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Contra Costa County · Renting & eviction

Retaliation in Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County's own rules on retaliation, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

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

What Contra Costa County's code says

Contra Costa County code What Contra Costa County's code adds
Presumption period
  • 6 months.
    Applies: Mobilehome owners only; protected activity in the 6 months before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation.
    § 540-2.1406 · code text
    In an action by or against a mobilehome owner, evidence of the assertion or exercise by the mobilehome owner of rights under this chapter or other activity in furtherance of mobilehome owners' rights and organizations within six months prior to the alleged act of retaliation shall create a presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence that the park owner's conduct was in retaliation for the mobilehome owner's assertion or exercise of rights under this chapter.
Protected activities
  • Asserting or using rights under the county's mobilehome rent chapter.
    Applies: Mobilehome owners only.
    § 540-2.1406 · code text
    No park owner, manager or agent thereof may retaliate against a mobilehome owner or the mobilehome owner's assertion of exercise of rights under this chapter, in any manner, including but not limited to: improperly threatening to bring or bringing an action to recover possession of a mobilehome space; engaging in any form of harassment; improperly decreasing park services; improperly increasing the space rent; or improperly imposing a security deposit or any other charge payable by a mobilehome owner.
  • Activity that supports mobilehome owners' rights and organizations.
    Applies: Mobilehome owners only.
    § 540-2.1406 · code text
    In an action by or against a mobilehome owner, evidence of the assertion or exercise by the mobilehome owner of rights under this chapter or other activity in furtherance of mobilehome owners' rights and organizations within six months prior to the alleged act of retaliation shall create a presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence that the park owner's conduct was in retaliation for the mobilehome owner's assertion or exercise of rights under this chapter.
Remedies
  • A civil lawsuit for declaratory relief, injunctive relief, damages, or any combination.
    Applies: Mobilehome owners only; to the extent the law allows.
    § 540-2.1406 · code text
    To the extent allowed by law, any mobile-home owner whose rights under this chapter are violated may bring a civil action for declaratory, and/or injunction relief, and/or for damages.
  • Actual damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
    Applies: Mobilehome owners only; when a park owner retaliates against them; to the extent the law allows.
    § 540-2.1406 · code text
    To the extent allowed by law, any park owner who retaliates in violation of subsection (a) of this section shall be liable to the affected mobilehome owner in a civil action or the actual damages sustained, plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
  • Only declaratory and/or injunctive relief; no damages or attorney's fees from the agent.
    Applies: Mobilehome owners only; claims against a park owner's agent.
    § 540-2.1406 · code text
    Although a park owner's agent may be sued for declaratory and/or injunctive relief under this section, in no event may a mobilehome owner bring an action for damages against a park owner's agent or recover attorneys fees from the park owner's agent.

Also in Contra Costa County's code: Mobilehome Space Rent (§ 540-2.1406) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet.

The California rule underneath

Where Contra Costa County's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see Retaliatory eviction in California.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
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
Applies: The tenant must not be in default on rent, and may invoke this no more than once in any 12-month period. A landlord who states a good-faith ground in the notice may still act.
Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)
Retaliation damages
Actual damages plus punitive damages of $100 to $2,000 per retaliatory act (fraud, oppression or malice)
Civ. Code § 1942.5(h)(2)

Who this affects

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General information, not legal advice.

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Contra Costa County Municipal Code — full text