San Jose, CA Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in San Jose, CA, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Grounds required
- 1 of 13 just-cause reasons
- Notice
- Copy must go to City
- Criminal penalty
- $500-$1,000 misdemeanor fine
- Civil penalty
- Treble damages for willful violations
- Code location
- SJMC Ch. 17.23, Part 12
Summary
San Jose landlords cannot end a tenancy without a legally recognized just-cause reason under SJMC § 17.23.1240: one of 13 grounds in the city's Tenant Protection Ordinance, with every termination notice copied to the City.
A Landlord may not terminate the tenancy of a Tenant unless the Landlord can demonstrate: 1. that the Landlord served a Notice of Termination to the Tenant Household and delivered a copy of the Notice of Termination to the City in accordance with Section 17.23.1260; and 2. that the termination qualifies as a Just Cause Termination in compliance with Section 17.23.1250.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
San Jose Municipal Code § 17.23.1240, part of the Tenant Protection Ordinance (Chapter 17.23, Part 12), requires every landlord to show just cause before terminating a residential tenancy. The landlord must both serve a Notice of Termination on the tenant and deliver a copy to the City, and the stated reason must fit one of 13 just-cause grounds spelled out in § 17.23.1250: ranging from nonpayment of rent, lease violations, and nuisance behavior to no-fault grounds like owner move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, and substantial rehabilitation, several of which carry their own relocation-payment duties.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant landlords face a misdemeanor, up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for repeat offenses, plus civil exposure for damages, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, and treble damages for willful violations under SJMC § 17.23.1280.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a San Jose landlord evict a tenant without a reason?
Does the just-cause rule apply to every rental in San Jose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
California rules heatmap·Compare San Jose to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
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Just Cause Eviction in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle just cause eviction.