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San Bernardino County, CA Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)

Some Restrictions

Verified 1 week ago|Source: California Government Code →

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Key Facts

Statute: Govt Code 12955
Effective: January 2020
Ad language ban: No 'Section 8 OK only'
Enforcement: CA Civil Rights Dept

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Summary

California Government Code 12955 bars San Bernardino County landlords from refusing to rent solely because the tenant uses a Housing Choice Voucher or other lawful government rental subsidy as part of their income.

Full Breakdown

Since 2020, California has expanded the Fair Employment and Housing Act to treat housing-assistance vouchers, VASH, and similar subsidies as a protected source of income. Landlords cannot post 'no Section 8' advertisements, refuse to consider voucher tenants, or apply different screening criteria. They may still apply consistent income, credit, and rental-history standards, but voucher amounts must be counted toward the income calculation. SBC has no separate ordinance; the state law is enforced by the Civil Rights Department.

Violations & Fines

Posting 'no Section 8' ads, charging voucher tenants higher deposits, or applying disparate income multiples to subsidized tenants constitutes source-of-income discrimination under FEHA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must I accept any voucher holder?

No. You may screen for credit, rental history, and consistent income standards, but you cannot refuse based solely on the use of a voucher subsidy.

How is income calculated for a voucher tenant?

Count only the tenant's portion of rent, not the gross rent, when applying income-multiple criteria. Subsidies count toward meeting that threshold.

How does San Bernardino County compare?

See how San Bernardino County's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.

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San Bernardino County, CA Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)

Key Facts

Summary

Full Breakdown

Violations & Fines

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Official References

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