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Rent caps, just-cause rules, deposit law, and the free help most renters here never find out about.
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Three layers of law can apply to a San Diego rental at once. Statewide, the California Tenant Protection Act caps annual rent increases at 5 percent plus local CPI, up to a 10 percent ceiling, and requires a just cause to end a tenancy after twelve months — but it exempts single-family homes owned by individuals (when properly noticed), owner-occupied duplexes, and buildings under fifteen years old. On top of that, the City of San Diego's Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance extends just-cause coverage further, requires relocation assistance for most no-fault terminations, and demands longer notice than state law. Separately, California cut the maximum security deposit to one month's rent for most landlords as of mid-2024, and landlords must return the deposit with an itemized statement within 21 days of move-out. Habitability is not waivable: heat, hot water, working plumbing, weatherproofing, and pest-free premises are required no matter what the lease says. If something goes wrong, put every request in writing, keep photos with dates, and call Legal Aid Society of San Diego before you move out or stop paying — the free help here is unusually good and most tenants never call it.
| Rule | What it says | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual rent increase cap | 5% + local CPI, max 10% | Applies to covered units under AB 1482 |
| Just cause required | After 12 months of tenancy | City ordinance extends coverage further |
| Notice to raise rent 10% or less | 30 days | Written notice required |
| Notice to raise rent over 10% | 90 days | Rare under the cap, but applies to exempt units |
| Security deposit maximum | 1 month's rent | Small landlords have a narrow exception |
| Deposit return deadline | 21 days after move-out | Itemized statement plus receipts over $125 |
| No-fault relocation assistance | Often 2–3 months' rent | City ordinance; amount depends on the reason |
| Entry notice by landlord | 24 hours written, normal hours | Emergencies excepted |
| Retaliation window | 180 days after a complaint | Presumed retaliatory in that period |
For covered units, no more than 5 percent plus regional CPI in any twelve-month period, capped at 10 percent, and no more than two increases per year. Increases of 10 percent or less need 30 days' notice; above that, 90 days.
After a year, they need just cause. At-fault causes are things like nonpayment or lease violation. No-fault causes — owner move-in, substantial remodel, withdrawal from the rental market — usually trigger relocation assistance under the city ordinance.
24 hours written notice during normal business hours for repairs, showings, or inspections. No notice is required only for genuine emergencies. Repeated unannounced entry is harassment and is actionable.
Normal wear and tear is not chargeable. Faded paint, worn carpet from ordinary use, and small nail holes are wear; a broken door or pet-destroyed carpet is damage. You are entitled to a pre-move-out inspection if you ask for it.
If you report a code violation or request a repair, a rent increase or eviction attempt within 180 days is presumed retaliatory. Document the date of your complaint — that date is your protection.
Beyond federal protected classes, California bars discrimination based on source of income, which includes Section 8 vouchers. 'No vouchers' language in an ad is illegal here.
Text or email is fine and better than a phone call because it timestamps itself. Describe the problem, the date, and the effect. Save photos in the same thread.
Repair-and-deduct and rent withholding have narrow legal requirements and doing them wrong hands the landlord a valid nonpayment case. Get advice before you withhold anything.
Mold, no heat, no hot water, pest infestation, and broken locks are code issues. An inspection record is powerful evidence and it costs you nothing.
Free counsel for income-qualifying tenants on evictions, deposits, habitability, and discrimination. They are the single most useful phone number on this page.
An unlawful detainer summons gives you five court days to respond. Missing that window means a default judgment, which is far harder to undo than defending on time.
Photograph every room, the appliances, and the flooring on both ends of the tenancy. This one habit resolves most deposit disputes before they start.
Where to look, what applications cost, and how to compete in a tight market.
SDG&E, water, and internet — deposits, timing, and who covers what.
What a local move costs and how to avoid the bait-and-switch quote.
If you are debating whether to stop renting, run these numbers first.
What each area is actually like before you sign a twelve-month lease.
Where rent fits in a realistic San Diego budget.
For units covered by the California Tenant Protection Act, the cap is 5 percent plus the regional CPI increase, with a hard ceiling of 10 percent in any twelve-month period, and no more than two increases per year. Some units are exempt — most notably single-family homes owned by individuals with proper written notice, owner-occupied duplexes, and buildings less than fifteen years old.
Not once you have lived there twelve months and the unit is covered. They must state a just cause. No-fault reasons like owner move-in or substantial remodel are allowed but generally require relocation assistance under the City of San Diego ordinance, and the notice periods are longer than state minimums.
As of July 2024, California limits most security deposits to one month's rent regardless of whether the unit is furnished. A narrow exception exists for very small landlords who own no more than two properties with four or fewer units total. The deposit must be returned with an itemized statement within 21 days of move-out.
Faded paint, minor scuffs, worn carpet traffic patterns, and small nail holes are wear and cannot be deducted. Holes in drywall, broken fixtures, pet damage, and stains that require replacement are damage and can be. You have the right to request a pre-move-out inspection so you can fix issues before they become deductions.
Put the request in writing, give a reasonable time, and if nothing happens call city code enforcement for an inspection. Repair-and-deduct exists but has strict limits, and withholding rent incorrectly can get you evicted. For anything serious, call Legal Aid Society of San Diego before acting.
Yes. Legal Aid Society of San Diego handles eviction defense, habitability, deposits, and discrimination for income-qualifying tenants. The San Diego Tenants Union offers counseling and organizing support, and the city runs housing instability programs for emergency cases. None of these require you to pay.
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Written and fact-checked by the Sandi Spots Editorial team — San Diego residents publishing under Sleep Coast LLC. Every place we recommend has been visited in person or verified against an official source, and no business can pay for inclusion or a higher ranking. Last updated .