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Windsor · Renting & eviction

Renting in Windsor: the rules that apply

Windsor's Rent Stabilization chapter covers mobile home spaces only, so state law governs rent increases on other rentals, and its cap applies to covered units only. Windsor has no just-cause or notice rule of its own, and its mobile home park conversion chapter covers those conversions only.

Key points

  • State rent cap: State law caps increases on covered units at 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
  • Cap limits: State law limits covered units to 5% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months, with no more than two increases.
  • Just cause: Windsor has no just-cause rule of its own; state law requires a just cause after 12 months of lawful occupancy for covered units.
  • Ending notice: State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year.
  • Park conversions: Windsor's Conversion of Mobile Home Parks to Other Uses chapter covers those conversions only; state no-fault pay for covered units is one month's rent.
  • Security deposit: State law caps deposits at one month's rent, or up to two for qualifying small landlords, returned within 21 calendar days after move-out.

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

Rent increases

Windsor has a related local rule: Rent Stabilization (Title VIII, Ch. 1) — mobile home 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.

CA state law California law
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.
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 Windsor 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

Windsor has a related local rule: Conversion of Mobile Home Parks to Other Uses (§ 8-2-155) — mobile home park conversions only. This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.

CA state law California law
No-fault eviction relocation assistance
One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice
Applies: For no-fault just causes (owner move-in, withdrawal from market, substantial remodel, government order) on covered units; regardless of the tenant's income.

Notices

We found no Windsor rule on this in the Windsor Municipal Code (extracted 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.
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 Windsor 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

Windsor has a related local rule: Rent Stabilization (§ 8-1-255) — mobile home 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.

CA state law California law
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 Windsor 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 Windsor 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 Windsor 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

Windsor code What Windsor's code adds
Allowed
  • Yes, hosted short-term rentals are allowed with a Town Short-Term Rental License.
    Applies: Non-hosted short-term rentals are not allowed in residential zones.
    § 17.40.230 · code text
    Non-hosted short-term rentals are prohibited from operating in residential zones.
Cap on rentals
  • No more than 3 short-term rental licenses per host.
    § 3-23-120 · code text
    No more than three (3) short-term rental licenses shall be issued to any one (1) host.
Minimum stay
  • At least 2 nights in a row.
    Applies: Non-hosted short-term rentals, which are not allowed in residential zones.
    § 3-23-140 · code text
    A host shall not rent a non-hosted STR to any individual for a period of fewer than two (2) consecutive nights.
Permit or registration
  • A town-issued Short-Term Rental License is required.
    § 3-23-120 · code text
    No person may establish and operate a short-term rental without first obtaining and maintaining at all times a valid short-term rental license.
  • A valid business license is required.
    § 3-23-140 · code text
    All short-term rentals must obtain and maintain a valid business license issued in accordance with Title III, Chapter 6 of the Town of Windsor Municipal Code.
Primary residence
  • The owner must be at the property from at least 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
    Applies: Hosted short-term rentals.
    § 3-23-140 · code text
    For a hosted short-term rental, the owner must be present at the property from at least 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Windsor code What Windsor's code adds
Short-term rentals
  • Yes; hosting platforms collect the tax as the host's agent.
    § 2-3-210 · code text
    Hosting platforms shall be responsible for collecting all applicable taxes imposed by this section.
Tax rate
  • The hotel tax is 12% of the rent.
    § 2-3-200 · code text
    For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of twelve (12%) percent 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.
    Applies: Hotel stays.
    § 2-3-210 · 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.
  • Hosting platforms collect the tax as the host's agent.
    Applies: Hosting platforms.
    § 2-3-210 · code text
    Hosting platforms shall be responsible for collecting all applicable taxes imposed by this section. The hosting platform shall be considered an agent of the host for purposes of tax collections and remittance responsibilities, and shall have the same responsibilities as an operator as set forth in this section.

Other Windsor rules on this

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

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much can rent go up in Windsor?

State law caps increases on covered units at 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. State law limits covered units to 5% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months, with no more than two increases. Windsor also has a related rule: Rent Stabilization (Title VIII, Ch. 1) — mobile home spaces only.

Does a landlord in Windsor need a reason to evict?

Windsor has no just-cause rule of its own; state law requires a just cause after 12 months of lawful occupancy for covered units.

Does a Windsor landlord have to pay relocation?

Windsor's Conversion of Mobile Home Parks to Other Uses chapter covers those conversions only; state no-fault pay for covered units is one month's rent. Windsor also has a related rule: Conversion of Mobile Home Parks to Other Uses (§ 8-2-155) — mobile home park conversions only.

How much notice does a Windsor landlord have to give?

State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year.

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

State law caps deposits at one month's rent, or up to two for qualifying small landlords, returned within 21 calendar days after move-out.

Can I rent out my home short-term in Windsor?

Windsor's code: Yes, hosted short-term rentals are allowed with a Town Short-Term Rental License. (Non-hosted short-term rentals are not allowed in residential zones.) (§ 17.40.230); No more than 3 short-term rental licenses per host. (§ 3-23-120).

What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Windsor?

Windsor's code: Yes; hosting platforms collect the tax as the host's agent. (§ 2-3-210); The hotel tax is 12% of the rent. (§ 2-3-200).

General information, not legal advice.

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