San Luis Obispo County · Renting & eviction
Renting in San Luis Obispo County: the rules that apply
San Luis Obispo County's code applies only in unincorporated areas, and there its rent rules cover only mobilehome park spaces. State law caps rents on other covered units; the county has no just-cause, relocation, notice or deposit rules of its own.
Key points
- Rent increases: In unincorporated areas, the county's Mobilehome Rent Stabilization (Title 25) covers mobilehome park spaces only; state law caps other covered units at 8.6%.
- Just cause: In unincorporated areas, the county has no just-cause rule of its own; state law requires a just cause after 12 months on covered units.
- Relocation pay: County relocation pay follows state law: 1 month's rent within 15 calendar days of notice, for no-fault evictions on covered units.
- Ending a tenancy: State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there under 1 year.
- Retaliation: In unincorporated areas, the county's Retaliatory Eviction chapter (Ch. 25.13) covers mobilehome park spaces only; other tenants rely on state law.
Each rule below is marked San Luis Obispo County code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (extracted October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
San Luis Obispo County's code applies in the unincorporated areas of the county. Cities in San Luis Obispo County have their own codes and their own pages.
Rent increases
San Luis Obispo County has a related local rule: Mobilehome Rent Stabilization (Title 25) — 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 | 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the California consumer price index (Department of Industrial Relations), used for counties outside the four metro areas, April to April, 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 San Luis Obispo 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
CA state law San Luis Obispo County 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 San Luis Obispo County rule on this in the San Luis Obispo County 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 San Luis Obispo 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
San Luis Obispo County has a related local rule: Retaliatory Eviction (Ch. 25.13) — 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 San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo 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
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Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Other San Luis Obispo County rules on this
San Luis Obispo County's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Mobilehome Rent Stabilization (Title 25) — mobilehome park spaces only
- Retaliatory Eviction (Ch. 25.13) — mobilehome park spaces only
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in San Luis Obispo County?
In unincorporated areas, the county's Mobilehome Rent Stabilization (Title 25) covers mobilehome park spaces only; state law caps other covered units at 8.6%. San Luis Obispo County also has a related rule: Mobilehome Rent Stabilization (Title 25) — mobilehome park spaces only.
Does a landlord in San Luis Obispo County need a reason to evict?
In unincorporated areas, the county has no just-cause rule of its own; state law requires a just cause after 12 months on covered units.
Does a San Luis Obispo County landlord have to pay relocation?
County relocation pay follows state law: 1 month's rent within 15 calendar days of notice, for no-fault evictions on covered units.
How much notice does a San Luis Obispo County landlord have to give?
State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there under 1 year.
How much can a San Luis Obispo County landlord charge for a security deposit?
San Luis Obispo County has no local rule on this that we found (extracted 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 Luis Obispo County?
San Luis Obispo County's code: Yes. (Residential vacation rentals with a zoning clearance, business license and transient occupancy tax registration. Extra rules apply in the Adelaida/Willow Creek Area.) (§ 22.30.510); No more than 55 established and active residential vacation rentals. (Los Osos only.) (§ 23.08.165).
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in San Luis Obispo County?
San Luis Obispo County's code: 9% of the rent charged by the operator. (§ 3.08.030); The guest pays the tax to the hotel operator when the rent is paid. (§ 3.08.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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