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Seaside is a coastal city of approximately 35,000 residents in Monterey County, situated on the Monterey Peninsula adjacent to Monterey and Sand City. The city has a high proportion of renter households — historically linked to its proximity to the former Fort Ord military installation — making tenant protections a significant issue for the community. Seaside has not enacted a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance, and as of May 2026 there is no pending local legislation expanding tenant protections beyond state law.
California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) provides the primary rent-increase cap and just-cause eviction protections for eligible Seaside renters. The law limits annual rent increases to 5% plus local CPI (maximum 10%) for covered multi-unit buildings and requires landlords to have a valid reason to evict tenants who have lived in their unit for 12 months or more. State law also governs security deposits (capped at one month's rent for new tenancies since July 1, 2024), habitability requirements, anti-retaliation protections, and prohibition of self-help evictions.
This article summarizes tenant rights in Seaside as of May 2026 for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws change — consult a licensed attorney or a local tenant organization for guidance about your specific situation.
Seaside does not have a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. No city law places a hard cap on rent increases beyond what California state law already provides. As of May 2026, the City of Seaside has not adopted — nor is there a pending ballot measure or council proposal for — a local rent control program.
Renters in Seaside who live in units covered by California Civil Code § 1947.12 (AB 1482) are still protected by the statewide rent cap of 5% plus local CPI, maximum 10%, in any 12-month period. However, many Seaside rental units may be exempt from that cap — including single-family homes and condos where the owner has served an AB 1482 exemption notice, buildings with certificates of occupancy issued within the past 15 years, and certain other categories. Renters in those exempt properties have no cap on rent increases under current law.
If you believe your landlord has raised your rent above the AB 1482 cap unlawfully, contact California Rural Legal Assistance in Salinas or another tenant legal organization listed in the Resources section below for assistance.
California law provides several important tenant protections that apply in Seaside:
Rent Cap (AB 1482) — Civ. Code § 1947.12: For covered rental units, landlords may not increase rent by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%, in any 12-month period. Coverage excludes single-family homes and condos where the owner has provided a proper AB 1482 exemption notice, buildings constructed within the past 15 years, and certain other categories. SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024) strengthened enforcement of this cap.
Just-Cause Eviction (AB 1482) — Civ. Code § 1946.2: Once a tenant has continuously occupied a covered unit for 12 months, the landlord must have just cause to terminate. Just cause includes at-fault reasons (e.g., nonpayment of rent, lease violations, criminal activity) and no-fault reasons (e.g., owner move-in, substantial remodel, withdrawal from rental market). No-fault evictions require the landlord to pay one month's rent in relocation assistance. Seaside has no local ordinance expanding these protections.
Security Deposits — Civ. Code § 1950.5 and AB 12: For tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2024, landlords may collect a maximum deposit of one month's rent. Deposits must be returned within 21 calendar days of move-out, with an itemized written statement and receipts for any single deduction exceeding $125.
Notice to Terminate — Civ. Code § 1946.1: Landlords must give 30 days' written notice for tenancies under one year and 60 days' written notice for tenancies of one year or more before terminating a month-to-month tenancy.
Habitability — Civ. Code §§ 1941.1, 1942: Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition — including functioning plumbing, heating, weatherproofing, and freedom from pest infestation. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after reasonable written notice, tenants may exercise the repair-and-deduct remedy (up to one month's rent, no more than twice in 12 months) or, in serious cases, vacate and treat the lease as terminated.
Retaliation Prohibited — Civ. Code § 1942.5: Landlords may not retaliate against tenants for complaining to the landlord or code enforcement about habitability, exercising any legal right, or organizing with other tenants. Retaliation creates a presumption in favor of the tenant if adverse action occurs within 180 days of a protected act.
Self-Help Eviction Prohibited — Civ. Code § 789.3: Landlords may not lock out tenants, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities to force a tenant to vacate. Such conduct exposes the landlord to actual damages plus a civil penalty of up to $100 per day per violation, plus attorney's fees.
Security deposit rules in Seaside are governed by California Civil Code § 1950.5 and, for newer tenancies, AB 12.
Maximum deposit: For tenancies that began on or after July 1, 2024, landlords may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit (AB 12). For tenancies that began before July 1, 2024, the prior cap of two months' rent (unfurnished) or three months' rent (furnished) may still apply.
Permissible deductions: Landlords may deduct for unpaid rent, cleaning necessary to restore the unit to its move-in condition (excluding normal wear and tear), and repair of damage caused by the tenant beyond normal wear and tear. Deductions for pre-existing conditions or ordinary aging are not permitted.
Return deadline: Landlords must return the deposit — or the portion not lawfully withheld — within 21 calendar days of the tenant vacating, along with an itemized written statement. If any single deduction exceeds $125, copies of receipts or invoices must be included.
Penalty for bad-faith withholding: If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of a deposit in bad faith, the tenant may sue for the amount withheld plus a penalty of up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and attorney's fees (Civ. Code § 1950.5(l)).
Evicting a tenant in Seaside requires strict compliance with California's statutory process. Self-help evictions — including lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings — are prohibited by Civil Code § 789.3 and can result in significant damages and penalties.
Required notices:
State just-cause requirement (AB 1482 — Civ. Code § 1946.2): For covered units, after 12 months of continuous tenancy the landlord must have a legally recognized at-fault or no-fault reason to terminate. No-fault evictions — such as owner move-in, substantial remodel, or withdrawal from the rental market — require the landlord to pay one month's rent in relocation assistance before the tenant's last day. Seaside has no local ordinance providing greater protections beyond state law.
Court process: If the tenant does not vacate after proper notice, the landlord must file an unlawful detainer lawsuit in Monterey County Superior Court. The tenant has five business days to respond to the UD summons. Only a county sheriff — acting under a court-issued writ of possession — may physically remove a tenant from the premises.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant and landlord laws change frequently at both the state and local level. The information here reflects laws and programs as understood in May 2026 and may not reflect subsequent changes. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed California attorney or contact one of the tenant resource organizations listed above.
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