California Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
California rules on privacy, guests & animals for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to view or record, by camera, phone or other device, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom or other area where the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy with intent to invade privacy. Cal. Penal Code §§ 647(j)(1), 632(a); Cal. Civ. Code § 1954
The rules in California
| Cameras & privacy | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to view or record, by camera, phone or other device, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom or other area where the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy with intent to invade privacy. Recording a confidential conversation requires the consent of all parties. A landlord may enter only for listed reasons and, except in emergencies, generally with 24 hours' written notice. Because California requires all-party consent to record confidential conversations, cameras that capture audio raise added legal risk. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
|---|---|
| Guests & occupants | No statute — lease governs. California has no statewide guest-versus-tenant rule or roommate statute for private rentals. The tenant is responsible for damage caused by the tenant's guests or licensees. Occupancy limits come from local housing codes and state housing law. Overly strict limits can violate fair housing law (familial status). Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(b)(2) |
| Service & support animals (state law) | A landlord may not refuse to rent to, or refuse to let keep, a person with a disability who uses a guide, signal or service dog; lease terms may reasonably regulate the dog, and the tenant remains liable for proven damage. For emotional support dogs, a health care practitioner may provide documentation only if licensed, in a client-provider relationship for at least 30 days (waived for verified homeless individuals), after a clinical evaluation, and after warning about the penalty for fraud. Knowingly and fraudulently representing an emotional support dog as a service dog carries civil penalties of $500, $1,000 and $2,500 for first, second and later violations. These rules do not reduce reasonable-accommodation rights under state and federal fair housing law. The documentation rules come from AB 468 (2021), effective January 1, 2022. The Civil Rights Department's fair housing regulations also address assistance animals. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
Related questions
- Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental?
- Can a landlord limit overnight guests or roommates?
- Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal?
California vs. neighboring states
| State | Cameras & privacy | Guests & occupants | Service & support animals (state law) |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to view or record, by camera, phone or other device, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom or other area where the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy with intent to invade privacy. Recording a confidential conversation requires the consent of all parties. A landlord may enter only for listed reasons and, except in emergencies, generally with 24 hours' written notice. Cal. Penal Code §§ 647(j)(1), 632(a); Cal. Civ. Code § 1954 | No statute — lease governs. California has no statewide guest-versus-tenant rule or roommate statute for private rentals. The tenant is responsible for damage caused by the tenant's guests or licensees. Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(b)(2) | A landlord may not refuse to rent to, or refuse to let keep, a person with a disability who uses a guide, signal or service dog; lease terms may reasonably regulate the dog, and the tenant remains liable for proven damage. For emotional support dogs, a health care practitioner may provide documentation only if licensed, in a client-provider relationship for at least 30 days (waived for verified homeless individuals), after a clinical evaluation, and after warning about the penalty for fraud. Knowingly and fraudulently representing an emotional support dog as a service dog carries civil penalties of $500, $1,000 and $2,500 for first, second and later violations. These rules do not reduce reasonable-accommodation rights under state and federal fair housing law. Cal. Civ. Code § 54.1(b)(6); Health & Safety Code §§ 122317, 122318, 122319, 122319.5 |
| Arizona | No landlord-specific statute. It is a felony to knowingly photograph, film, record or secretly view a person without consent in a bathroom, bedroom or other place where they expect privacy while they are undressed or in similar situations; security cameras are exempt only if notice is clearly posted. Intercepting a conversation you are not part of without a party's consent is also a felony. A.R.S. §§ 13-3019, 13-3005; § 33-1343 | No statute — lease governs. Arizona's landlord-tenant act sets no guest-versus-tenant rule, occupancy limit or roommate right. Tenants are responsible for damage and conduct of people on the premises with their consent. A.R.S. § 33-1341 | Arizona's service-animal statute covers public places, not housing: it defines a service animal as a dog or miniature horse trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability and imposes a civil penalty of up to $250 for fraudulently misrepresenting an animal as a service animal to a public place. Arizona has no state statute on emotional support animal documentation or pet-fee limits in rental housing; reasonable-accommodation requests are governed by the federal Fair Housing Act and the Arizona Fair Housing Act. A.R.S. § 11-1024 |
| Nevada | No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to knowingly and intentionally capture an image of another person's private area without consent where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy (gross misdemeanor; felony on repeat). Except in emergencies, the landlord must give 24 hours' notice before entry and may not use access to harass. NRS 200.604; NRS 118A.330 | No statute — lease governs. Tenants are responsible for damage caused by household members and other persons on the premises with their consent. NRS 118A.110; NRS 118A.310 | A landlord may not refuse to rent to a person with a disability solely because an animal that assists, supports, or provides service to the person will live in the unit. The landlord may require proof, which may be satisfied by a statement from a health care provider that the animal performs a function that ameliorates the effects of the disability. Fraudulently misrepresenting an animal as a service animal or service animal in training is a misdemeanor (fine up to $500). NRS 118.105; NRS 426.805 |
| Oregon | No landlord-specific statute. Knowingly recording a visual image of another person's intimate area without consent where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, or observing a person in a state of nudity for sexual purposes, is invasion of personal privacy (crime). Recording an in-person conversation with a device generally requires that all participants be specifically informed; intercepting a phone or radio communication requires at least one participant's consent. ORS 163.700; ORS 165.540(1) | A landlord, tenant and proposed occupant may sign a written temporary occupancy agreement: the temporary occupant is not a tenant, the tenant may end it at any time, the landlord may end it only for a material violation, and the landlord may screen the occupant for conduct or criminal record but not credit or income. A temporary occupant who stays after the tenancy ends or after the tenant revokes permission is treated as a squatter. Any occupancy guideline a landlord adopts may not be more restrictive than two people per bedroom and must be reasonable considering bedroom size, unit size and discriminatory impact. ORS 90.275; ORS 90.262(3) | A landlord may not charge a pet security deposit for a service animal or companion animal that a tenant with a disability needs as a reasonable accommodation under fair housing laws. Refusing reasonable accommodations in rules or policies needed for a person with a disability to use and enjoy a dwelling is an unlawful practice. Oregon has no housing-specific statute on documentation for emotional support animals or penalties for misrepresenting one in housing. ORS 90.300(4); ORS 659A.145(2)(g) |
City rules that may add to state law
- Anaheim
- Bakersfield
- Berkeley
- Fresno
- Glendale
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Mountain View
- Oakland
- Pasadena
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Santa Ana
- Santa Monica
- West Hollywood
More California rental law
- California Security Deposit Law
- California Eviction Laws
- California Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in California
- California Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- California Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Breaking a Lease in California
- Squatters' Rights in California
- California Rental Fee Rules
- California Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- California Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- California Landlord Selling the House
- California Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- California Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All California landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in California
Compare privacy, guests & animals in all 50 states and DC →
California Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules FAQ
Can a landlord put cameras in or around a rental in California?
No landlord-specific camera statute. It is a crime to view or record, by camera, phone or other device, the interior of a bedroom, bathroom or other area where the occupant has a reasonable expectation of privacy with intent to invade privacy. Recording a confidential conversation requires the consent of all parties. A landlord may enter only for listed reasons and, except in emergencies, generally with 24 hours' written notice. (Cal. Penal Code §§ 647(j)(1), 632(a); Cal. Civ. Code § 1954)
Can a landlord limit guests or roommates in California?
No statute — lease governs. California has no statewide guest-versus-tenant rule or roommate statute for private rentals. The tenant is responsible for damage caused by the tenant's guests or licensees. (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(b)(2))
Can a landlord deny a service or emotional support animal in California?
A landlord may not refuse to rent to, or refuse to let keep, a person with a disability who uses a guide, signal or service dog; lease terms may reasonably regulate the dog, and the tenant remains liable for proven damage. For emotional support dogs, a health care practitioner may provide documentation only if licensed, in a client-provider relationship for at least 30 days (waived for verified homeless individuals), after a clinical evaluation, and after warning about the penalty for fraud. Knowingly and fraudulently representing an emotional support dog as a service dog carries civil penalties of $500, $1,000 and $2,500 for first, second and later violations. These rules do not reduce reasonable-accommodation rights under state and federal fair housing law. (Cal. Civ. Code § 54.1(b)(6); Health & Safety Code §§ 122317, 122318, 122319, 122319.5)
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.