California Criminal & credit history rules

Can a landlord deny a tenant for criminal or credit history in California?

California fair-housing regulations bar landlords from using arrests that did not lead to conviction, sealed, expunged or dismissed convictions, juvenile adjudications, or a blanket ban on all people with a criminal record. Adverse action based on a conviction must rest on a directly related conviction tied to a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest. Credit report rules (FCRA and state law) also apply.

Verified Source: Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 12269(a) (regulation; FEHA housing regulations, art. 24; see also §§ 12265, 12266) · last checked 2026-10-23