Find the Statutes
Direct access to the California codes and statutes that protect your rights as a tenant.
California Legislative Information
All California laws are available online for free through the official California Legislative Information website. This is the same source that lawyers, judges, and legislators use. You can search by code section number, keyword, or browse by topic.
Key Codes for Tenants
Most tenant rights come from the California Civil Code, particularly Sections 1940 through 1954.06. Here are the most important areas to know:
Civil Code §1940–1954.06 — The core residential landlord-tenant law. Covers security deposits (§1950.5), habitability (§1941–1942.5), landlord entry (§1954), retaliation (§1942.5), and more.
Civil Code §798–799.79 — The Mobilehome Residency Law and Recreational Vehicle Park Occupancy Law. Special protections for mobilehome and RV park residents.
Code of Civil Procedure §1159–1179a — The Unlawful Detainer (eviction) statutes. The procedural rules that govern how evictions work in California.
Health & Safety Code §17920.3 — Defines substandard housing conditions. Critical for habitability claims.
Civil Code §1946.2 and §1947.12 — The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482). Statewide rent caps and just-cause eviction protections.
How to Search
On the California Legislative Information site, select the code you want (Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, etc.) and enter the section number. You can also use the search bar to find statutes by keyword. If you know the section number from one of our articles, just type it in and you'll get the full text of the law.
Curated by California Tenant Law
Helping California tenants since 1980
