California Government Code §12955, expanded by SB-329 in 2020, prohibits housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. Santa Clara County enforces statewide rules through state CRD; no separate county code exists.
California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, at Government Code §12955, makes it unlawful for a landlord anywhere in the state to refuse rental, advertise discriminatory preferences, or apply different terms based on a tenant's lawful source of income. SB-329 (2019, effective 2020) confirmed federal Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other rental assistance qualify as protected income. SB-222 (2020) extended the same protection to veterans' housing benefits. Santa Clara County does not run its own fair-housing investigative agency; tenants in unincorporated areas file with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or pursue private suit. Landlords may apply credit, reference, and rental-history standards but only against the tenant's portion of rent.
Discriminatory ads or rental refusals expose landlords to CRD penalties of up to $25,000 for a first offense and tenant suits for actual damages, statutory damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara regulates amplified sound and music through City Code Chapter 9.10, requiring permits for amplified events and prohibiting audible music at 50 fe...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara regulates outdoor music at venues including Levis Stadium and Santana Row under City Code Chapter 9.10 and conditional use permits, with amplifie...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara requires encroachment permits for new driveways, limits driveway width by zoning, and prohibits parking across sidewalks regardless of property o...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara tows abandoned vehicles after 72 hours under CVC 22651(k) and participates in the Santa Clara County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program for priv...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara limits recreational vehicle street parking to 72 hours, requires permits for extended street storage, and restricts driveway RV storage under zon...
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara fences must meet height, material, setback, and visibility standards under City Code Title 18 Zoning, with special rules for corner lots, histori...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how Santa Clara's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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