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Palm Desert is a resort city in the Coachella Valley within Riverside County, California. The city does not operate a general rent stabilization ordinance for conventional residential rentals. Renters in standard apartments, single-family homes, and condominiums are governed primarily by California statewide protections, including the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) and the security deposit reform law (AB 12).
Mobile home park residents in Palm Desert benefit from an additional layer of local protection. The city's Mobile Home Park Rent Review Ordinance, administered by the Palm Desert Rent Review Commission, governs rent increases in four designated parks and allows tenants to petition for relief from excessive increases.
This guide explains how statewide California law applies to Palm Desert renters, what local ordinances exist, and where to find free legal help in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County.
Palm Desert has no citywide rent control or rent stabilization ordinance for standard residential rental units such as apartments, condominiums, or single-family homes. Landlords of non-exempt properties are still subject to California's statewide AB 1482 rent cap (see below), but there is no separate local ordinance that further limits rent increases for these properties.
Renters in properties that are exempt from AB 1482 — such as condos sold separately from the tenant, single-family homes where the owner has provided required exemption notice, and buildings constructed within the last 15 years — may face uncapped rent increases. If you are unsure whether your unit is covered by AB 1482, contact Inland Counties Legal Services for a free assessment.
Rent Cap (AB 1482 — Civ. Code § 1947.12): For qualifying properties, annual rent increases are capped at 5% plus the regional Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum cap of 10%. For the period August 2025 through July 2026, the statewide maximum in most regions is approximately 7.7% (5% + 2.7% CPI). Only one increase per 12-month period is permitted. Properties built within the last 15 years, single-family homes with proper owner notice, and certain other categories are exempt.
Just-Cause Eviction (AB 1482 / SB 567 — Civ. Code § 1946.2): Tenants who have continuously and lawfully occupied a unit for 12 months cannot be evicted without just cause. At-fault causes include non-payment of rent, lease violations, and criminal activity on the premises. No-fault causes — such as owner move-in or substantial remodel — require the landlord to pay one month's relocation assistance. SB 567, effective April 1, 2024, added stricter requirements for no-fault just-cause evictions, including verification that a qualifying owner or family member will occupy the unit for at least 12 months after an owner move-in eviction.
Security Deposit (AB 12 / Civ. Code § 1950.5): For new tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2024, most landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit. Small landlords (two or fewer properties totaling four or fewer units) may collect up to two months' rent. Landlords must return the deposit, with an itemized statement of deductions, within 21 days after the tenant vacates.
Habitability (Civ. Code §§ 1941.1, 1942): Landlords are required to maintain rental units in a habitable condition, including working plumbing, heating, and structural safety. If a landlord fails to make necessary repairs after reasonable notice, tenants may have the right to repair and deduct the cost from rent (up to one month's rent) or to vacate and terminate the lease.
Retaliation Prohibited (Civ. Code § 1942.5): Landlords may not raise rent, reduce services, or attempt to evict a tenant in retaliation for the tenant exercising a legal right, such as complaining to a government agency about habitability conditions.
No Self-Help Evictions (Civ. Code § 789.3): Landlords may not lock tenants out, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities as a means of forcing a tenant to vacate. Such conduct is illegal and may entitle the tenant to actual damages plus a penalty of up to $100 per day.
Source-of-Income Protection (Gov. Code § 12955): California prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to tenants based on their lawful source of income, including Section 8 housing vouchers.
Notice Requirements (Civ. Code § 1946.1): Landlords must give 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy for a tenant who has rented for less than one year, and 60 days' written notice for a tenant who has rented for one year or more.
Mobile Home Park Rent Review Ordinance (Palm Desert Ordinance No. 1305A): Palm Desert maintains a rent review program for mobile home park residents. The program is administered by the five-member Palm Desert Rent Review Commission. Four city parks are currently under rent control: Silver Spur Mobile Manor, Palm Desert Mobile Estates, Indian Springs Mobile Home Park, and Sun Crest Country Club.
Under the ordinance, park owners may petition for rent increases beyond routine adjustments by filing a hardship or capital improvement petition. A public hearing is held before the Commission, giving residents an opportunity to be heard. Rent increases are applied prospectively only — park owners may not retroactively collect rent that was not charged at the time it could have been raised.
For more information about the Mobile Home Park Rent Review Program, contact the City of Palm Desert at (760) 776-6412 or visit the City of Palm Desert Housing page.
Under California Civil Code § 1950.5, as amended by AB 12 (effective July 1, 2024), the maximum security deposit a landlord may collect is:
Security deposits collected lawfully before July 1, 2024 are not affected by AB 12, but upon turnover any new deposit must comply with the new cap. Pet deposits are included within the same statutory limit — a landlord cannot charge a separate pet deposit that causes the total to exceed the cap.
After the tenant vacates, the landlord must return the deposit (or the balance remaining after lawful deductions) along with an itemized written statement of deductions within 21 days. Allowable deductions are limited to unpaid rent, costs to repair damage beyond normal wear and tear, and costs to clean the unit if left unclean. A landlord who wrongfully withholds a deposit may be liable for the amount withheld plus a bad-faith penalty of up to twice the deposit amount (Civ. Code § 1950.5(l)).
In Palm Desert, a landlord must follow California's statutory eviction process and may not remove a tenant through self-help methods. The process generally works as follows:
For tenants covered by AB 1482's just-cause protections (Civ. Code § 1946.2) — generally those who have rented for 12 or more months — the landlord must state a qualifying at-fault or no-fault just cause in the notice. No-fault evictions (owner move-in, substantial remodel, demolition, or withdrawal of the unit from the rental market) require the landlord to pay one month's relocation assistance equal to the tenant's current monthly rent.
Tenants who believe an eviction notice is improper or retaliatory should contact Inland Counties Legal Services or the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County as soon as possible, as response deadlines in unlawful detainer cases are very short.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently; always verify current statutes and ordinances before relying on this information. If you have a specific legal question or are facing an eviction, consult a qualified attorney or contact a legal aid organization in your area.
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