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Riverside, CA Rental Property Rules: Tenant Anti-Harassment (2026)

Few Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Statute
Civil Code 1940.2
Damages
Up to $2,000 per violation
Attorney fees
Recoverable
Applies
Statewide, no local rent control needed

Summary

California Civil Code prohibits landlord harassment intended to force tenants to vacate, with remedies including statutory penalties and injunctive relief that apply fully to Riverside rental units regardless of local rent-control status.

(a) It is unlawful for a landlord to do any of the following for the purpose of influencing a tenant to vacate a dwelling: (1) Engage in conduct that violates subdivision (a) of Section 484 of the Penal Code. (2) Engage in conduct that violates Section 518 of the Penal Code. (3) Use, or threaten to use, force, willful threats, or menacing conduct constituting a course of conduct that interferes with the tenant's quiet enjoyment of the premises in violation of Section 1927 that would create an apprehension of harm in a reasonable person. Nothing in this paragraph requires a tenant to be actually or constructively evicted in order to obtain relief. (4) Commit a significant and intentional violation of Section 1954. (5) Threaten to disclose information regarding or relating to the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, occupant, or other person known to the landlord to be associated with a tenant or occupant. This paragraph does not require a tenant to be actually or constructively evicted in order to obtain relief. (b) A tenant who prevails in a civil action, including an action in small claims court, to enforce his or her rights under this section is entitled to a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each violation. (c) An oral or written warning notice, given in good faith, regarding conduct by a tenant, occupant, or guest that violates, may violate, or violated the applicable rental agreement, rules, regulations, lease, or laws, is not a violation of this section.

Source: California Civil Code 1940.2View official code

Full Breakdown

Civil Code section 1940.2 makes it unlawful for landlords to use force, threats, or repeated unwanted contact to influence a tenant to vacate. Harassment includes shutting off utilities, removing doors or windows, repeatedly entering without proper notice, threatening immigration consequences, or filing baseless eviction notices. Even without local rent control, Riverside tenants can pursue statutory damages up to $2,000 per violation plus attorney fees in addition to common-law claims. Documentation matters: tenants should keep dated logs, photos, recordings where lawful, and copies of communications.

Violations & Fines

Engaging in utility shutoffs, lock changes, or repeated baseless notices to drive tenants out exposes landlords to per-violation statutory damages, injunctions, and attorney-fee awards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my Riverside landlord shut off utilities to force me out?
No. Utility shutoffs to force vacancy violate Civil Code 1940.2 and Public Utilities Code, exposing the landlord to per-violation damages and possible criminal liability.
What documentation should I keep?
Save dated photos, written notices, voicemails, and witness contact info. Logs of repeated contacts strengthen anti-harassment claims and support attorney-fee recovery.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Riverside

All Riverside rules

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