Unincorporated San Mateo County does NOT have a rental registration program. Landlords must comply with state habitability laws (Civil Code §1941.1) and the California Building Code. Business license required only for property management companies, not individual landlords.
San Mateo County has not adopted a rental housing inspection or registration program for unincorporated areas. Landlords are not required to register units with the County. However, all rental units must meet state habitability standards under Civil Code §1941.1 including weatherproofing, plumbing, hot/cold water, heating, electrical, clean/sanitary buildings, adequate trash receptacles, and working smoke/CO detectors. Pre-1978 buildings require federal lead-based paint disclosure (Title X). Bedbug notification required under Civil Code §1954.603. Mold, asbestos, and flood disclosures apply. The Health Policy and Planning Division responds to habitability complaints. San Francisco International Airport noise overlay may require sound attenuation disclosure for properties near SFO. Short-term rentals are separately regulated (see STR permit requirements).
Habitability violations: tenant may repair-and-deduct (Civil Code §1942), withhold rent, or sue. Health Department can condemn uninhabitable units. Landlord may face civil penalties up to $5,000 per unit for willful violations. Failure to disclose lead paint: federal penalties up to $19,507.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Mateo County, CA
Amplified music in unincorporated San Mateo County is regulated by County Code Chapter 4.88 Noise Control, which caps exterior noise at 55-75 dBA daytime and...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces CVC §22651(k) for vehicles on public streets (72 hours) and Ordinance Code Chapter 4.48 for inoperable vehicles on p...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no general overnight parking ban on most streets. Specific residential neighborhoods may have permit parking. California ...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces California Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115920-115929) and CBC Chapter 31B. Minimum 60-inch barrier, self-clo...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, per California Buil...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County allows backyard chickens on residential parcels of at least 2,500 sq ft under the County Zoning Regulations. 2,500 to 7,500 s...
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