San Diego has not enacted a comprehensive Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance like Los Angeles. Tenants rely on California Civil Code §1940.2, §1942.5, and general unfair-business statutes when landlords retaliate or harass.
Unlike Los Angeles or Oakland, San Diego has not adopted a standalone Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance creating a private right of action with statutory damages for landlord harassment. Tenants must instead rely on California state remedies. Civil Code §1940.2 prohibits forcible entry, threats, and fraud aimed at making tenants vacate. Civil Code §1942.5 prohibits retaliation against tenants who exercise habitability or eviction-defense rights. Business and Professions Code §17200 covers unfair-business-practice claims. The city's Tenants' Right to Know Ordinance (SDMC §98) limits eviction grounds but does not separately penalize harassment short of an eviction attempt.
Civil Code §1940.2 violations carry penalties up to $2,000 per incident plus actual damages. Section 1942.5 retaliation can trigger punitive damages. Section 17200 claims allow restitution and injunctive relief.
San Diego, CA
San Diego's Tenants' Right to Know Ordinance (SDMC §98) and California AB-1482 limit no-fault evictions to enumerated reasons such as owner move-in, substant...
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 tenant anti-harassment rules stack up against other locations.
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