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Fillmore is a small city of roughly 15,000 residents in Ventura County, California, situated in the Santa Clara River valley. Renters in Fillmore frequently ask about rent increases, eviction procedures, and what happens to their security deposit — all governed by California state law rather than any city-specific ordinance.
California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) and related statutes provide meaningful baseline protections: a cap on annual rent increases, requirements that landlords have just cause before terminating a tenancy, and firm deadlines and caps on security deposits. Because Fillmore has not enacted its own rent stabilization or just-cause ordinance, state law sets both the floor and the ceiling for renter protections here.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently; consult a qualified attorney or local legal aid organization for guidance specific to your situation.
Fillmore does not have a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Renters in Fillmore are therefore covered exclusively by California's statewide rent cap under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), codified at Civil Code § 1947.12.
Under AB 1482, annual rent increases are limited to 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum cap of 10% in any 12-month period. This protection applies to most residential rental units that are more than 15 years old and are not otherwise exempt (such as single-family homes where the owner has provided proper notice of exemption, condominiums sold separately, or certain subsidized housing). Landlords must provide proper written notice before any rent increase takes effect.
A 2009 ballot initiative in Fillmore sought rent stabilization for one specific mobile home park (El Dorado Mobile Estates) but did not result in a citywide ordinance. No citywide rent control measure has been enacted as of May 2026.
California law provides several important protections for renters throughout the state, including those in Fillmore:
Rent Increases (AB 1482 / Civ. Code § 1947.12): Most tenants in qualifying units may not have their rent raised more than 5% plus the local CPI, up to a maximum of 10%, in any 12-month period. Landlords must give at least 30 days written notice for increases up to 10%, and 90 days notice for larger increases in exempt situations.
Just-Cause Eviction (AB 1482 / SB 567 / Civ. Code § 1946.2): After 12 months of tenancy, landlords must have a lawful reason to terminate the tenancy. At-fault reasons include non-payment of rent, lease violations, and criminal activity. No-fault reasons (such as owner move-in or substantial remodel) require relocation assistance equal to one month's rent. SB 567, effective April 1, 2024, tightened these requirements further.
Security Deposits (AB 12 / Civ. Code § 1950.5): Effective July 1, 2024, landlords may collect a maximum security deposit of one month's rent for most residential units. Landlords must return the deposit within 21 days after the tenant vacates, along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Wrongful withholding may result in the tenant recovering up to twice the deposit amount in damages.
Habitability (Civ. Code §§ 1941.1, 1942): Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition, including functioning plumbing, heating, and weatherproofing. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs after proper notice, tenants may have the right to repair and deduct the cost from rent, or vacate and withhold rent in severe cases.
Anti-Retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5): Landlords may not retaliate against tenants who exercise their legal rights, such as reporting code violations or requesting repairs. Retaliatory conduct within 180 days of a protected activity is presumed unlawful.
Source-of-Income Protections (Gov. Code § 12955): Landlords in California may not refuse to rent or discriminate against applicants based on their lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers.
No Self-Help Evictions (Civ. Code § 789.3): Landlords may not lock out tenants, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities to force a tenant to leave. Such conduct is illegal and subjects the landlord to damages of $100 per day, with a minimum of $250.
California law tightly regulates security deposits for renters in Fillmore. Under AB 12, effective July 1, 2024, landlords may collect a maximum security deposit equal to one month's rent for most residential tenancies (Civ. Code § 1950.5). Prior to that date, the cap was two months' rent for unfurnished units and three months' for furnished units.
After you move out, your landlord has 21 days to return your deposit, along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions for unpaid rent, cleaning costs exceeding normal wear and tear, or damage beyond normal use. The landlord must include copies of receipts for any work performed costing more than $125.
If your landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit, you may sue in small claims court and, if the court finds the withholding was done in bad faith, recover up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld in addition to the actual deposit amount (Civ. Code § 1950.5(l)). Normal wear and tear — such as minor scuffs on walls or worn carpet from ordinary use — cannot legally be deducted from your deposit.
In Fillmore, evictions must follow California's formal legal process. Landlords may not remove a tenant through self-help methods such as changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities — doing so is illegal under Civil Code § 789.3 and subjects the landlord to substantial penalties.
Notice Requirements: The type of notice required depends on the reason for eviction. For non-payment of rent, the landlord must serve a 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit. For curable lease violations, a 3-Day Notice to Cure or Quit is required. For incurable violations or criminal activity, a 3-Day Unconditional Quit Notice may be used. For no-fault terminations (owner move-in, substantial remodel, or withdrawal from the rental market), tenants generally receive a 60-Day Notice to Vacate and are entitled to one month's rent in relocation assistance under Civ. Code § 1946.2.
Month-to-Month Tenancy Termination: For month-to-month tenants, landlords must give at least 30 days notice if the tenant has lived there less than one year, or 60 days notice if the tenant has lived there one year or more (Civ. Code § 1946.1).
Just-Cause Requirements (AB 1482 / Civ. Code § 1946.2): After 12 months of continuous tenancy in a covered unit, a landlord must have just cause — either an at-fault reason (such as non-payment or lease breach) or a no-fault reason (such as owner move-in) — to terminate the tenancy. SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024) strengthened these protections and added verification requirements for no-fault reasons such as substantial remodel.
Unlawful Detainer Court Process: If a tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord must file an Unlawful Detainer lawsuit in Ventura County Superior Court. The tenant is served with a summons and has 5 business days to respond. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a writ of possession and the sheriff supervises the lockout. A tenant may not be physically removed without a court order.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and local ordinances can change, and individual circumstances vary. Tenants and landlords should consult a licensed California attorney or a qualified local legal aid organization for advice specific to their situation. RentCheckMe.com makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information.
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