Martinez does not require a rental property registration or rental inspection program at the city level. Landlords operating residential rental units must obtain a City of Martinez business license under Municipal Code Title 5 and comply with state habitability requirements under California Civil Code sections 1941 and 1941.1, including maintenance of weatherproofing, plumbing, heating, and working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
The City of Martinez has not adopted a dedicated rental housing registration ordinance or proactive rental inspection program. Instead, rental housing is regulated primarily through the city's business license requirement (Martinez Municipal Code Title 5) and through state law. Any person engaged in the business of renting residential property within Martinez must obtain and renew an annual business license through the Finance Department at 525 Henrietta Street. Fees are based on the number of units and business classification.
Landlords remain subject to California's implied warranty of habitability (Civil Code 1941, 1941.1) which requires effective waterproofing, working plumbing and gas facilities, a water supply, adequate heating, functional electrical systems, clean premises free of rodents and vermin, adequate trash receptacles, and structural integrity of floors, stairs, and railings. Working smoke detectors (Health & Safety Code 13113.7) and carbon monoxide alarms (Health & Safety Code 17926) are mandatory. Contra Costa County Environmental Health investigates substandard housing complaints.
Statewide tenant protections from AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) cap annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI (maximum 10%) and require just cause for termination after 12 months of tenancy for most properties over 15 years old. Martinez has not layered a local rent control or just-cause ordinance on top of AB 1482.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Martinez, CA
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Martinez, CA
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Martinez, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Contra Costa County.
See how other cities in Contra Costa County handle rental registration.
See how Martinez's rental registration rules stack up against other locations.
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