Marin County Tenant Ordinance
Marin County (San Rafael) adds these tenant protections on top of California landlord-tenant law — applies Unincorporated Marin County only (San Rafael and Fairfax take part in the mandatory mediation program under their own rules).
Law: Marin County Just Cause for Eviction (Marin County Code ch. 5.100); Rental Housing Dispute Resolution / Mandatory Mediation (ch. 5.95); Source of Income protection (ch. 5.53)
| Just cause for eviction - coverage | Applies to properties in unincorporated Marin with at least 3 dwelling units on a single lot (unpermitted units count; permitted ADUs/JADUs, subsidized units, mostly-affordable developments and on-site manager units are not counted). Source: Marin County Code 5.100.020 |
|---|---|
| Just cause - allowed reasons | For cause (after a notice to fix where applicable): nonpayment, material lease breach, nuisance/waste/unlawful use, criminal activity, refusal of lawful entry. No fault: owner move-in, demolition or remodel, withdrawal from the rental market, compliance with a government order. Source: Marin County Code 5.100.040 |
| Just cause - notice periods | No-fault termination: at least 60 days' notice if the tenant has lived there one year or more, otherwise 30 days; 120 days' notice to withdraw a unit from the rental market. For-cause notices must give at least three business days. Source: Marin County Code ch. 5.100 |
| Just cause - prerequisites | Before terminating, the landlord must hold a county rental business license and any required multi-unit health permit, give the Notice of Tenant Rights, register the unit in the county Rental Registry, and file a copy of the termination notice with the CDA director through the Rental Registry within 10 days. If a prerequisite is missing, a new notice is required. |
| Mandatory mediation of rent increases | For rent increases over 5% in 12 months, either side can request mediation and the other must participate in good faith; tenants must request within 10 calendar days of the increase notice. If a landlord does not participate in good faith, the increase may be deemed invalid. Landlords must give tenants the Notice of Tenants' Rights when starting or renewing a lease or increasing rent. Source: Marin County Code ch. 5.95 |
| Source of income protection | Landlords in unincorporated Marin may not discriminate against tenants who use Section 8 vouchers or other third-party rental assistance, exclude them in ads, or require a higher deposit because of source of income. Source: Marin County Code ch. 5.53 |
County rules apply only outside city limits; use the county's jurisdiction look-up tool to check an address. State law (Tenant Protection Act, AB 1482) also applies and may give additional or overlapping protections. CDA Housing: 415-473-7309.
← Eviction in Marin County (San Rafael)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.