Harassment and lockouts in Davis: the local rules

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

What Davis's code says

Davis code What Davis's code adds
Penalties	Actual damages or $1,000 to $5,000 statutory damages, whichever is greater, plus attorneys' fees and costs. § 18.11.070 · code text Any person who violates or aids or incites another person to violate the provisions of Section 18.11.060 is liable for each and every such offense for the actual damages suffered by any aggrieved party or for statutory damages in the sum of between one thousand dollars and five thousand dollars, whichever is greater, and shall be liable for such attorneys' fees and costs as may be determined by the court in addition thereto. An extra civil penalty of up to $5,000 per offense. Applies: The offense is against a person who is disabled or 62 or older. § 18.11.070 · code text Any violator shall be liable for an additional civil penalty of up to five thousand dollars for each offense committed against a person who is disabled or aged sixty-two or over. Punitive damages. Applies: In a proper case under state law, shown by clear and convincing evidence. § 18.11.070 · code text The court may also award punitive damages to any plaintiff, including the city, in a proper case as defined by Civil Code Section 3294.
Tenant lawsuits	Yes. § 18.11.070 · code text Any person who violates or aids or incites another person to violate the provisions of Section 18.11.060 is liable for each and every such offense for the actual damages suffered by any aggrieved party or for statutory damages in the sum of between one thousand dollars and five thousand dollars, whichever is greater
Prohibited acts	In bad faith: interrupting, terminating, or failing to provide required housing services, or threatening to; failing to perform required repairs or maintenance, or threatening to; failing to use due diligence in repairs or follow repair, containment or remediation protocols; abusing the owner's right of access; removing tenant property without prior written consent (except under Civil Code Section 1980 et seq.); using fraud, intimidation or coercion to get a tenant to vacate, including threatening to report the tenant to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; offering payments to vacate more than once in six months after the tenant has said in writing they want no further offers; offers to vacate accompanied by threats or intimidation; threatening physical harm; substantially and directly interfering with quiet enjoyment; refusing to accept lawful rent, or refusing to cash a rent check for over thirty days without giving a written receipt (except as state law allows after a notice to quit has expired); requesting private information such as immigration status or social security number except as allowed by law; violating anti-discrimination laws; and other repeated acts or omissions meant or likely to make an occupant vacate or give up rights Applies: Owner, or the owner's agent, contractor, subcontractor or employee, acting in bad faith § 18.11.060 · code text No owner, and no agent, contractor, subcontractor, or employee of the owner shall do any of the following in bad faith:

The California rule underneath

CA state law Underneath, California law still 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 →

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Harassment and lockouts in Davis

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What Davis's code says

The California rule underneath

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