Ventura, CA Rental Property Rules: Just Cause Eviction (2026)
Just cause eviction rules in Ventura, CA, sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances, list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- SBMC § 8.1100.020 and § 8.1100.030
- Effective
- May 23, 2022 (Ord. 2022-006)
- Relocation assistance
- 2 months' rent, paid within 15 days
- Permits required
- Before the termination notice is served
- Civil penalty
- Up to $15,000 for intentional violation
Summary
Chapter 8.1100 of the San Buenaventura Municipal Code layers city-specific requirements onto California's statewide just-cause eviction law for landlords citing intent to demolish or substantially remodel a rental unit. Owners must secure all permits before serving notice and pay tenants two months' rent in relocation assistance within 15 days.
Except as expressly modified in this chapter for no-fault just cause evictions based on intent to demolish or to substantially remodel the residential real property, the terms of California Civil Code Section 1946.2 apply as set out in the statute. ... Before an owner of residential real property issues a notice to terminate a tenancy for no-fault just cause for intent to demolish or substantially remodel residential real property under California Civil Code Section 1946.2(b)(2)(D), the owner shall have obtained all necessary permits for the substantial remodel and/or demolition from all applicable governmental agencies. ... The amount of relocation assistance or rent waiver shall be equal to two months of the tenant's rent that was in effect when the owner issued the notice to terminate the tenancy. Any relocation assistance shall be provided within 15 calendar days of service of the notice.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-008, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010 defines "substantially remodel" as replacing or substantially modifying a structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical system requiring a permit, or abating hazards like lead paint, mold, or asbestos, when the work cannot be done safely with the tenant in place and requires vacating for at least 30 days; cosmetic work like painting or minor repairs does not qualify. 2 apply as written in the statute. 2(b)(2)(D), the owner must have already obtained all necessary permits for the remodel or demolition, and the notice itself must include copies of those permits along with a detailed explanation of the scope of work, why it cannot be done safely with the tenant present, and why it requires at least 30 days' vacancy.
The owner must also provide relocation assistance or a rent waiver equal to two months of the tenant's rent, delivered within 15 calendar days of serving the notice, on top of any other relocation duties under state or federal law. 2(e).
Violations & Fines
Section 8.1100.050 makes clear that failing to comply with Chapter 8.1100 is not a criminal offense, but a tenant may raise the violation as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer proceeding. Beyond that defense, a tenant may bring a civil action against an owner who intentionally violates the chapter by issuing an invalid termination notice, recovering a civil penalty of up to $15,000 plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs as determined by the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Ventura landlord evict me to remodel the unit?
How much relocation money do I get if evicted for demolition in Ventura?
What can I do if my landlord violates Ventura's just-cause eviction rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
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Just Cause Eviction in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle just cause eviction.