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San Dimas is a city of approximately 34,000 residents in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County. The city has not enacted a general rent control or rent stabilization ordinance for standard apartments or houses. Renters in San Dimas rely primarily on California state law for their core protections.
California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, codified at Cal. Civ. Code §§1947.12 and 1946.2) provides meaningful statewide protections for many San Dimas tenants, including annual rent increase caps and just-cause eviction requirements. Additionally, AB 12 (effective July 1, 2024) capped security deposits at one month's rent for most residential units.
Mobile home park residents in San Dimas have an additional layer of protection through the city's Mobile Home Accord, a negotiated agreement between the city and park owners that limits annual rent increases and requires extended advance notice. Tenants seeking legal assistance can access multiple Los Angeles County legal aid organizations that serve San Dimas.
San Dimas has not passed a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance for conventional residential rental housing (apartments, houses, condominiums). Landlords of properties not covered by California AB 1482 may raise rents by any amount, provided they give proper advance written notice — 30 days for increases under 10%, or 90 days for increases of 10% or more (Cal. Civ. Code §827).
California law also prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting rent control on single-family homes, condominiums sold separately, and units first occupied after February 1, 1995, under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§1954.50–1954.535). Tenants in these property types in San Dimas are not covered by any rent cap.
AB 1482 Rent Cap (Cal. Civ. Code §1947.12): For covered units — generally multi-family buildings built before January 1, 2005, excluding single-family homes and condos unless owned by a corporation or REIT — landlords may not raise rent by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum of 10%, in any 12-month period. As of 2025–2026, the combined cap in the Los Angeles metro area is typically around 8.8%, but tenants should verify the current CPI figure with the California Department of Industrial Relations each year.
AB 1482 Just-Cause Eviction (Cal. Civ. Code §1946.2): After 12 months of continuous tenancy in a covered unit, a landlord must have just cause to terminate the tenancy. At-fault just cause includes nonpayment of rent, lease violations, criminal activity, or subletting without permission. No-fault just cause includes owner move-in, substantial remodel, or withdrawal from the rental market — and requires the landlord to pay one month's rent as relocation assistance. SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024) strengthened these protections by adding penalties for landlords who misuse no-fault grounds.
Security Deposits (Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5; AB 12 effective July 1, 2024): Landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit for unfurnished units (two months for furnished). Deposits must be returned within 21 days of vacating, accompanied by an itemized written statement of any deductions and copies of receipts for repair costs exceeding $125.
Notice Requirements (Cal. Civ. Code §1946.1): Landlords must give at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy for tenants in residence less than one year, and at least 60 days' notice for tenants in residence one year or more.
Habitability (Cal. Civ. Code §§1941.1, 1942): Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition, including effective weatherproofing, hot and cold running water, functioning heating, and freedom from vermin. If a landlord fails to repair conditions that affect habitability within a reasonable time after written notice, tenants may have the right to repair and deduct the cost from rent (up to one month's rent, no more than twice in 12 months).
Retaliation Prohibited (Cal. Civ. Code §1942.5): Landlords may not raise rent, reduce services, or attempt to evict a tenant in retaliation for exercising legal rights such as requesting repairs, reporting code violations, or contacting a government agency.
No Self-Help Evictions (Cal. Civ. Code §789.3): Landlords may not lock out tenants, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out. Tenants harmed by self-help evictions may recover actual damages plus a penalty of $100 per day, with a minimum of $250.
San Dimas Mobile Home Accord: San Dimas has a voluntary Mobile Home Accord negotiated with mobile home park owners. The Accord limits annual rent increases to a minimum of 3.0% and a maximum equal to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers in the Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County area, with an absolute cap of 7% in any given year. Management must provide homeowners with at least 90 days' written notice before any rent increase takes effect. The current Accord runs through June 30, 2026. Mobile home park residents with questions about the Accord may contact the San Dimas Housing Division at (909) 394-6250 or housing@sandimasca.gov.
Note: The Mobile Home Accord is a negotiated agreement, not a formal city ordinance. California's Mobilehome Residency Law (Cal. Civ. Code §§798–799.11) also provides baseline statewide protections for mobile home park residents, including notice requirements and protections against arbitrary eviction.
Under California law (Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5) as amended by AB 12 (effective July 1, 2024), landlords in San Dimas may collect a security deposit of no more than one month's rent for an unfurnished unit, regardless of whether the tenant has a pet. (Landlords of furnished units may collect up to two months' rent.) This limit applies to new tenancies entered on or after July 1, 2024; prior tenancies may have different deposit amounts under the old law.
After a tenant vacates, the landlord has 21 calendar days to either return the full deposit or mail an itemized written statement of deductions along with any remaining balance. If the landlord claims deductions for repairs, copies of receipts must be included for any work costing more than $125. Allowable deductions include unpaid rent, cleaning to restore the unit to the condition it was in at move-in (accounting for normal wear and tear), and repair of damage beyond normal wear and tear. Landlords who wrongfully withhold a deposit may be liable for up to twice the amount of the deposit as a penalty in addition to the actual deposit amount (Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5(l)).
To evict a tenant in San Dimas, a landlord must follow the formal unlawful detainer process under California law. The process begins with a written notice — a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit, a 3-day notice to cure or quit for lease violations, or a termination notice as required by state law. Landlords may not use self-help measures such as changing locks or shutting off utilities (Cal. Civ. Code §789.3).
For tenancies covered by AB 1482 (Cal. Civ. Code §1946.2), landlords must have at-fault or no-fault just cause to evict after the first 12 months. At-fault grounds include nonpayment of rent, material lease violations, nuisance, and criminal activity on the premises. No-fault grounds — such as owner or family member move-in, substantial renovation requiring the unit to be vacant, or withdrawal from the rental market under the Ellis Act — require the landlord to pay relocation assistance equal to one month's rent. SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024) imposes additional requirements and penalties for misuse of no-fault eviction grounds.
If a landlord serves an eviction notice without proper just cause or procedure, tenants should seek legal help promptly. Tenants have the right to respond to an unlawful detainer complaint in court, and free legal assistance may be available through Los Angeles County legal aid organizations.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant and landlord rights depend on the specific facts of each situation, including lease terms, property type, and applicable local and state law. Laws may change; verify current statutes before acting. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
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