Sunnyvale Landlord-Tenant Rules
Sunnyvale adds local rules on top of California landlord-tenant law. Here is what is different, with the city code or agency page behind each rule.
| Relocation assistance for no-fault evictions | Sunnyvale's Residential Tenant Protections Program requires landlords to pay relocation assistance equal to two months of the tenant's current rent when they end a tenancy for a no-fault just cause (state law requires one month). The City extends these just-cause and relocation protections to newer units that state law exempts, so they apply to rental units regardless of when they were built. As under state law, just-cause protection starts after the tenant has lived in the unit for 12 consecutive months. In 2025-2026 the City considered raising relocation to three months of rent. On May 5, 2026 the City Council voted not to introduce that ordinance, so two months remains the requirement, and directed staff to study just-cause protection from the first day of a tenancy, added protections for vulnerable tenants, using Fair Market Rent for relocation amounts, and enforcement against noncompliant landlords. Those items are studies, not law. Council action record (File 26-0485): https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/sunnyvaleca/matters/16857/histories |
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| Right to a 12-month lease | Landlords must offer every new tenant a one-year lease. If the tenant turns down the one-year lease, the landlord may then offer a shorter term, including month-to-month. The one-year lease must be on terms substantially similar to the shorter-term offers. Described in the City staff report recommending the ordinance (2023); the 2026 staff report confirms the ordinance requires landlords to initially offer all tenants a 12-month lease: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7977403&GUID=C486DAD3-8389-4C31-A395-0F488EAF5255&FullText=1 |
| How the tenant protections are enforced | Tenants can use the ordinance as the basis for their own civil lawsuit or as a defense in an eviction case. The City does not issue citations or sue landlords on tenants' behalf; it supports residents through City-funded tenant/landlord mediation and fair housing services. Mediation and fair housing services are described in the 2026 staff report: https://sunnyvaleca.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7977403&GUID=C486DAD3-8389-4C31-A395-0F488EAF5255&FullText=1 Source: Sunnyvale Mun. Code Ch. 19.71 |
Eviction cases in Sunnyvale are heard in: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara - all unlawful detainer cases are filed at the Downtown Superior Court; Clerk's Office, 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Local agencies
- City of Sunnyvale Housing Division — Runs the Residential Tenant Protections Program and City-funded tenant/landlord mediation and fair housing services.
- Law Foundation of Silicon Valley - Housing Program — Free legal advice and representation for low-income Santa Clara County tenants, including eviction defense, repair problems and housing discrimination. (408) 280-2424.
- Santa Clara County Superior Court Self-Help Center — Free help with eviction answer forms; forms can be reviewed at the Restraining Order Help Center, 201 N. First Street, San Jose. 408-882-2926.
Frequently asked questions
What landlord-tenant rules does Sunnyvale add on top of California law?
Relocation assistance for no-fault evictions: Sunnyvale's Residential Tenant Protections Program requires landlords to pay relocation assistance equal to two months of the tenant's current rent when they end a tenancy for a no-fault just cause (state law requires one month). The City extends these just-cause and relocation protections to newer units that state law exempts, so they apply to rental units regardless of when they were built. As under state law, just-cause protection starts after the tenant has lived in the unit for 12 consecutive months.; Right to a 12-month lease: Landlords must offer every new tenant a one-year lease. If the tenant turns down the one-year lease, the landlord may then offer a shorter term, including month-to-month. The one-year lease must be on terms substantially similar to the shorter-term offers.; How the tenant protections are enforced: Tenants can use the ordinance as the basis for their own civil lawsuit or as a defense in an eviction case. The City does not issue citations or sue landlords on tenants' behalf; it supports residents through City-funded tenant/landlord mediation and fair housing services.
← All California landlord-tenant rules
Last verified against official sources: October 28, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
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.