California Government Code §12955, amended by SB-329 in 2019, prohibits housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. The San Diego Human Relations Commission supports complaints alongside state DFEH enforcement.
Under California Government Code §12955(p), it is unlawful for housing providers to refuse rental, charge different terms, or use marketing language excluding tenants based on the source of lawful income, including federal, state, or local housing subsidies and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. SB-329 (2019) expressly added voucher recipients to the protected definition. The California Civil Rights Department (formerly DFEH) enforces statewide. The San Diego Human Relations Commission, established by SDMC §26.0901, accepts community complaints, conducts mediation, and refers cases to state and federal agencies. HUD Fair Housing rules supplement enforcement for federally subsidized properties.
Civil Rights Department enforcement can yield civil penalties up to $25,000 per first violation, plus actual damages and attorney fees. HUD complaints may add federal penalties for federally subsidized housing.
San Diego, CA
The San Diego Housing Commission administers Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for the city. California Government Code §12955(p) bars landlords from refus...
San Diego, CA
SDMC §98.0704 prohibits landlords from terminating tenancy without just cause, effective immediately upon commencement of tenancy. At-fault causes include no...
See how San Diego's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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