Santa Paula · Renting & eviction
Renting in Santa Paula: the rules that apply
Santa Paula has no general rent control or just-cause rule of its own; state law sets them for covered units, and city rent limits cover only mobile home park spaces. The city adds relocation help when tenants are displaced for repairs or by a city or court order, and condo-conversion protections.
Key points
- Rent increases: City rule for mobile home park spaces only: increases are limited to 75% of the CPI increase, at most 7% of existing rent.
- Eviction reasons: State law: after 12 months, a tenancy in a covered unit may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.
- Ending a tenancy: State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
- Relocation help: For displacement over 60 days, the city requires 3 months' no-cost housing or the greater of 3 months' fair market or unit rent.
- Relocation pay: State law: covered-unit tenants get 1 month's rent for no-fault evictions, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice.
- Condo conversions: City rule: condo conversions pay each rental household 3 months' rent with the 180-day termination notice.
Each rule below is marked Santa Paula code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Santa Paula code City rule for mobile home park spaces only: increases are limited to 75% of the CPI increase, at most 7% of existing rent.
All 7 Santa Paula rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Eviction and just cause
CA state law Santa Paula 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 Paula code For displacement over 60 days, the city requires 3 months' no-cost housing or the greater of 3 months' fair market or unit rent. State law: covered-unit tenants get 1 month's rent for no-fault evictions, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice.
All 18 Santa Paula rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Notices
| What a notice must say |
|
|---|
| 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. |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| No fee for serving notices | A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice |
Security deposits
CA state law Santa Paula 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
CA state law Santa Paula 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 →
Harassment and lockouts
CA state law Santa Paula 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 Paula 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 Paula 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 →
Condo conversions
Santa Paula code City rule: condo conversions pay each rental household 3 months' rent with the 180-day termination notice.
All 8 Santa Paula rules on condo conversions, with the code text →
Other Santa Paula rules on this
Santa Paula's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks (§§ 152.06–152.08)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Does a landlord in Santa Paula need a reason to evict?
State law: after 12 months, a tenancy in a covered unit may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.
How much notice does a Santa Paula landlord have to give?
State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
How much can a Santa Paula landlord charge for a security deposit?
Santa Paula 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)).
General information, not legal advice.
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