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Scotts Valley is a small city of roughly 12,000 residents in the Santa Cruz Mountains of Santa Cruz County. Like all California cities, Scotts Valley renters benefit from a suite of statewide tenant protections enacted since 2019, including rent increase limits, just-cause eviction requirements, deposit caps, and anti-retaliation rules.
The city itself does not have a general rent control or rent stabilization ordinance covering apartments and houses. However, Scotts Valley has long maintained a Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization Ordinance (Municipal Code Ch. 9.16) that limits annual rent increases in the city's mobile home parks. Residents of conventional rentals rely on California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) and other state statutes for their primary protections.
This guide explains both the California statewide rules that apply in Scotts Valley and the city's local mobile home provisions, and points renters toward free legal resources in Santa Cruz County.
Scotts Valley has no local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance applicable to traditional apartments, houses, or condominiums. The city has not enacted a general rent-increase limit beyond what California state law requires.
This means landlords renting conventional units in Scotts Valley may raise rent by any amount that complies with state law—primarily the AB 1482 rent cap described below—and are not subject to any additional local ceiling. Tenants who live in units that are exempt from AB 1482 (such as single-family homes where the owner has provided proper written notice, or buildings constructed within the last 15 years) may face uncapped rent increases under Civil Code §1947.12(d).
Rent Cap (AB 1482 — Civil Code §1947.12): For covered units, landlords may not increase rent by more than 5% plus the local CPI, up to a maximum of 10% in any 12-month period. Covered units are generally multi-family buildings that are at least 15 years old and are not separately owned single-family homes or condominiums where proper notice has been given. The cap applies to most apartment buildings in Scotts Valley built before 2010.
Just-Cause Eviction (AB 1482 — Civil Code §1946.2): Once a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months, the landlord must have a legally recognized reason to terminate the tenancy. At-fault causes include non-payment of rent, lease violations, criminal activity, and subletting without permission. No-fault causes include owner move-in, withdrawal from the rental market, substantial remodel, or government order. No-fault evictions require the landlord to pay one month's rent as relocation assistance, or waive the last month's rent. SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024) strengthened enforcement of no-fault eviction rules statewide.
Security Deposits (AB 12 — Civil Code §1950.5): As of July 1, 2024, landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished. Landlords must return the deposit (less lawful deductions) along with an itemized written statement within 21 days of the tenant vacating. Withholding deposits in bad faith can result in a penalty of up to twice the deposit amount.
Notice Requirements (Civil Code §1946.1): Landlords must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy if the tenant has lived there less than one year, and at least 60 days' written notice if the tenant has lived there one year or more. A tenant wishing to vacate needs only give 30 days' notice in most circumstances.
Habitability (Civil Code §§1941.1, 1942): Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition—including functioning heating, plumbing, waterproofing, and freedom from rodent infestations. If a landlord refuses to make necessary repairs after proper notice, tenants may have the right to repair and deduct costs from rent (up to one month's rent), or to vacate and terminate the lease.
Anti-Retaliation (Civil Code §1942.5): It is illegal for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant—by raising rent, reducing services, or filing for eviction—because the tenant complained to a government agency, exercised a legal right, or organized with other tenants.
No Self-Help Evictions (Civil Code §789.3): Landlords may not lock out tenants, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities such as water, heat, or electricity to force a tenant to leave. Violations entitle the tenant to actual damages plus a $100-per-day penalty.
Scotts Valley maintains a Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 9.16) that applies to mobile home park spaces within the city. This ordinance does not apply to conventional apartments, houses, or condominiums.
Key provisions of the mobile home ordinance include:
For more information, contact Scotts Valley City Hall or visit the city's Mobile Home Park Rent Review Committee page at scottsvalley.gov.
California's security deposit law (Civil Code §1950.5), as amended by AB 12 effective July 1, 2024, limits the maximum security deposit a landlord may collect to one month's rent for both furnished and unfurnished units. (A limited exception applies for small landlords who own no more than two residential properties comprising no more than four units total, who may collect up to two months' rent through June 30, 2025.)
After a tenant moves out, the landlord has 21 calendar days to return the deposit balance along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Allowable deductions are limited to: unpaid rent, costs to clean the unit to the condition it was in at move-in (normal wear and tear excluded), repair of damage beyond normal wear and tear, and replacement or restoration of personal property provided under the lease.
If a landlord retains a deposit or any portion of a deposit in bad faith, the tenant may sue for the actual amount wrongfully withheld plus a statutory penalty of up to twice the deposit amount in small claims court. Tenants should document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with photos and written records.
To lawfully evict a tenant in Scotts Valley, landlords must follow California's formal unlawful detainer process—there are no shortcuts. The process generally begins with a written notice (3-day, 30-day, or 60-day, depending on the reason), followed by filing an unlawful detainer lawsuit in Santa Cruz Superior Court if the tenant does not comply, and then a court hearing.
Just-Cause Requirement (Civil Code §1946.2): If a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months or more, the landlord must state a valid just-cause reason in the termination notice. At-fault just causes include non-payment of rent, material lease violations, nuisance, criminal activity on the premises, and unauthorized subletting. No-fault just causes include owner or qualified family member move-in, intent to demolish or substantially remodel, withdrawal from the residential rental market, or compliance with a government order. For no-fault evictions, landlords must pay relocation assistance equal to one month's rent (or waive the final month's rent).
SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024): Strengthened no-fault eviction rules by requiring landlords who reclaim a unit for owner move-in or remodel to actually follow through, with penalties for bad-faith displacement.
Notice periods: A 3-day notice is used for non-payment of rent or lease violations (with an opportunity to cure). A 30-day or 60-day notice is used for no-fault terminations depending on length of tenancy (Civil Code §1946.1). Once the notice period expires and the tenant has not vacated, the landlord must file in court—self-help eviction (lockouts, utility shutoffs) is illegal under Civil Code §789.3.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently; verify current statutes and local ordinances with an attorney or official source before taking action. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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