Salinas Landlord-Tenant Rules

Repeal vote on November 3, 2026: On June 3, 2025, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2687 to repeal Salinas's four rental ordinances: rental registration, rent stabilization, just-cause eviction and tenant protection, and tenant anti-harassment. A referendum petition was filed before the repeal took effect, and the repeal goes to voters at the November 3, 2026 general municipal election. The City says the four ordinances remain in effect until voters decide. The repeal would not create any new rental rules.; Rent control: For covered units, rent may go up once in any 12 months, by the lower of 2.75% or 75% of the change in the Consumer Price Index. The rule generally covers properties with two or more homes on one parcel built before February 1, 1995. Single-family homes, condominiums and newer multi-family buildings are exempt. Tenants can file a Rent Reduction Petition over an improper increase, reduced housing services or unsafe conditions; landlords can file a Fair Return Petition. Hearing Officer decisions can be appealed within 10 days.; Just-cause eviction: Landlords of most rental units need a just cause to end a tenancy. At-fault causes are nonpayment of rent, continued breach of the lease after written notice, nuisance, waste, criminal activity or threats, unauthorized assignment or subletting, refusing access, and conviction for illegal use. Nonpayment is not a cause if the rent owed is less than one month of HUD fair market rent. No-fault causes are owner or close-relative move-in (by a natural person owning at least 51%) and substantial repairs or demolition. For a curable violation, the landlord must first give at least 10 days' written warning to cure (14 days for subletting or occupancy-limit violations). A tenant cannot be evicted for adding a child, parent, grandchild, grandparent, sibling or spouse within occupancy limits. Copies of termination notices must be filed with the City Attorney within 3 days.; Relocation assistance: For a no-fault termination (owner move-in or substantial repairs/demolition), the landlord must pay relocation assistance equal to three months of the tenant's actual rent, regardless of the tenant's income or length of tenancy. This is in addition to returning the security deposit. If the unit is offered for rent again within five years, the landlord must first offer it to the displaced tenant if the tenant asked in writing within 30 days of the notice.