San Joaquin County · Renting & eviction

Renting in San Joaquin County: the rules that apply

San Joaquin County's code applies only in unincorporated areas, where it adds relocation pay for tenants displaced by an unsafe-unit order. It has no rent control, just-cause or notice rule of its own, so state law applies to those.

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Key points

Rent increases: State law limits increases on covered units to 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Just cause: The county has no just-cause rule; under state law, a covered tenancy can end only for a just cause after 12 months.
Displacement pay: In unincorporated areas, the county requires 2 times the monthly rent, plus any deposit back, for a tenant displaced by an unsafe-unit order.
No-pay rule: County rules give no benefits to a tenant who caused or substantially contributed to the condition behind the notice to vacate.
Ending a tenancy: Under state law, ending a tenancy takes 60 days' notice, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
No-fault evictions: Under state law, a no-fault eviction on a covered unit requires 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice.

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

San Joaquin County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in San Joaquin County have their own codes and their own pages.

Rent increases

CA state law San Joaquin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Rent cap right now: 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) (Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)). California's statewide rent cap — the full state rule →

Eviction and just cause

CA state law San Joaquin County 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

San Joaquin County code What San Joaquin County's code adds
Amount	2 times the established monthly rent for the unit the tenant is leaving. Applies: For a tenant displaced by an enforcement agency's notice to vacate for unsafe or hazardous conditions; any deposit is also returned. § 8-5702 · code text A sum equal to twice the established monthly rental rate for the unit being vacated by the displaced tenant. A habitable place to live. Applies: Instead of 2 months' rent, with tenant consent; only for tenants displaced by an enforcement agency's notice to vacate for unsafe or hazardous conditions. § 8-5702 · code text As an alternative to providing the sum set forth in Section 5702 (a), the property owner may, with the consent of the tenant, provide or arrange for a habitable place of residence.
Exemptions	No benefits to a tenant who caused or substantially contributed to the condition behind the notice, as the agency decides. § 8-5704 · code text No owner is responsible for relocation benefits to any tenant who has caused or substantially contributed to the condition giving rise to the notice to vacate as determined by the enforcement agency. The unit or structure became unsafe or hazardous during the tenancy, and no more than six (6) months prior to the notice to vacate, due to earthquake, flood, fire, act of the public enemy, or another disaster not proximately caused by building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or fire code violations § 8-5704 · code text No owner is responsible for relocation benefits if the unit or structure became unsafe or hazardous during the tenancy (and no more than six (6) months prior to the notice to vacate) as a result of earthquake, flood, fire, act of the public enemy or other disaster not proximately caused by building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or fire code violations.
When relocation is owed	When an agency's notice to vacate for unsafe or hazardous conditions displaces a tenant from a rented or occupied unit. § 8-5702 · code text Any tenant who is displaced from any leased, rented or occupied residential unit or structure, due to unsafe or hazardous conditions, as a result of a notice to vacate issued by an enforcement agency under Title 8 of the Ordinance Code of San Joaquin County, or any other applicable provision, shall be entitled, as set forth in this chapter, to receive the following relocation benefits from the owner:

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 San Joaquin County rule on this in the San Joaquin County 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 San Joaquin County 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

CA state law San Joaquin County has no rule of its own on this, so California law 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 San Joaquin County 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 San Joaquin County 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 San Joaquin County 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

San Joaquin County code What San Joaquin County's code adds
Allowed	Allowed with limits. Applies: Unincorporated county areas, with a short-term rental permit (Zoning Compliance Review). Not in buildings with 5 or more units. § 9-409.030 · code text A residential dwelling unit located within a building that contains five or more dwelling units may not be operated as a short-term rental.
Cap on rentals	No more than 1 short-term rental. Applies: Per property. § 9-409.030 · code text No more than one short-term rental may be operated on a property.
Nights per year	No more than 180 days. Applies: Total days rented in a calendar year. § 9-409.030 · code text A short-term rental may not be rented for more than a cumulative total of 180 days in a calendar year.
Permit or registration	A Zoning Compliance Review is required. Applies: Short-term rentals in unincorporated areas of the county. § 9-409.030 · code text A Zoning Compliance Review is required to establish or operate a short-term rental in the unincorporated area of the county subject to Chapter 9-803, Zoning Compliance Review.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

San Joaquin County code What San Joaquin County's code adds
Tax rate	The hotel tax is 8% of the rent. § 3-4001 · code text For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of eight percent (8%) of the rent charged by the operator.
Who collects it	The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. § 3-4002 · 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.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much can rent go up in San Joaquin County?

State law limits increases on covered units to 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

Does a landlord in San Joaquin County need a reason to evict?

The county has no just-cause rule; under state law, a covered tenancy can end only for a just cause after 12 months.

Does a San Joaquin County landlord have to pay relocation?

In unincorporated areas, the county requires 2 times the monthly rent, plus any deposit back, for a tenant displaced by an unsafe-unit order. County rules give no benefits to a tenant who caused or substantially contributed to the condition behind the notice to vacate. Under state law, a no-fault eviction on a covered unit requires 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice.

How much notice does a San Joaquin County landlord have to give?

Under state law, ending a tenancy takes 60 days' notice, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.

How much can a San Joaquin County landlord charge for a security deposit?

San Joaquin County 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)).

Can I rent out my home short-term in San Joaquin County?

San Joaquin County's code: Allowed with limits. (Unincorporated county areas, with a short-term rental permit (Zoning Compliance Review). Not in buildings with 5 or more units.) (§ 9-409.030); No more than 1 short-term rental. (Per property.) (§ 9-409.030).

What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in San Joaquin County?

San Joaquin County's code: The hotel tax is 8% of the rent. (§ 3-4001); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 3-4002).

General information, not legal advice.

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San Joaquin County Municipal Code — full text

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