Just cause eviction rules in Sonora, CA — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Sonora follows California's statewide just cause eviction protections under AB 1482. Landlords cannot evict tenants who have occupied a unit for 12 months or more without a specified just cause, which includes at-fault reasons like nonpayment and no-fault reasons like owner move-in.
California AB 1482 requires just cause for eviction of tenants who have occupied a rental unit for 12 months or more (or all tenants in a household if any tenant has lived there 24 months or more). At-fault just causes include nonpayment of rent, breach of lease, nuisance, criminal activity, and refusal to allow owner access. No-fault just causes include owner or family member move-in, withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act), substantial renovation, and government order. For no-fault evictions, landlords must provide relocation assistance equal to one month's rent or waive the final month's rent. Sonora has no local just cause ordinance beyond AB 1482. Exemptions mirror rent control exemptions under the same law.
Evictions without just cause may be challenged in court. Landlords found violating AB 1482 may face damages, attorney fees, and penalties of up to three times actual damages for bad faith violations.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Tuolumne County.
See how other cities in Tuolumne County handle just cause eviction.
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