Davis · Renting & eviction

Renting in Davis: the rules that apply

Davis has no rent control or just-cause eviction rule of its own, so state law applies to covered units. The city adds relocation pay when a unit must be vacated through the owner's deficiency, harassment and retaliation rules, and condo conversion protections.

Ask about renting & eviction in Davis See coverage

Key points

Rent increases: No city rent control; state law caps covered units at 8.6% for increases from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Just cause: No city rule; state law requires a just cause after 12 months of lawful occupancy, for covered units only.
Relocation pay: If the city finds a unit uninhabitable or imminently dangerous through the owner's deficiency, the owner pays relocation as state law requires.
Harassment: City law bars bad-faith harassment; damages are actual or $1,000 to $5,000 statutory, whichever is greater, plus attorneys' fees and costs.
Retaliation: City law bars eviction, forcing a tenant out, rent increases or service cuts in retaliation for a code-violation complaint to the city.
Condo conversions: Condo conversions: the subdivider pays 3 times monthly rent in moving expenses to tenants who move after tentative map approval and follow the lease.

Each rule below is marked Davis code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Rent increases

CA state law Davis has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Rent cap right now: 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) (Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)). California's statewide rent cap — the full state rule →

Eviction and just cause

CA state law Davis has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Just cause required: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)). Just-cause eviction in California — the full state rule →

Relocation payments

Davis code If the city finds a unit uninhabitable or imminently dangerous through the owner's deficiency, the owner pays relocation as state law requires.

All 6 Davis rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Notices

We found no Davis rule on this in the Davis Municipal Code (checked October 2026). The state rule below applies.

CA state law California law
Notice of a rent increase	At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% Applies: The 10% is measured against the rent charged at any time in the 12 months before the increase, counting all increases in that period together. Civ. Code § 827(b)(2), (b)(3)(A)
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (landlord)	60 days' notice; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year Applies: Where the unit is covered by just cause (Civ. Code § 1946.2) or a local ordinance, the notice must also state a qualifying cause. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b), (c)
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (tenant)	At least as long as the rental period (one month for a month-to-month tenancy) Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)
30-day notice when the unit is sold to an owner-occupant	30 days' notice when a separately sellable unit is in escrow to a natural person who will live there for at least a year Applies: Notice within 120 days of opening escrow, given once, and all § 1946.1(d) conditions met. Civ. Code § 1946.1(d)
Notice to pay rent or quit	3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, stating the amount due and how to pay Applies: May be served any time within one year after the rent became due. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)
Notice to cure a lease violation or quit	3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, to perform the broken lease term or leave Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(3)
No fee for serving notices	A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice Civ. Code § 1946.1(i)

Security deposits

CA state law Davis has no rule of its own on this, so California law 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

Davis code What Davis's code adds
Protected activities	Filing a complaint with the city reporting possible code violations on the property. § 18.11.080 · code text It shall be unlawful for an owner to recover possession of a residential rental dwelling unit, cause the tenant(s) of such units to involuntarily quit, increase the rent, or decrease services in retaliation against a tenant for exercising his or her right to file a complaint with the city advising that violations of this code may exist on the property.
Remedies	The owner may not evict, force the tenant out, raise the rent, or cut services. Applies: In retaliation for the tenant filing a complaint with the city about possible code violations on the property. § 18.11.080 · code text It shall be unlawful for an owner to recover possession of a residential rental dwelling unit, cause the tenant(s) of such units to involuntarily quit, increase the rent, or decrease services in retaliation against a tenant for exercising his or her right to file a complaint with the city advising that violations of this code may exist on the property.

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →

Harassment and lockouts

Davis code City law bars bad-faith harassment; damages are actual or $1,000 to $5,000 statutory, whichever is greater, plus attorneys' fees and costs.

All 5 Davis rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Repairs and habitability

CA state law Davis 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 Davis 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 →

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Davis code What Davis's code adds
Tax rate	Hotel guests pay a tax of 12% of the rent. Applies: In effect since August 1, 2016. § 15.05.020 · code text Effective on and after August 1, 2016, for the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of 12% of the rent paid by the transient.
Who collects it	The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. § 15.05.040 · code text Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by this article to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient.

Condo conversions

Davis code What Davis's code adds
Relocation help	The subdivider pays moving expenses of 3 times the monthly rent. Applies: For a tenant who moves after tentative map approval and follows the lease; lost if the tenant gave notice to move before approval. § 36.14.070 · code text The subdivider shall provide moving expenses equal to three times the monthly rent to any tenant, in compliance with the terms of the subject lease, who relocates from the building to be converted after city approval of the tentative map. Relocation help for at least 4 months after tentative map approval. Applies: For tenants who do not buy; the subdivider must regularly give rental listings nearby with comparable costs. § 36.14.070 · code text Relocation assistance shall be provided by the subdivider to nonpurchasing tenants for a minimum period of four months following the tentative map approval.
Tenant approval	Tenants of 75% of the units agree in writing, 1 vote per unit. Applies: One of 3 alternative grounds to accept an application; the others are a vacancy-rate test or affordable units. § 36.14.040 · code text Tenants lawfully in possession of seventy-five percent of the units indicate their desire (one vote per unit) to convert such units to condominium ownership in writing to the city.
Notice to tenants	At least 90 days before the tentative map is filed. Applies: Applies to the notice of intent to convert given to each tenant. § 36.14.070 · code text A notice of intent to convert shall be delivered to each tenant at least ninety days prior to filing the tentative map. At least 10 days before the hearing date. Applies: Applies to the planning commission or public hearing notice mailed to tenants. § 36.14.070 · code text The department shall use one envelope to notify the residents by mailing a copy of the planning commission or public hearing notice to tenants not less than ten days prior to the proposed hearing date on the application. No more than 7 days after the planning commission acts. Applies: Applies to the notice of the planning commission decision mailed to tenants. § 36.14.070 · code text The second envelope shall be used by the department to notify the residents of the results of the public hearing by mailing notification of the decision of the planning commission not more than seven days following the planning commission action. Starting 90 days before the application is submitted. Applies: Applies to written notice to prospective tenants before they lease or rent a unit. § 36.14.070 · code text Commencing ninety days prior to the submittal of the application, any prospective tenants shall be notified in writing by the sub-divider of the intent to convert prior to leasing or renting any unit pursuant to Section 66452.8 of the Subdivision Map Act.
Tenants' right to buy	A nontransferable right of first refusal to buy their unit at a discount from the public price. Applies: Applies to current tenants when the conversion application is made; the discount is based on how long they have lived there. § 36.14.070 · code text Any present tenant of any unit at the time of an application for conversion shall be given a nontransferable right of first refusal to purchase the unit occupied at a discount of the price offered to the general public.
Vacancy-rate test	five percent Applies: one of three alternative grounds for accepting a conversion application; vacancy rate of multiple-family rental developments in the city, and the conversion must not lower it below four and nine-tenths percent § 36.14.040 · code text Conversions may be approved when the vacancy rate of multiple-family rental developments within the city, as determined by the community development director, is equal to or more than five percent, unless the conversion will result in a decrease of the vacancy rate to less than four and nine-tenths percent.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much can rent go up in Davis?

No city rent control; state law caps covered units at 8.6% for increases from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

Does a landlord in Davis need a reason to evict?

No city rule; state law requires a just cause after 12 months of lawful occupancy, for covered units only.

How much notice does a Davis landlord have to give?

Davis has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% (Civ. Code § 827(b)(2), (b)(3)(A)).

How much can a Davis landlord charge for a security deposit?

Davis has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: 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 Davis?

Davis's code: Hotel guests pay a tax of 12% of the rent. (In effect since August 1, 2016.) (§ 15.05.020); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 15.05.040).

What happens to tenants when a Davis building converts to condos?

Condo conversions: the subdivider pays 3 times monthly rent in moving expenses to tenants who move after tentative map approval and follow the lease.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Davis property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Davis

Davis Municipal Code — full text

Buying & selling in Davis

Building on your lot in Davis

Davis overview