Renting in Mountain View: the rules that apply

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

Mountain View code City rule: the yearly general adjustment for covered rental units is 100% of CPI, never less than 2% or more than 5%. City rule: covered units' total increases may not exceed 10% in any 12 months without a Hearing Officer or Committee petition decision.

All 9 Mountain View rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Mountain View code City rule: any tenancy needs a listed just cause to evict, such as unpaid rent within 3 days of written notice.

All 8 Mountain View rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Mountain View code City rule: eligible households facing permanent relocation get cash equal to 3 months' rent, based on the city's median rent for a comparable unit.

All 25 Mountain View rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Mountain View code State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.

All 6 Mountain View rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

CA state law Mountain View 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 →

CA state law Mountain View has no rule of its own on this, so California law 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 →

CA state law Mountain View has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Lockouts and self-help eviction banned: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or remove the tenant's belongings to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(b)). Utility shutoffs banned: A landlord may not cut off water, heat, electricity, gas or other utilities to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(a)). Tenant harassment and lockouts in California — the full state rule →

CA state law Mountain View 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 →

CA state law Mountain View 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 →

Mountain View code City rule: rentals of 30 days or less are banned in some unit types; unhosted rentals are limited to 60 days per calendar year.

All 4 Mountain View rules on short-term rentals, with the code text →

Mountain View code Written notice of intent to convert at least 60 days before a tentative or preliminary parcel map is filed. Written notice, 10 days before submittal, that a public report application will be or has been submitted.

All 8 Mountain View rules on condo conversions, with the code text →

Mountain View code Annual increase is 60% of the February-to-February rise in the CPI-U for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward region. The annual increase is no more than 3%.

All 14 Mountain View rules on mobilehome park rent, with the code text →