Lancaster · Renting & eviction

Renting in Lancaster: the rules that apply

Lancaster's own rent limits cover mobile home park spaces only, and the city adds a retaliation rule. It has no just-cause or notice rules of its own; state law applies there and to deposits, harassment, repairs and entry.

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Key points

Mobile home spaces: City rule: the yearly mobile home space increase is 2.5% if June Los Angeles-area CPI is below 2.5%, CPI if 2.5%-3%, 3% if above.
State rent cap: State law: covered units are limited to 8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Just cause: Lancaster has no city just-cause rule; state law requires a stated just cause to end tenancies in covered units after 12 months.
Ending a tenancy: Lancaster has no notice rule of its own; state law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, 30 if under 1 year.
Relocation pay: State law: no-fault evictions from covered units require 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice.
Retaliation: City rule: retaliation protection covers tenants who, within 6 months before, filed a city code-violation complaint or used state § 1942.5 rights.

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

Rent increases

Lancaster code City rule: the yearly mobile home space increase is 2.5% if June Los Angeles-area CPI is below 2.5%, CPI if 2.5%-3%, 3% if above. State law: covered units are limited to 8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

All 9 Lancaster rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Eviction and just cause

CA state law Lancaster 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

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Amount	Set by the City Council as a condition of approving the park's change of use. Applies: Mobile home park closure or change of use only; eligible residents who move after the application is filed still get it. § 11.12.060 · code text Any eligible resident who relocates after an application for a change of use is filed shall be entitled to the relocation assistance imposed as a condition of the change of use even if that resident relocates before the final decision of the city council determining the required relocation assistance pursuant to this chapter.
When it is paid	Paid before the resident must leave, unless the measure says otherwise; no eligible resident must leave until the owner complies. Applies: Mobile home park closure or change of use only. § 11.12.070 · code text All mitigation measures imposed on the approval of a change of use shall be fully performed as to each resident prior to that resident's required vacation of the mobile home park, unless otherwise provided in the mitigation measure.
When relocation is owed	Owner applies to close or change the park's use; eligible residents moving after filing qualify, even before the Council decides. Applies: Mobile home parks only. § 11.12.060 · code text Any eligible resident who relocates after an application for a change of use is filed shall be entitled to the relocation assistance imposed as a condition of the change of use even if that resident relocates before the final decision of the city council determining the required relocation assistance pursuant to this chapter.

Also in Lancaster's code: Mobilehome Park Conversion (§§ 11.12.040–11.12.070) — mobilehome park conversions or changes of use only. This page does not summarize it yet.

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

We found no Lancaster rule on this in the Lancaster Municipal Code (checked October 2026). The state rule below applies.

CA state law California law
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 Lancaster 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

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Presumption period	Within 6 months before the alleged retaliation. § 5.40.160 · code text In any action by or against a tenant, evidence of the exercise by the tenant of his or her right under Section 1942.5 of the California Civil Code occurring within six months of the alleged retaliation shall create a presumption that the property owner's conduct was in retaliation for the tenant's exercise of rights under this code.
Protected activities	Filing a complaint with the city about a possible code violation. § 5.40.160 · code text It is unlawful for a property owner to recover possession of a residential rental unit in retaliation against a tenant for exercising his or her right to file a complaint with the city that a code violation may exist. Exercising a right under California Civil Code § 1942.5. § 5.40.160 · code text In any action by or against a tenant, evidence of the exercise by the tenant of his or her right under Section 1942.5 of the California Civil Code occurring within six months of the alleged retaliation shall create a presumption that the property owner's conduct was in retaliation for the tenant's exercise of rights under this code.

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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Tax rate	Hotel guests pay a tax of 7% of the rent. § 3.16.030 · code text For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of seven percent of the rent charged by the operator.
Who collects it	The operator collects the tax and pays it to the tax administrator with each quarterly report. § 3.16.070 · code text Each operator shall, on or before the last day of the month following the close of each calendar quarter, or at the close of any shorter reporting period which may be established by the tax administrator, make a report to the tax administrator, on forms provided by him, of the total rents charged and received and the amount of tax collected for transient occupancies.

Condo conversions

Lancaster code What Lancaster's code adds
Notice to tenants	At least 180 days to find housing and move, from the intent notice or final map filing, whichever is later. Applies: Only for tenants who do not buy and are not in default on their lease. § 16.36.050 · code text Each nonpurchasing tenant, not in default under the rental agreement or lease under which he occupies his unit, shall have not less than one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of receipt of notification from the subdivider or intent to convert, or from the filing date of the final subdivision or parcel map, whichever is later, to find substitute housing and to relocate. Notice of intent at least 60 days before the tentative map filing, covering purchase rights, notice-to-vacate rights and relocation. § 16.36.050 · code text Beginning at least sixty (60) days before the filing of a tentative map, the subdivider shall give notice of intent to convert to each tenant and prospective tenant as provided in Government Code Sections 66452.8 and 66452.9.
Tenants' right to buy	A nontransferable right of first refusal to buy at no more than the public price, for at least 90 days. Applies: Runs from the public report issue date or the start of sales, whichever is later. § 16.36.050 · code text The right of first refusal shall extend for at least ninety (90) days from the date of issuance of the subdivision public report or beginning of sales, whichever is later. A new 90-day period. Applies: Applies if the price offered to the public is lower than the price first offered to the tenant. § 16.36.050 · code text If the offered price to the public is lower than the original price in the first right of refusal at any time, the occupying tenant shall be granted a new ninety (90) day period for first right of refusal.

Other Lancaster rules on this

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

Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization (Ch. 11.08) — mobilehome park spaces only
Mobilehome Park Conversion (§§ 11.12.040–11.12.070) — mobilehome park conversions or changes of use only

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Lancaster need a reason to evict?

Lancaster has no city just-cause rule; state law requires a stated just cause to end tenancies in covered units after 12 months.

Does a Lancaster landlord have to pay relocation?

State law: no-fault evictions from covered units require 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice.

How much notice does a Lancaster landlord have to give?

Lancaster has no notice rule of its own; state law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, 30 if under 1 year.

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

Lancaster 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 Lancaster?

Lancaster's code: Hotel guests pay a tax of 7% of the rent. (§ 3.16.030); The operator collects the tax and pays it to the tax administrator with each quarterly report. (§ 3.16.070).

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

Lancaster's code: At least 180 days to find housing and move, from the intent notice or final map filing, whichever is later. (Only for tenants who do not buy and are not in default on their lease.) (§ 16.36.050); Notice of intent at least 60 days before the tentative map filing, covering purchase rights, notice-to-vacate rights and relocation. (§ 16.36.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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