Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Madera is a growing city of approximately 70,000 residents in California's San Joaquin Valley, where a significant share of households rent their homes. Like many Central Valley communities, Madera has seen steady rent increases in recent years, making it important for tenants to understand their rights under California's robust statewide landlord-tenant laws.
California law provides renters with meaningful protections regardless of city size, including habitability requirements, security deposit caps and return deadlines, eviction notice requirements, and anti-retaliation rules. Madera has not enacted any local rent control or tenant-protection ordinances beyond what state law provides, so California statutes — particularly the Civil Code and Code of Civil Procedure — govern the landlord-tenant relationship in this city.
This page summarizes the key laws that apply to renters in Madera. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, contact a licensed attorney or a local legal aid organization.
No Local Rent Control: The City of Madera has not enacted a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Landlords of most market-rate units in Madera are free to set rents at whatever the market will bear when a new tenancy begins or when a unit is re-rented after a vacancy.
Statewide Rent Cap — AB 1482 (Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12): California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) imposes a statewide rent increase cap on qualifying rental units. For covered tenancies, a landlord may not increase rent by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum cap of 10% per year, and no more than two rent increases in any 12-month period. This cap applies to most multi-family residential units that were first occupied more than 15 years before the date of the rent increase (i.e., built before approximately 2010 as of 2025), and that are not otherwise exempt.
Exemptions: Units exempt from AB 1482's rent cap include single-family homes and condominiums where the owner has provided proper written notice of the exemption, units built within the last 15 years, housing that is already subject to a local rent ordinance providing equal or greater protections, and certain subsidized housing. Because Madera has no local ordinance, tenants in exempt units have no cap on rent increases beyond what a new lease or rental agreement specifies. Tenants should review their lease and any notices from their landlord to understand whether AB 1482 applies to their specific unit.
California law provides a comprehensive set of protections for renters in Madera. The following are the most significant state-level rights:
Implied Warranty of Habitability (Cal. Civ. Code § 1941; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17920.3): Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition throughout the tenancy. This includes weatherproofing, working plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and freedom from infestations, mold, and other serious defects. If a landlord fails to repair a substantial habitability defect after being given reasonable notice, tenants may have the right to repair-and-deduct (up to one month's rent, twice per year) under Cal. Civ. Code § 1942, or to withhold rent under certain conditions.
Security Deposit Rules (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5): Landlords may charge a maximum security deposit of one month's rent for unfurnished units (as of July 1, 2024, per AB 12). The deposit must be returned with an itemized written statement within 21 calendar days of move-out.
Notice Requirements for Rent Increases (Cal. Civ. Code § 827): Landlords must give at least 30 days' advance written notice for rent increases of 10% or less. Rent increases greater than 10% require at least 90 days' advance written notice.
Termination Notice for Month-to-Month Tenancies (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1): A landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy if the tenant has lived in the unit for less than one year, and at least 60 days' written notice if the tenant has resided there for one year or more.
Just Cause for Eviction (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2): For tenants in AB 1482-covered units, landlords must have a legally recognized just cause to terminate a tenancy. Just causes include nonpayment of rent, breach of lease, criminal activity on the premises, and certain no-fault reasons such as owner move-in or substantial renovation. No-fault evictions may require relocation assistance equal to one month's rent.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Cal. Civ. Code § 1942.5): Landlords are prohibited from retaliating against tenants who exercise legal rights, such as complaining about habitability issues to a government agency, requesting repairs, or organizing with other tenants. Retaliation includes retaliatory rent increases, service reductions, and eviction proceedings. A tenant subjected to retaliation may be entitled to actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
Prohibition on Lockouts and Utility Shutoffs (Cal. Civ. Code § 789.3): A landlord may not lock out a tenant, remove doors or windows, or willfully interrupt utility services (gas, water, electricity) to force a tenant to vacate. Violations entitle the tenant to recover actual damages plus a penalty of $100 per day for each day of the violation, with a minimum recovery of $250.
Maximum Deposit Amount (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5; AB 12, effective July 1, 2024): As of July 1, 2024, California limits security deposits for residential unfurnished units to one month's rent. Prior to that date, the limit was two months' rent for unfurnished units and three months' for furnished units. The new one-month cap applies to new tenancies entered into on or after July 1, 2024. Small landlords who own no more than two residential rental properties with a combined total of no more than four dwelling units may charge up to two months' rent until January 1, 2030.
Permitted Deductions: A landlord may deduct from the security deposit only for: unpaid rent; cleaning costs to restore the unit to the same level of cleanliness as at move-in; repair of damages beyond normal wear and tear; and, if specified in the lease, replacement of personal property such as keys or remotes.
Return Deadline (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(g)): The landlord must return the remaining deposit, along with an itemized written statement of any deductions and copies of receipts for repair or cleaning costs exceeding $125, within 21 calendar days of the tenant vacating the unit.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(l)): If a court finds that the landlord wrongfully withheld all or part of the security deposit in bad faith, the tenant may be awarded up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld as a penalty, in addition to actual damages. Tenants may bring a claim in small claims court for amounts up to $12,500 without needing an attorney.
In Madera, evictions are governed by California's unlawful detainer statutes (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 1161–1179a). A landlord must follow a strict legal process and may never use self-help methods to remove a tenant.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing an eviction lawsuit, the landlord must serve the tenant with the appropriate written notice. Common notice types include:
Step 2 — Unlawful Detainer Filing: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an unlawful detainer (eviction) lawsuit in Madera County Superior Court. The tenant must be formally served with the summons and complaint and has 5 business days to file a written response (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1167).
Step 3 — Court Hearing: If the tenant files a response, the court schedules a trial, typically within 20 days. If the tenant does not respond, the landlord may request a default judgment. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it issues a judgment for possession.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: After judgment, the landlord requests a Writ of Possession. The Madera County Sheriff's Office serves the writ on the tenant, who is given a short period (typically 5 days) to vacate before the sheriff can physically enforce the removal.
Just Cause Requirement for Covered Units (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2): Tenants in AB 1482-covered units may not be evicted without a legally recognized just cause. No-fault evictions (such as owner move-in) require the landlord to pay one month's rent as relocation assistance.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal (Cal. Civ. Code § 789.3): A landlord may never lock out a tenant, remove the tenant's belongings, or cut off utilities to force a move-out without going through the court process. Such conduct entitles the tenant to actual damages and a statutory penalty of $100 per day (minimum $250).
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we strive to keep content accurate and up to date as of April 2026, landlord-tenant laws change frequently and local conditions vary. Renters with specific legal questions or disputes should consult a licensed California attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Madera County. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.