Tenant Utility Fees
San Diego Municipal Code § 98.1203
in effect§98.1203 Tenant Utility Fees
(a) A landlord may charge a tenant the cost of a utility fee the landlord pays for utility services the tenant consumes. The utility fee the landlord charges the tenant shall be no greater than the amount the landlord pays for the tenant’s utility services. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be interpreted to prohibit the landlord from charging the tenant an otherwise lawful late fee for unpaid utility fees.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Division, a landlord that utilizes submeters pursuant to Chapter 2.5 of Title 5 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the California Civil Code is not subject to this Division with respect to utility fees for utility services covered under that Chapter. Nothing in this section should be interpreted to exempt landlords from any other provision of the Division, including charges for any other utility services regulated by this Division.
(“Tenant Utility Fees” added 7-18-2025 by O–21987 N.S.; effective 8-17-2025.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter09/Ch09Art08Division12.pdf#page=2Fetched: 10/28/2026