Riverside · Renting & eviction
Renting in Riverside: the rules that apply
Riverside's Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization Program covers mobile home park spaces only; for other rentals, the state rent cap applies to covered units only. The city has no just-cause, relocation or notice rule of its own.
Key points
- Rent increases: Riverside's rent stabilization chapter covers mobile home park spaces only; state law caps other covered units at 8.1%.
- Just cause: State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner of a covered unit may end the tenancy only for a just cause.
- Ending a tenancy: State law: a landlord gives 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there under 1 year.
- Relocation pay: State law: for no-fault evictions from covered units, the tenant gets 1 month's rent within 15 calendar days of the notice.
- Security deposits: State law: a deposit is at most 1 month's rent, or 2 for qualifying small landlords, returned within 21 days of move-out.
- Retaliation: State law: 180-day retaliation ban after habitability complaints if current on rent, once per 12 months. Related: Riverside's rent stabilization, park spaces only.
Each rule below is marked Riverside code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (extracted October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Riverside has a related local rule: Riverside Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization: 2026 CPI Maximum (city guidance); Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization Program (Ch. 5.75) — mobile home 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 | 8.1% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.1% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the BLS consumer price index for the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario 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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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 Riverside rule on this in the Riverside 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 Riverside 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
Riverside has a related local rule: Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization Program (§ 5.75.080) — mobile home 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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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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Condo conversions
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Other Riverside rules on this
Riverside's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Riverside Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization: 2026 CPI Maximum (city guidance) — mobile home park spaces only
- Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization Program (Ch. 5.75) — mobile home park spaces only
- Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization Program (§ 5.75.080) — mobile home park spaces only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Riverside?
Riverside's rent stabilization chapter covers mobile home park spaces only; state law caps other covered units at 8.1%. Riverside also has a related rule: Riverside Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization: 2026 CPI Maximum (city guidance) — mobile home park spaces only; Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization Program (Ch. 5.75) — mobile home park spaces only.
Does a landlord in Riverside need a reason to evict?
State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner of a covered unit may end the tenancy only for a just cause.
Does a Riverside landlord have to pay relocation?
State law: for no-fault evictions from covered units, the tenant gets 1 month's rent within 15 calendar days of the notice.
How much notice does a Riverside landlord have to give?
State law: a landlord gives 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there under 1 year.
How much can a Riverside landlord charge for a security deposit?
State law: a deposit is at most 1 month's rent, or 2 for qualifying small landlords, returned within 21 days of move-out.
Can I rent out my home short-term in Riverside?
Riverside's code: Yes, with a short-term residential rental permit. (Not in units with affordable housing deed restrictions or other government rules that forbid it.) (§ 5.55.010); No. (Units with affordable housing deed restrictions, or city, housing authority or other government conditions that forbid short-term rentals.) (§ 5.55.010).
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Riverside?
Riverside's code: Guests pay a tax of 13% of the rent. (In effect since July 1, 2014.) (§ 5.32.020); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 5.32.040).
What happens to tenants when a Riverside building converts to condos?
Riverside's code: At least 3 days before any hearing or action on the tentative map. (A copy of the city staff report on a condo conversion map is served on each tenant.) (§ 19.790.060).
General information, not legal advice.
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