Richmond, CA Rental Property Rules: Mold Disclosure (2026)

Richmond follows CA Health & Safety Code §§26100-26156 (the Toxic Mold Protection Act of 2001) and CA Civil Code §1941.7, which require written disclosure to prospective and current tenants of the presence of known visible mold that exceeds permissible exposure limits or poses a health threat. Because the California Department of Public Health has not adopted numerical permissible exposure limits, disclosure is practically triggered by any visible mold a reasonable landlord would recognize. Under Civil Code §1941.1(a)(12), the presence of "visible mold growth" (other than minor amounts in shower/kitchen areas) renders a unit substandard and uninhabitable. Richmond Code Enforcement (part of the Community Development Department) investigates tenant complaints of mold under Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 6.44 (Property Maintenance) and can issue Notices of Violation requiring abatement, typically within 30 days. Landlords must correct the underlying moisture source (roof leak, plumbing, ventilation) not just cosmetically remove mold. Richmond's Rent Program (RMC Chapter 11.100) treats uncorrected mold as a failure to maintain habitability, which can support a petition for a rent decrease. Tenants with elevated blood lead or asthma cases are referred to Contra Costa Health Services. Landlords should document any mold remediation with moisture readings and follow IICRC S520 standards. Selling a home with known mold also triggers Real Estate Transfer Disclosure Statement obligations under Civil Code §1102.