Healdsburg · Renting & eviction

Renting in Healdsburg: the rules that apply

Healdsburg adds relocation pay on top of state law in no-fault evictions for tenants earning 120% or less of the county median income, and rent stabilization for mobilehome park spaces only. It has no just-cause rule of its own; state law sets the rent cap and just-cause rules for covered units.

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Key points

Relocation pay: City rule: no-fault evictions add 1 month of rent for tenants earning 120% or less of Sonoma County median income, beyond state law.
Lower incomes: City rule: in no-fault evictions, tenants earning 80% or less of Sonoma County area median income get an extra 1 month of rent.
Rent cap: State law caps rent increases on covered units at 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Just cause: State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, a covered unit's tenancy may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.
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.
Mobilehome rents: City rule, mobilehome park spaces only: yearly CPI-based increases are at most 100% of the CPI change and at most 6% of space rent.

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

Rent increases

Healdsburg code State law caps rent increases on covered units at 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. City rule, mobilehome park spaces only: yearly CPI-based increases are at most 100% of the CPI change and at most 6% of space rent.

All 6 Healdsburg rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Eviction and just cause

CA state law Healdsburg has no rule of its own on this, so California law 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

Healdsburg code What Healdsburg's code adds
Extra for protected tenants	An extra 1 month of rent, at the rate in effect when the termination notice is served. Applies: Tenants earning 80% or less of Sonoma County area median income, on top of the 120%-or-less payment; income proof within 7 calendar days of notice. § 9.44.050 · code text In addition to the payment in subsection (A) of this section, tenants who earn 80 percent or less of the Sonoma County area median income shall receive a relocation payment in an amount equal to one month of the tenant's rent in effect at the time of service of the notice to terminate the tenancy.
Amount	1 month of rent, at the rate in effect when the termination notice is served. Applies: No-fault terminations; tenants earning 120% or less of Sonoma County median income, on top of state-law payment; income proof within 7 calendar days of notice. § 9.44.050 · code text Tenants who earn 120 percent or less of the Sonoma County area median income shall receive a relocation payment in an amount equal to one month of the tenant's rent in effect at the time of service of the notice to terminate the tenancy.
When it is paid	Within 15 calendar days after the landlord serves the termination notice. § 9.44.050 · code text Any relocation assistance shall be provided within 15 calendar days after service of the notice of termination from the landlord to the tenant.
When relocation is owed	No-fault evictions: owner or family move-in, leaving the rental market, government or court vacate orders, demolition or substantial remodel. § 9.44.040 · code text Any tenant subject to this provision whose tenancy is terminated for no-fault just cause is entitled to a relocation payment from the landlord, as provided below.

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

Healdsburg code What Healdsburg's code adds
Filing a copy with the city	Yes, a copy goes to the City Manager's office. Applies: The relocation-rights notice served with a no-fault termination notice. § 9.44.060 · code text A copy of the notice shall be filed with the City Manager's office.
What a notice must say	Must be in Spanish and English and state the tenant’s right to relocation assistance (one to three months of current rent depending on income), that the one-month state-law payment is made within 15 calendar days, the seven-calendar-day deadline to give proof of income, and that retaliation is illegal Applies: notice of entitlement to relocation assistance, given with a no-fault termination notice § 9.44.060 · code text The notice of entitlement to relocation assistance shall be provided in Spanish and English and shall state:

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
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. Civ. Code § 827(b)(2), (b)(3)(A)
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. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b), (c)
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) Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)
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. Civ. Code § 1946.1(d)
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. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)
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 Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(3)
No fee for serving notices	A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice Civ. Code § 1946.1(i)

Security deposits

CA state law Healdsburg 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

Healdsburg code What Healdsburg's code adds
Protected activities	Lawfully and peacefully using one's legal rights. § 9.44.080 · code text Under Civil Code Section 1942.5, it is illegal for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for lawfully and peaceably exercising his or her legal rights.
Remedies	A defense to an eviction case. Applies: When the landlord did not follow the relocation assistance rules. § 9.44.080 · code text Noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter is a defense to an unlawful detainer.

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 Healdsburg 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 Healdsburg 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 Healdsburg 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

Healdsburg code What Healdsburg's code adds
Tax rate	12% to 14% of the rent Applies: the code states a range, not the exact rate § 3.12.030 · code text A. For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in an amount not less than 12 percent nor more than 14 percent of the rent charged by the hotel operator.
Who collects it	Each operator collects the tax from every guest at the same time as the rent. § 3.12.050 · code text Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by this chapter to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient.

Condo conversions

Healdsburg code What Healdsburg's code adds
Notice to tenants	At least 60 days before a tentative map is filed. Applies: Written notice of the intent to convert, to each tenant. § 17.04.760 · code text Each of the tenants of the proposed condominium, community apartment project, or stock cooperative project has received, pursuant to the requirements of Government Code Sections 66452.17 through 66452.20, written notification of intention to convert at least 60 days prior to the filing of a tentative map. 10 days' written notice. Applies: Notice that a public report application will be or has been sent to the Department of Real Estate, and is available on request. § 17.04.760 · code text Each tenant has received 10 days' written notification that an application for a public report will be, or has been, submitted to the Department of Real Estate, and that such report will be available on request. Within 10 days of approval. Applies: Written notice to tenants that a final map for the conversion was approved. § 17.04.760 · code text Each of the tenants of the proposed project has been, or will be, given written notification within 10 days of approval or a final map for the proposed conversion. 180 days' written notice. Applies: Notice of the intent to convert, before a tenancy ends because of the conversion or proposed conversion. § 17.04.760 · code text Each of the tenants of the proposed condominium, community apartment project, or stock cooperative project has been, or will be, given 180 days' written notice of intention to convert prior to termination of tenancy due to the conversion or proposed conversion.
Tenants' right to buy	Each tenant gets an exclusive right to contract to buy their unit. Applies: On the same terms first offered to the public, or on terms more favorable to the tenant. § 17.04.760 · code text Each of the tenants of the proposed condominium, community apartment project, or stock cooperative project has been, or will be, given notice of an exclusive right to contract for the purchase of his or her respective unit upon the same terms and conditions that such unit will be initially offered to the general public or upon terms more favorable to the tenant.

Other Healdsburg rules on this

Healdsburg's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Mobile Home Park Space Rent Stabilization (Ch. 2.56) — mobilehome park spaces only

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Healdsburg need a reason to evict?

State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, a covered unit's tenancy may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.

Does a Healdsburg landlord have to pay relocation?

City rule: no-fault evictions add 1 month of rent for tenants earning 120% or less of Sonoma County median income, beyond state law. City rule: in no-fault evictions, tenants earning 80% or less of Sonoma County area median income get an extra 1 month of rent.

How much notice does a Healdsburg landlord have to give?

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 Healdsburg landlord charge for a security deposit?

Healdsburg 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 Healdsburg?

Healdsburg's code: 12% to 14% of the rent (the code states a range, not the exact rate) (§ 3.12.030); Each operator collects the tax from every guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 3.12.050).

What happens to tenants when a Healdsburg building converts to condos?

Healdsburg's code: At least 60 days before a tentative map is filed. (Written notice of the intent to convert, to each tenant.) (§ 17.04.760); 10 days' written notice. (Notice that a public report application will be or has been sent to the Department of Real Estate, and is available on request.) (§ 17.04.760).

General information, not legal advice.

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