Rental registration and inspections in Salinas

Each rule below links to the section of the Salinas Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Salinas's code says

Salinas code What Salinas's code adds
Exemptions	Exempt from the registry fee: developments 100% restricted as affordable to very low, low or moderate income, or qualifying government-subsidized. Applies: Rental registry fee exemption only; not an exemption from all registry duties. § 17-01.04 · code text One hundred percent of residential rental units in the housing developments are restricted by deed, regulatory restriction contained in an agreement with a government agency, or other recorded document as affordable to persons and families or very low, low, or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, or subject to an agreement that provides housing subsidies for affordable housing for persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code or comparable federal statutes. Legal accessory, junior accessory and secondary dwelling units are exempt from the rental registry fee. Applies: Only if the primary dwelling is owner-occupied; if the primary dwelling is or has been held out for rent, both units are subject. § 17-01.04 · code text Legal accessory dwelling units, junior accessory dwelling units, and secondary dwelling units, if the primary dwelling is owner-occupied. Mobile home park lots or spaces where a mobile home is or may be located are exempt from registry fee. Applies: Rental registry fee exemption only; not all registry duties. § 17-01.04 · code text A lot or space of land in a mobile home park where a mobile home is or may be located.
Penalty	Penalty: 10% of the residential rental registry fee. Applies: Not paid within 45 calendar days after the delinquency notice is issued. § 17-01.04 · code text If not paid within forty-five calendar days following the issuance of the delinquency notice, the city shall assess a penalty of ten percent of the residential rental registry fee, due and payable with the compliance fee on the first day of the month following the due date provided in the delinquency notice. 10% of the rental registry fee for every 45 calendar days the fees remain unpaid. Applies: For every 45 calendar days after the initial late-payment penalty. § 17-01.04 · code text For every forty-five calendar days thereafter that the residential rental registry fees remain unpaid, the city shall assess a penalty of ten percent of the rental registry fee. Administrative citation. Applies: Rental registry fees remain unpaid within 180 calendar days following the delinquency notice. § 17-01.04 · code text If the rental registry fees remain unpaid within one-hundred eighty calendar days following the issuance of the delinquency notice, the landlord shall be subject to a citation described in Division 1 (Administrative Citations) of Article 5 of Chapter 1 of the Salinas Municipal Code. Misdemeanor or infraction. Applies: Failure to provide required registration information, or providing false information. § 17-01.03 · code text Failure to provide information required or providing false information shall be a violation of the Salinas Municipal Code, chargeable as a misdemeanor or infraction. The city may issue a citation and impose a late penalty. Applies: Covered rental units not renewed by July 31, or by a different date on the registration statement. § 17-01.03 · code text The city may issue a citation and impose a late penalty should a landlord fail to register their residential rental units by July 31.
Registration	Register every covered rental unit; renew annually July 1 to July 31, or by the date on the registration statement. § 17-01.03 · code text Registration of residential rental units shall be renewed annually between July 1 and July 31, or by the date stated on the registration statement. Register within 45 calendar days after the city gives notice that the exemption has ended. Applies: A residential rental unit that was exempt becomes governed by the article. § 17-01.03 · code text When a residential rental unit that was exempt from this article becomes governed by this article, the landlord must register the residential rental unit with the city within forty-five calendar days after the city provides notice that the exemption has ended. Notify the city within 45 calendar days of a change in ownership, management or their contact information. Applies: Change to registration information. § 17-01.03 · code text A landlord shall contact the city within forty-five calendar days of change in a residential rental unit's ownership or management, or a change in the owner's or manager's contact information.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Must landlords register or inspect rental units in Salinas?

Salinas's code: Exempt from the registry fee: developments 100% restricted as affordable to very low, low or moderate income, or qualifying government-subsidized. (Rental registry fee exemption only; not an exemption from all registry duties.) (§ 17-01.04); Legal accessory, junior accessory and secondary dwelling units are exempt from the rental registry fee. (Only if the primary dwelling is owner-occupied; if the primary dwelling is or has been held out for rent, both units are subject.) (§ 17-01.04).

Rental registration and inspections in Salinas

What Salinas's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Salinas property

More on renting & eviction in Salinas