Marin County, CA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Marin County Code § 5.100.080
- Annual deadline
- January 1 each year
- First registration
- By June 1, 2019
- Applies to
- Properties with 3+ dwelling units
- Data certified as of
- November 1, preceding year
- Consequence of no registration
- Cannot lawfully terminate tenancy
Summary
Landlords of qualifying multifamily rentals in unincorporated Marin County must register every dwelling unit each year by January 1 under Chapter 5.100's just-cause eviction rules. Registration lists rent, occupancy, and ownership details and is a prerequisite before any tenant can be lawfully terminated.
5.100.080 - Rental dwelling unit registry. No later than June 1, 2019, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter, each person or entity seeking to rent or lease one or more dwelling units on properties that are subject to the provisions of this chapter to a residential tenant must register their unit(s), using forms provided by the county. Each addition to the registry must include, at a minimum, the following information provided under penalty of perjury and certified to be true as of November 1 of the preceding year: (a)The name, address, and phone number of the person(s) that own the dwelling unit to be rented...(g)The business license number applicable to each above-referenced dwelling unit in accordance with Chapter 5.54 of the county code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 2026 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
100 to register those units no later than June 1, 2019, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter, using county-provided forms. 020 to unincorporated properties with at least three dwelling units, including multifamily or multipurpose structures, single room occupancy units, or units hired, rented, or leased to a household under Civil Code § 1940, but exempts government-owned or subsidized units, developments where at least 49 percent of units carry binding affordable-rent restrictions, accessory dwelling units, and units occupied by an on-site manager employed by the landlord.
54. 080. 090 additionally requires properties covered by the chapter to maintain a valid business license and a valid operating permit from Marin County Environmental Health Services.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who fails to register a dwelling unit under § 5.100.080 cannot lawfully terminate a tenancy under § 5.100.040(a)(6), giving the tenant an affirmative defense to any unlawful detainer action under § 5.100.070(a). The county or an affected tenant may also bring a civil action for injunctive relief and damages under § 5.100.070(b), with damages potentially trebled if the landlord's noncompliance was knowing, reckless, or willful, plus attorneys' fees and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which rentals must register under Marin County's Chapter 5.100?
What information goes into Marin County's rental registry?
Can a Marin County landlord evict a tenant without registering the unit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marin County
California rules heatmap·Compare Marin County to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
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