National City · Renting & eviction
Renting in National City: the rules that apply
National City has no just-cause, relocation or notice rule of its own, so state law governs those. Its Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization chapter covers mobilehome park spaces only; the state rent cap applies to covered units.
Key points
- Rent increases: National City's Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization chapter covers mobilehome park spaces only; state law caps other covered units at 8.2%.
- Just cause: National City has no just-cause rule; state law allows ending a covered tenancy after 12 months only for a stated just cause.
- Relocation pay: National City has no relocation rule; state law requires 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days, for covered no-fault evictions.
- Ending a tenancy: National City has no notice rule; state law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 if under 1 year.
- Retaliation: National City's mobilehome rent stabilization: park spaces only. State law: 180-day retaliation ban after habitability complaints if current on rent, once per 12 months.
- Deposits: National City has no deposit rule; state law limits deposits to 1 month's rent, or 2 months for some small landlords.
Each rule below is marked National City code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (extracted October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
National City has a related local rule: Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization (Ch. 9.64) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Rent cap right now | 8.2% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.2% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the BLS consumer price index for the San Diego-Carlsbad area, March to March, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. |
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| Statewide rent increase cap (AB 1482) | 5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months Applies: Covered units only; measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. |
| Number of rent increases | No more than two increases in any 12-month period |
| Rent cap — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| Rent cap — single-family home or condo exemption | A home or condo that can be sold on its own is exempt when the owner is not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant was given the written exemption notice Applies: The same exemption applies to the just-cause rule (§ 1946.2(e)(8)). |
| Rent cap — owner-occupied duplex exemption | A duplex in one building is exempt when the owner lived in the other unit at the start of the tenancy and still does, unless either unit is an ADU or JADU |
| New tenancy resets the rent | When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases |
| Rent cap sunset | § 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Eviction and just cause
CA state law National City 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
CA state law National City has no rule of its own on this, so California law 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 National City rule on this in the National City Municipal Code (extracted October 2026). The state rule below applies.
| 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. |
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| 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. |
| 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) |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| No fee for serving notices | A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice |
Security deposits
CA state law National City 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
National City has a related local rule: Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization (§ 9.64.070) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| 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 Applies: The tenant must not be in default on rent, and may invoke this no more than once in any 12-month period. A landlord who states a good-faith ground in the notice may still act. |
|---|---|
| Retaliation damages | Actual damages plus punitive damages of $100 to $2,000 per retaliatory act (fraud, oppression or malice) |
Harassment and lockouts
CA state law National City 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 National City 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 National City 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
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Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Other National City rules on this
National City'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. 9.64) — mobilehome park spaces only
- Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization (§ 9.64.070) — mobilehome park spaces only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in National City?
National City's Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization chapter covers mobilehome park spaces only; state law caps other covered units at 8.2%. National City also has a related rule: Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization (Ch. 9.64) — mobilehome park spaces only.
Does a landlord in National City need a reason to evict?
National City has no just-cause rule; state law allows ending a covered tenancy after 12 months only for a stated just cause.
Does a National City landlord have to pay relocation?
National City has no relocation rule; state law requires 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days, for covered no-fault evictions.
How much notice does a National City landlord have to give?
National City has no notice rule; state law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 if under 1 year.
How much can a National City landlord charge for a security deposit?
National City has no deposit rule; state law limits deposits to 1 month's rent, or 2 months for some small landlords.
Can I rent out my home short-term in National City?
National City's code: Yes, if all short-term rental rules are met. (In zones and specific plans that allow residential uses.) (§ 6.30.030); No more than 180 short-term rental units in the city. (Citywide; no more than 45 in each City Council district.) (§ 6.30.030).
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in National City?
National City's code: Tax collected is refunded once the stay exceeds 30 continuous days. (Transient guest stays.) (§ 4.32.030); 10% of the rent. (Hotel stays, for each of the first 30 days.) (§ 4.32.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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