Section 53165.
Cal. Government Code - GOV § 53165.
in effect(a)
For purposes of this section:
(1)
“Individual in an emergency” means a person who believes that immediate action is required to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life, health, or property.
(2)
“Local agency” means a county, city, whether general law or chartered, city and county, town, housing authority, municipal corporation, district, political subdivision, or any board, commission, or agency thereof, or other local public agency.
(3)
“Occupant” means a person residing in a dwelling unit with the tenant. “Occupant” includes a lodger as defined in Section 1946.5 of the Civil Code.
(4)
“Penalty” means the following:
(A)
The actual or threatened assessment of fees, fines, or penalties.
(B)
The actual or threatened termination of a tenancy or the actual or threatened failure to renew a tenancy.
(C)
The actual or threatened revocation, suspension, or nonrenewal of a rental certificate, license, or permit.
(D)
The designation or threatened designation as a nuisance property or as a perpetrator of criminal activity under local law, or imposition or threatened imposition of a similar designation.
(E)
Subjecting a tenant to inferior terms, privileges, and conditions of tenancy in comparison to tenants who have
not sought law enforcement assistance or emergency assistance.
(5)
“Resident” means a member of the tenant’s household or any other occupant living in the dwelling unit with the consent of the tenant.
(6)
“Tenant” means tenant, subtenant, lessee, or sublessee.
(7)
“Victim of abuse” includes:
(A)
A victim of domestic violence as defined in Section 6211 of the Family Code.
(B)
A victim of elder or dependent adult abuse as defined in Section 15610.07 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
(C)
A victim of human trafficking as described in Section 236.1 of the Penal Code.
(D)
A victim of sexual assault means a victim of any act made punishable by Section 261, 264.1, 285, 286, 288, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code.
(E)
A victim of stalking as described in Section 1708.7 of the Civil Code or Section 646.9 of the Penal Code.
(8)
“Victim of crime” means a victim of a misdemeanor or felony.
(b)
A local agency shall not promulgate, enforce, or implement any ordinance, rule, policy, or regulation, that authorizes, or requires the imposition, or threatened imposition, of a penalty against a resident, owner, tenant, landlord, or other person as a consequence of law enforcement assistance or emergency assistance being summoned by, or on behalf of, a victim of abuse, a victim of crime, or an individual in an emergency.
(c)
If a local agency violates this section, a resident, tenant, owner, landlord, or other person may obtain the following:
(1)
A court order requiring the local agency to cease and desist the unlawful practice.
(2)
A court order rendering null and void any ordinance, rule, policy, or regulation that violates this section.
(3)
Other equitable relief as the court may deem appropriate.
(d)
This section preempts any local ordinance, rule, policy, or regulation insofar as it is inconsistent with this section, irrespective of the effective date of the ordinance, rule, policy, or regulation.
References
referencesCal. Civil Code - CIV § 1946.5.
referencesCal. Family Code - FAM § 6211.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 15610.07.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 236.1.
referencesCal. Civil Code - CIV § 1708.7.
referencesCal. Penal Code - PEN § 646.9.
referencesCal. Government Code - GOV § 261.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026