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Goleta · Renting & eviction

Eviction and just cause in Goleta

City rule: a qualified tenant's tenancy may end only for a listed cause, such as unpaid rent, a material lease breach or nuisance. City rule: for owner move-in, the occupant must move in within 90 days after the tenant vacates and stay at least 12 consecutive months.

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Key points

  • Just cause: City rule: a qualified tenant's tenancy may end only for a listed cause, such as unpaid rent, a material lease breach or nuisance.
  • Owner move-in: City rule: for owner move-in, the occupant must move in within 90 days after the tenant vacates and stay at least 12 consecutive months.

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

What Goleta's code says

Goleta code What Goleta's code adds
Allowed at-fault reasons
  • Default in the payment of Rent; breach of a material term of the lease; nuisance; waste; refusal to sign a written extension or renewal of a lease of similar duration and terms after a written request; criminal activity by the tenant on the Rental Unit or common areas, or criminal activity or a criminal threat directed at the Landlord; assigning or subletting in violation of the lease; refusal to allow lawful entry; unlawful use; failure of an employee, agent, or licensee to vacate after termination; failure to deliver possession after the tenant's own notice or an accepted offer to surrender
    Applies: Not a ground against a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence for criminal activity or a threat directed at that tenant
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    At-Fault Just Cause includes any of the following:
Units covered
  • Units rented by qualified tenants.
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    No Landlord of a Rental Unit shall Terminate a Residential Tenancy of a Qualified Tenant without complying with the requirements of this Chapter.
Allowed no-fault reasons
  • Owner or Intended Occupant good-faith recovery for use and occupancy
    Applies: The Owner or Intended Occupant must move in within 90 days after the tenant vacates and live there as a primary residence for at least 12 consecutive months; not allowed if the Intended Occupant already occupies a unit on the property or a similar unit is vacant there; for leases entered into on or after July 1, 2020 (July 1, 2022 for a mobilehome), only if the tenant agrees in writing or the lease lets the owner end it to move in
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    The Owner seeks in good faith to recover possession of the Rental Unit for use and occupancy by the Owner or the Owner's Intended Occupant.
  • Permanently taking the unit off the rental market under state law.
    Applies: If re-rented within 5 years of move-out, the owner is presumed, unless shown otherwise, not to have meant it permanently.
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    The Owner seeks in good faith to recover possession to permanently withdraw the Rental Unit from the rental market in accordance with applicable state law.
  • Following a habitability order that requires moving out.
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    An order issued by a government agency or court relating to habitability that necessitates vacating the Rental Unit.
  • Following an order to vacate the unit.
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    An order issued by a government agency or court to vacate the Rental Unit.
  • Following a local ordinance that expressly requires moving out.
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    A local ordinance that expressly requires vacating the Rental Unit.
  • Fully demolishing or substantially remodeling the unit.
    Applies: The owner must first get all permits and give written notice of why the work requires the tenant to leave for 30+ days.
    § 8.19.040 · code text
    The Owner seeks in good faith to recover possession to totally demolish or to Substantially Remodel the Rental Unit, provided the Owner has done all of the following:

The California rule underneath

Where Goleta's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see Just-cause eviction in California.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
Just cause required
After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice
Applies: Covered units only (§ 1946.2(e) exempts, among others, housing built in the last 15 years and single-family homes or condos not owned by a corporation or REIT when the tenant got the required notice). If new adult tenants joined before anyone reached 24 months, all tenants need 12 months or one needs 24.
Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)
Chance to cure first
For a curable lease violation, the owner must first serve a notice to cure before a 3-day notice to quit
Civ. Code § 1946.2(c)
Just cause — new construction exemption
Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling)
Applies: Mobilehomes excepted.
Civ. Code § 1946.2(e)(7)
Just cause law sunset
§ 1946.2 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended
Civ. Code § 1946.2(n)

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Goleta need a reason to evict?

City rule: a qualified tenant's tenancy may end only for a listed cause, such as unpaid rent, a material lease breach or nuisance. City rule: for owner move-in, the occupant must move in within 90 days after the tenant vacates and stay at least 12 consecutive months.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Goleta property

Ask GoCodebook how Goleta's eviction and just cause rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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Goleta Municipal Code — full text