Long Beach, CA Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)
Key Facts
- Code
- Cal. Gov. Code 12955
- Effective
- January 1, 2020
- Covered
- Section 8 vouchers
- Enforcer
- CA Civil Rights Department
Summary
California Government Code section 12955 prohibits Long Beach landlords from refusing to rent based on lawful source of income including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, treating voucher payments as part of the tenant's income for screening purposes.
It shall be unlawful: (a) For the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability, veteran or military status, or genetic information of that person. (b) For the owner of any housing accommodation to make or to cause to be made any written or oral inquiry concerning the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, disability, veteran or military status, or genetic information of any person seeking to purchase, rent, or lease any housing accommodation.
Full Breakdown
California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, codified at Government Code section 12955, lists source of income as a protected class. Effective January 1, 2020, SB 329 expanded the definition to include federal, state, and local housing subsidies, including Section 8 vouchers. Landlords cannot post no-Section-8 advertisements, refuse to consider voucher tenants, or apply income-multiplier rules in a way that ignores the subsidy portion. Long Beach Housing Authority administers vouchers locally, and tenants denied housing because of voucher status may file complaints with the California Civil Rights Department.
Violations & Fines
Refusing voucher applicants, advertising no-Section-8 listings, or applying screening criteria that count only the tenant share of rent can trigger CRD complaints, statutory damages, and injunctive relief under Government Code 12955.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a landlord still screen voucher tenants?
Where do I report no-voucher ads?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
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Source-of-Income Discrimination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle source-of-income discrimination.