Gardena · Renting & eviction

Renting in Gardena: the rules that apply

Gardena does not set its own rent cap, so the state cap applies, but tenants can ask the city for rent-increase mediation and a hearing. The city also requires relocation pay when demolition or condo conversion displaces tenants.

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Key points

Rent mediation: City rule: tenants may petition for mediation within 10 business days after a rent-increase notice is served; mobile home owners get 25.
State rent cap: State law: the cap for covered units is 8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Increase notice: City rule: increases over 5% of the prior 12 months' rent must include notice of the right to mediation or a hearing.
Relocation pay: City rule: multifamily demolition, condo conversion or other land use change that evicts tenants requires $3,000 per rental unit before permits issue.
Just cause: State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, owners of covered units need just cause to end a tenancy; city rules add drug-related evictions.
Retaliation: City rule: an owner action within 3 months after the board decides a petition is presumed retaliatory; the owner can rebut it.

Each rule below is marked Gardena code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Rent increases

Gardena code City rule: tenants may petition for mediation within 10 business days after a rent-increase notice is served; mobile home owners get 25. State law: the cap for covered units is 8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

All 4 Gardena rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Eviction and just cause

Gardena code What Gardena's code adds
Allowed at-fault reasons	Using or allowing the unit to be used for illegal drug dealing, including selling or holding drugs for sale there. Applies: Under the drug-eviction rules, the landlord may, and in some cases must, file an eviction case. § 14.16.010 · code text The tenant is using the rental unit, or allowing the rental unit to be used, for illegal drug dealing activities or purposes. Committing or allowing a drug-related nuisance in the unit, its attached areas, or the complex's common areas. Applies: Under the drug-eviction rules, the landlord may, and in some cases must, file an eviction case. § 14.16.010 · code text The tenant is committing or permitting to exist a "drug-related nuisance" in the rental unit or the appurtenances thereof, or the common areas of the complex containing the rental unit.

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

Gardena code What Gardena's code adds
Amount	$3,000 per rental unit. Applies: Demolition or removal of a multifamily rental, condo conversion, or other land use change, including mobile home and trailer parks, where tenants face eviction. § 14.08.030 · code text the landlord submits to the city planner proof of payment of a relocation fee in the amount of three thousand dollars per rental unit to assist in the relocation of the tenants.
When it is paid	Before required permits or approvals are issued. Applies: Demolition, removal, condo conversion, or other covered land use change. § 14.08.030 · code text no required permits or approvals shall be issued unless and until the landlord submits to the city planner proof of payment of a relocation fee
When relocation is owed	Eviction caused by multifamily demolition or removal, condo conversion, or other land use change, including mobile home and trailer parks. § 14.08.030 · code text In every case involving the demolition or removal of a multifamily residential rental facility, or a condominium conversion or other land use change affecting residential rental property, including mobile home and trailer parks, and the tenants therein, are facing eviction due to such demolition, removal, conversion, or change

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

Gardena code City rule: increases over 5% of the prior 12 months' rent must include notice of the right to mediation or a hearing.

All 7 Gardena rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Security deposits

CA state law Gardena 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

Gardena code What Gardena's code adds
Presumption period	3 months; the owner can rebut the presumption. Applies: An owner's action brought within 3 months after the board decides a petition. § 14.04.230 · code text However, any action brought by the owner within three months after the determination of a petition filed with the board shall be presumed to be retaliatory.
Protected activities	Lawfully and peacefully using any right under the city's rent mediation and hearing process. § 14.04.230 · code text The use of the rent mediation or hearing process is declared to be a protected right pursuant to subsection (c) of Section 1942.5 of the Civil Code of the state.
Remedies	Actual damages the tenant suffered. § 14.04.260 · code text A. The actual damages sustained by the lessee; Punitive damages of at least $100 and no more than $1,000 for each retaliatory act. Applies: The landlord or agent acted with fraud, oppression or malice. § 14.04.260 · code text B. Punitive damages in an amount of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars for each retaliatory act where the lessor or agent has been guilty of fraud, oppression or malice with respect to such act; Reasonable attorneys' fees. § 14.04.260 · code text C. Reasonable attorneys' fees.

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 Gardena 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 Gardena 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 Gardena 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

Gardena code What Gardena's code adds
Allowed	Only home sharing is allowed, with a home sharing permit. Applies: Hosts: an owner living on site, or an owner or qualifying tenant whose lease names designated bedrooms. Home owned at least 1 year. § 5.76.040 · code text The following persons are qualified to be a host of a home sharing rental:
Cap on rentals	No more than 100 home sharing permits in each 5-year period. Applies: Citywide. A lottery is held if there are more qualified applications. § 5.76.040 · code text The city shall issue a maximum of one hundred home sharing permits per five-year period. Each host may get only 1 home sharing permit. Applies: Within the city. § 5.76.040 · code text A host may be issued only one home sharing permit within the city.
Permit or registration	A home sharing permit is required. § 5.76.040 · code text Home sharing permits shall only be granted to applicants who are the owners or qualifying tenants of the proposed home sharing rental as specified in this chapter. A business license and a transient occupancy registration certificate are required. Applies: After notice that the home sharing permit will be granted, and before it is issued. § 5.76.050 · code text Evidence that the host has applied for or obtained a business license for operating a home sharing rental.
Primary residence	Yes. The home must be the host's primary residence. Applies: An owner who lives on the premises, or a qualifying tenant. § 5.76.040 · code text Primary residency for a host or qualifying tenant shall be established by providing two documents which associate the property as the place which is the base of their personal life activities. Not for the owner, but the home must be the qualifying tenant's primary residence. Applies: An owner who does not live on the premises but has a qualifying tenant. § 5.76.040 · code text An owner who has owned the residence for a minimum of one year prior to the date of the application and who does not live on the premises but has a qualifying tenant and whose lease with the tenant specifies that the owner may use a designated bedroom or bedrooms for home sharing.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Gardena code What Gardena's code adds
Stays not taxed	Stays agreed in writing before check-in to last over 30 days; otherwise the first 30 days are taxed. § 3.16.050 · code text unless there is an agreement in writing entered into prior to commencing occupancy between the operator and occupant providing for a period of occupancy longer than thirty days, this tax shall be imposed upon, owed by and collected from the transient for the first thirty days of occupancy
Tax rate	11% of the rent. § 3.16.050 · code text A. For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient shall be subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of eleven percent (11%) of the rent charged by the operator.
Who collects it	The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. § 3.16.070 · code text Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by the provisions of this chapter to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Gardena need a reason to evict?

State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, owners of covered units need just cause to end a tenancy; city rules add drug-related evictions.

Does a Gardena landlord have to pay relocation?

City rule: multifamily demolition, condo conversion or other land use change that evicts tenants requires $3,000 per rental unit before permits issue.

How much can a Gardena landlord charge for a security deposit?

Gardena 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)).

Can I rent out my home short-term in Gardena?

Gardena's code: Only home sharing is allowed, with a home sharing permit. (Hosts: an owner living on site, or an owner or qualifying tenant whose lease names designated bedrooms. Home owned at least 1 year.) (§ 5.76.040); No more than 100 home sharing permits in each 5-year period. (Citywide. A lottery is held if there are more qualified applications.) (§ 5.76.040).

What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Gardena?

Gardena's code: Stays agreed in writing before check-in to last over 30 days; otherwise the first 30 days are taxed. (§ 3.16.050); 11% of the rent. (§ 3.16.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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