(a) “Just cause” to terminate a tenancy means either of the following:
(1) “At-fault just cause”, which means any of the following:
(A) Default in the payment of rent.
(B) A breach of a material term of the lease, as described in paragraph (3) of Section 1161 of the California Code of Civil Procedure, including, but not limited to, violation of a provision of the lease after being issued a written notice to correct the violation.
(C) Maintaining, committing, or permitting the maintenance or commission of a nuisance as described in paragraph (4) of Section 1161 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(D) Committing waste as described in paragraph (4) of Section 1161 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(E) The renter had a written lease that terminated on or after July 20, 2023, and after a written request or demand from the landlord, the renter has refused to execute a written extension or renewal of the lease for an additional term of similar duration with similar provisions, provided that those terms do not violate this chapter or any other provision of law.
(F) Criminal activity by the renter on the residential rental unit, including any common areas, or any criminal activity or criminal threat, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 422 of the California Penal Code, on or off the residential rental unit, that is directed at any landlord or agent of the landlord.
(G) Assigning or subletting the premises in violation of the renter’s lease, as described in paragraph (4) of Section 1161 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(H) The renter’s refusal to allow the landlord to enter the residential rental unit as authorized by Sections 1101.5 and 1954 of the California Civil Code, and Sections 13113.7 and 17926.1 of the California Health and Safety Code.
(I) Using the premises for an unlawful purpose as described in paragraph (4) of Section 1161 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(J) The employee, agent, or licensee’s failure to vacate after their termination as an employee, agent, or a licensee as described in paragraph (1) of Section 1161 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(K) When the renter fails to deliver possession of the residential rental unit after providing the landlord written notice as provided in Section 1946 of the California Civil Code of the renter’s intention to terminate the hiring of the real property, or makes a written offer to surrender that is accepted in writing by the landlord, but fails to deliver possession at the time specified in that written notice as described in paragraph (5) of Section 1161 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
(2) “No-fault just cause,” which means any of the following:
(A) Intent to occupy the residential rental unit by the landlord or their sibling, spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law, provided the landlord is a natural person.
(B) Permanent withdrawal of the residential rental unit from offer for rent or lease pursuant to California Government Code sections 7060-7060.7.
(C) The landlord complying with any of the following:
(i) An order issued by a government agency or court relating to habitability that necessitates vacating the residential rental unit.
(ii) An order issued by a government agency or court to vacate the residential rental unit.
(iii) A local ordinance that necessitates vacating the residential rental unit.
(D) Intent to demolish or to substantially remodel the residential rental unit. “Substantially remodel” means the replacement or substantial modification of any structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical system that requires a permit from a governmental agency, or the abatement of hazardous materials, including lead-based paint, mold, or asbestos, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, that cannot be reasonably accomplished in a safe manner with the renter in place and that requires the renter to vacate the residential rental unit for at least 30 days. Cosmetic improvements alone, including painting, decorating, and minor repairs, or other work that can be performed safely without having the residential rental unit vacated, do not qualify as substantial rehabilitation.
(b) “Landlord” means the owner or property manager exercising effective control over the terms and conditions of the tenancy of a residential rental unit, including a person with such control delegated through a durable power of attorney.
(c) “Rent” means the consideration. including any bonus, benefit, or gratuity demanded or received by a landlord for or in connection with the use or occupancy of a rental unit.
(d) “Rent increase” means any additional rent demanded of or paid by a tenant for a rental unit.
(e) "Renter" means a person or entity entitled by written or oral agreement to occupy a residential rental unit to the exclusion of others.
(f) “Residential rental unit” means any housing structure occupied as a dwelling or offered for rent or lease as a dwelling, whether attached, detached, single or multiple-family.
(g) “Security” means any payment, fee, deposit, or charge, including, but not limited to, any payment, fee, deposit, or charge, except as provided in Section 1950.6 of the California Civil Code, that is imposed at the beginning of the tenancy to be used to reimburse the landlord for costs associated with processing a new renter or that is imposed as an advance payment of rent, used or to be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(1) The compensation of a landlord for a renter’s default in the payment of rent.
(2) The repair of damages to the premises, exclusive of ordinary wear and tear, caused by the renter or by a guest or licensee of the renter.
(3) The cleaning of the premises upon termination of the tenancy necessary to return the unit to the same level of cleanliness it was in at the inception of the tenancy.
(4) To remedy future defaults by the renter in any obligation under the rental agreement to restore, replace, or return personal property or appurtenances, exclusive of ordinary wear and tear, if the security deposit is authorized to be applied thereto by the rental agreement.
(Ord. 5589 § 2 (part), 2023: Ord. 3420 §§ 1 and 2, 1983: Ord. 3327 § 1, 1982: Ord. 3252 § 1 (part), 1980)