Carpinteria · Renting & eviction
Renting in Carpinteria: the rules that apply
Carpinteria adds just-cause rules for qualified tenants, relocation pay for no-fault terminations, and required termination notice contents. Its rent rules cover only mobile home spaces; state law sets the rent cap for covered units.
Key points
- Rent cap: State law caps rent increases on covered units at 8.6% for August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027; the city sets maximum rents only for mobile home spaces.
- Just cause: City rule: covers units of qualified tenants; a fixable lease violation needs a written chance to fix before a 3-day notice to quit.
- Relocation pay: City rule: no-fault terminations require the City Council's set amount or 1 month's rent plus $1, whichever is greater.
- No-fault notice: City rule: ending a tenancy for no-fault just cause takes at least 60 days' notice, given through an early tenant alert notice.
- Notice contents: City rule: a termination notice states the full facts behind the just cause and, for no-fault, the relocation payment and its amount.
- Notice to end: State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
Each rule below is marked Carpinteria code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
| Units covered |
|
|---|
Also in Carpinteria's code: Mobile Home Parks (Ch. 5.69) — mobilehome park spaces only; Carpinteria Mobilehome Rent Stabilization: 2026–27 Annual Maximum Rents (city guidance) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet.
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
| Allowed at-fault reasons |
|
|---|---|
| Units covered |
|
CA state law Underneath, California law still 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
| Amount |
|
|---|---|
| Exemptions |
|
| When it is paid |
|
| When relocation is owed |
|
CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. No-fault eviction relocation assistance: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)). Relocation under California's just-cause law — the full state rule →
Notices
| What a notice must say |
|
|---|---|
| Notice to end a tenancy |
|
| 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 Carpinteria 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
| Protected activities |
|
|---|
Also in Carpinteria's code: Mobile Home Parks (§ 5.69.170) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet.
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
CA state law Carpinteria 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 Carpinteria 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 Carpinteria 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
| Tax rate |
|
|---|---|
| Who collects it |
|
Other Carpinteria rules on this
Carpinteria's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Mobile Home Parks (Ch. 5.69) — mobilehome park spaces only
- Carpinteria Mobilehome Rent Stabilization: 2026–27 Annual Maximum Rents (city guidance) — mobilehome park spaces only
- Mobile Home Parks (§ 5.69.170) — mobilehome park spaces only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Carpinteria?
State law caps rent increases on covered units at 8.6% for August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027; the city sets maximum rents only for mobile home spaces.
Does a landlord in Carpinteria need a reason to evict?
City rule: covers units of qualified tenants; a fixable lease violation needs a written chance to fix before a 3-day notice to quit.
Does a Carpinteria landlord have to pay relocation?
City rule: no-fault terminations require the City Council's set amount or 1 month's rent plus $1, whichever is greater.
How much notice does a Carpinteria landlord have to give?
City rule: ending a tenancy for no-fault just cause takes at least 60 days' notice, given through an early tenant alert notice. City rule: a termination notice states the full facts behind the just cause and, for no-fault, the relocation payment and its amount. State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
How much can a Carpinteria landlord charge for a security deposit?
Carpinteria 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 Carpinteria?
Carpinteria's code: 15% of the rent charged by the operator. (Hotel stays.) (§ 3.20.030); The operator collects the tax from each guest when the rent is collected. (§ 3.20.060).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Carpinteria property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question