 Uniform Housing Code. SDMC § 98.0101 sets its scope: the requirements apply to the use, maintenance, and occupancy of any Residential Occupancy, whether approved for construction before or after the Division was adopted in 1985. That covers rental houses, apartment buildings, condos, hotels, motels, mobile homes, and boarding houses alike, and it is enforced by the Neighborhood Code Compliance Department.
Violations & Fines
Violating the Housing Code's habitability, maintenance, or occupancy standards is a misdemeanor, and the Director may also seek civil penalties or an injunction in San Diego Superior Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a Residential Occupancy under San Diego's Housing Code?
Does the Housing Code apply to older rental buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle repairs & habitability.