Bell Gardens · Renting & eviction
Renting in Bell Gardens: the rules that apply
Bell Gardens adds its own just-cause eviction, relocation pay, harassment and buyout rules, and a rent stabilization program whose approved extra increases never go above the state cap. Repairs and landlord entry follow state law.
Key points
- Rent increases: State cap for covered units: 8.7% for increases from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027; city-approved extra increases never exceed it.
- Below-market units: Department-approved extra: up to 3% above the regular annual increase, once per 12 months, for registered covered units below 80% of fair market rent.
- Just cause: City law requires a just cause to end a tenancy after the tenant has lived there continuously and lawfully for 12 months or more.
- Relocation pay: City pay after a no-fault eviction: 3 months' rent; half within 15 days of the notice, the rest within 5 business days after move-out.
- Harassment: City law bars harassment, including cutting housing services, bad-faith repair failures, and move-out offers more than once per 6 months after written refusal.
- Buyouts: City buyout rules: tenants get the draft at least 45 days before signing and may cancel within 30 days after all parties sign.
Each rule below is marked Bell Gardens code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Bell Gardens code State cap for covered units: 8.7% for increases from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027; city-approved extra increases never exceed it. Department-approved extra: up to 3% above the regular annual increase, once per 12 months, for registered covered units below 80% of fair market rent.
All 4 Bell Gardens rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Eviction and just cause
Bell Gardens code City law requires a just cause to end a tenancy after the tenant has lived there continuously and lawfully for 12 months or more.
Relocation payments
Bell Gardens code City pay after a no-fault eviction: 3 months' rent; half within 15 days of the notice, the rest within 5 business days after move-out.
All 6 Bell Gardens rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Notices
Bell Gardens code A notice of tenant rights under the city's rent stabilization rules. The tenant rights notice in English and in the language the lease was negotiated or written in.
All 4 Bell Gardens rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Security deposits
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CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →
Retaliation
Bell Gardens code Asserting or using rights under the city's eviction protection rules. Organizing with other tenants and acting together for mutual aid and protection.
All 3 Bell Gardens rules on retaliation, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Harassment and lockouts
Bell Gardens code City law bars harassment, including cutting housing services, bad-faith repair failures, and move-out offers more than once per 6 months after written refusal.
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Bell Gardens has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →
Landlord entry
CA state law Bell Gardens has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →
Buyout agreements
Bell Gardens code City buyout rules: tenants get the draft at least 45 days before signing and may cancel within 30 days after all parties sign.
All 5 Bell Gardens rules on buyout agreements, with the code text →
Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can a Bell Gardens landlord charge for a security deposit?
Bell Gardens's code: Can rise only with the annual rent increase, stated in that notice, and never above the state maximum. (Covered units, unless state law or the written lease forbids an increase.) (§ 5.62.080). State law: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)).
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Bell Gardens?
Bell Gardens's code: 8% of the rent. (§ 3.24.030); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 3.24.060).
General information, not legal advice.
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