Santa Cruz County · Renting & eviction
Renting in Santa Cruz County: the rules that apply
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, the state just-cause rule applies to covered units, and the county bars rent increases while ordered repairs are underway. The county adds relocation pay for tenants displaced by unsafe conditions or illegal use, deposit interest notices, retaliation protections, short-term rental limits and a hotel tax.
Key points
- Relocation pay: County law: tenants displaced from unsafe or illegal-use dwellings get the greater of 3 months' fair market or actual rent, unless given equivalent housing.
- Just cause: No county just-cause rule: under state law, after 12 months of lawful occupancy, an owner of a covered unit needs a just cause.
- Rent increases: County law: no rent increase on a dwelling or mobilehome space while repairs required by an order are underway.
- Retaliation: County law: retaliation for organizing or using legal rights costs triple actual damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is greater, for a first violation.
- Short-term rentals: County law: no short-term rentals in ADUs or accessory structures; hosted rentals need a Minor Use Permit and at most 3 bedrooms.
- Hotel tax: County law: the hotel tax is 14% of the rent on vacation rentals and 12% on hotels, motels and inns.
Each rule below is marked Santa Cruz County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Santa Cruz County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in Santa Cruz County have their own codes and their own pages.
Rent increases
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CA state law Underneath, California law still 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 Santa Cruz County 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
Santa Cruz County code County law: tenants displaced from unsafe or illegal-use dwellings get the greater of 3 months' fair market or actual rent, unless given equivalent housing.
Notices
Santa Cruz County code The tenant's right to receive interest on the security deposit each year. The interest rate the security deposit will earn.
All 5 Santa Cruz County rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Security deposits
CA state law Santa Cruz County 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
Santa Cruz County code County law: retaliation for organizing or using legal rights costs triple actual damages or 3 months' rent, whichever is greater, for a first violation.
All 5 Santa Cruz County rules on retaliation, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Harassment and lockouts
CA state law Santa Cruz County 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 →
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Santa Cruz County 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 Santa Cruz County 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 →
Short-term rentals
Santa Cruz County code County law: no short-term rentals in ADUs or accessory structures; hosted rentals need a Minor Use Permit and at most 3 bedrooms.
All 6 Santa Cruz County rules on short-term rentals, with the code text →
Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Other Santa Cruz County rules on this
Santa Cruz County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Santa Cruz County?
County law: no rent increase on a dwelling or mobilehome space while repairs required by an order are underway.
Does a landlord in Santa Cruz County need a reason to evict?
No county just-cause rule: under state law, after 12 months of lawful occupancy, an owner of a covered unit needs a just cause.
How much can a Santa Cruz County landlord charge for a security deposit?
Santa Cruz County 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 Santa Cruz County?
County law: the hotel tax is 14% of the rent on vacation rentals and 12% on hotels, motels and inns.
General information, not legal advice.
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