Santa Cruz, CA local landlord rules
State law also applies. See California landlord-tenant law and the California landlord FAQ. State rules: Security deposit limit · Deposit return deadline · Notice to enter · Late fees · Eviction notice (nonpayment) · Rent increase notice.
Quick facts
| Topic | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Rental inspections | Owners must register rental units in the city's residential rental inspection program, with an annual registration fee and fees for repeat reinspections. The code states: "Each owner or operator, on behalf of the owner, shall initially register for the residential rental dwelling unit inspection program on a form provided by the city’s planning and community development department" (§ 21.06.040). |
| Just-cause eviction | Santa Cruz extends the state's no-fault just-cause eviction protections (Civ. Code § 1946.2) to Section 8 voucher tenants, whom the state law would otherwise exempt. |
| Tenant relocation assistance | Owners must pay relocation assistance to tenants who have to vacate because of unsafe or hazardous conditions or illegal residential use, or who give notice to vacate after a large rent increase. The code states: "The owner of any structure rented for residential purposes shall provide relocation assistance and make relocations payment(s), as specified in Section 21.03.020 , to the tenant(s) that are required to vacate due to unsafe or hazardous living conditions; or due to illegal use of the structure as a residence; or after a tenant gives the owner notice of intent to vacate due to a large rent increase" (§ 21.03.030). |
| Interest on deposits | Landlords must pay interest on security deposits at no less than the rate the city council sets each year. The code states: "A rental agreement may provide for a tenant’s interest at a percentage rate greater than that established by the city council resolution then in effect; however, under no circumstances shall a rental agreement provide for a tenant’s interest at a percentage rate less than that established by the city council resolution then in effect" (§ 21.02.010). |
| Required disclosures (mold, lead, radon, bedbug, asbestos, flood zone) | Owners must give tenants written notice 10 to 30 days before listing or offering residential rental property for sale. The code states: "(a) Not less than ten days but no more than thirty days prior to entering into any written listing agreement for the sale of residential rental property or making any offer to sell the property, the owner shall provide the tenants written notice that the property is for sale" (§ 21.04.030). |
Details & sources
Rental inspections
Owners must register rental units in the city's residential rental inspection program, with an annual registration fee and fees for repeat reinspections. The code states: "Each owner or operator, on behalf of the owner, shall initially register for the residential rental dwelling unit inspection program on a form provided by the city’s planning and community development department" (§ 21.06.040).
Verified Source: Santa Cruz Municipal Code § 21.06.040 · last checked 2026-10-16
Back to quick facts ↑Just-cause eviction
Santa Cruz extends the state's no-fault just-cause eviction protections (Civ. Code § 1946.2) to Section 8 voucher tenants, whom the state law would otherwise exempt. The code states: "Notwithstanding the language of California Civil Code Section 1946.2 (e)(9), the no-fault just cause eviction protections of Section 1946.2 shall be applicable to tenants receiving subsidy through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program or the Section 8 Project Based Voucher Program" (§ 21.07.010).
Verified Source: Santa Cruz Municipal Code § 21.07.010 · last checked 2026-10-16
Back to quick facts ↑Tenant relocation assistance
Owners must pay relocation assistance to tenants who have to vacate because of unsafe or hazardous conditions or illegal residential use, or who give notice to vacate after a large rent increase. The code states: "The owner of any structure rented for residential purposes shall provide relocation assistance and make relocations payment(s), as specified in Section 21.03.020 , to the tenant(s) that are required to vacate due to unsafe or hazardous living conditions; or due to illegal use of the structure as a residence; or after a tenant gives the owner notice of intent to vacate due to a large rent increase" (§ 21.03.030).
Verified Source: Santa Cruz Municipal Code § 21.03.030 · last checked 2026-10-16
Back to quick facts ↑Interest on deposits
Landlords must pay interest on security deposits at no less than the rate the city council sets each year. The code states: "A rental agreement may provide for a tenant’s interest at a percentage rate greater than that established by the city council resolution then in effect; however, under no circumstances shall a rental agreement provide for a tenant’s interest at a percentage rate less than that established by the city council resolution then in effect" (§ 21.02.010).
Verified Source: Santa Cruz Municipal Code § 21.02.010 · last checked 2026-10-16
Back to quick facts ↑Required disclosures (mold, lead, radon, bedbug, asbestos, flood zone)
Owners must give tenants written notice 10 to 30 days before listing or offering residential rental property for sale. The code states: "(a) Not less than ten days but no more than thirty days prior to entering into any written listing agreement for the sale of residential rental property or making any offer to sell the property, the owner shall provide the tenants written notice that the property is for sale" (§ 21.04.030).
Verified Source: Santa Cruz Municipal Code § 21.04.030 · last checked 2026-10-16
Back to quick facts ↑Research coverage
0 of 13 topics checked at the local level (state law is covered on the state page). A topic counts as checked only when every subtopic in it is checked or no additional requirement was found after a recorded full read. How coverage works.
| Topic | Status | Subtopics done |
|---|---|---|
| Deposits | Partially researched | 1 of 2 |
| Deposit return deadlines | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Rent increases and rent control | Not researched | 0 of 1 |
| Late fees | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Landlord entry | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Repairs and habitability | Not researched | 0 of 1 |
| Screening and application fees | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Fair housing and assistance animals | Not researched | 0 of 1 |
| Disclosures | Partially researched | 1 of 2 |
| Renewal and termination | Not researched | None tracked at this level |
| Eviction | Partially researched | 2 of 3 |
| Registration and licensing | Partially researched | 1 of 3 |
| Short-term rentals | Not researched | 0 of 2 |
Also applies statewide
California rules that also apply in Santa Cruz:
- Security deposit limit
- The landlord may not collect a security deposit of more than one month's rent in addition to the first month's rent. Some small landlords and service-member tenants fall under exceptions. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full California security deposit limit page
- Deposit return deadline
- No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates, the landlord must send an itemized statement of deductions and return any remaining deposit (by personal delivery, first-class mail, or electronically where rent or deposit was paid that way). Since April 1, 2025, the landlord must photograph the unit after it is returned and before repairs or cleaning that will be deducted, and again after those are done. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(g)(2), (h) · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full California deposit return deadline page
- Notice to enter
- Written notice of the date, approximate time, and purpose of entry, and entry only during normal business hours (except in emergencies). 24 hours is presumed reasonable notice; if mailed, at least 6 days before. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1954(d) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full California notice to enter page
- Late fees
- Under § 1671(c)(2) and (d), a liquidated-damages clause in a residential lease is void unless the parties agree to an amount presumed to be the damage, and only where actual damages would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix. Courts apply this to late fees (Harbor Island Holdings v. Kim, 2003). No statute caps residential late fees. Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(b)–(d); Harbor Island Holdings, LLC v. Kim (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 79 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full California late fees page
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