Just cause eviction rules in San Mateo, CA — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
San Mateo adopted an emergency just cause eviction ordinance (Ord. 2019-12) providing local protections that complement AB 1482. Landlords must cite a specific just cause for terminating tenancies of 12+ months. No-fault evictions require one month's rent as relocation assistance.
The City of San Mateo adopted Emergency Ordinance No. 2019-12 establishing just cause eviction protections, retroactively effective October 1, 2019. This local ordinance provides protections consistent with and complementary to AB 1482. At-fault causes include non-payment of rent, nuisance, criminal activity, refusal to allow lawful entry, and material breach of the lease. No-fault causes include owner move-in, substantial renovation, demolition, withdrawal from rental market, and compliance with government orders. No-fault terminations require the landlord to pay one month's rent as relocation assistance or grant a rent waiver for the final month. The protections apply to tenants who have been continuously and lawfully occupying the property for 12 months. San Mateo's local ordinance ensures these protections remain even if AB 1482 is modified.
Terminating without just cause is subject to legal challenge. Tenants may recover damages including moving costs and rent differential. Retaliatory evictions prohibited under CC 1942.5.
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