San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance: Just Cause, Relocation Costs, and Owner Liability

San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance: A Landlord’s Operational Compliance Asset

By: Scott Engle — California Broker / Property Manager (San Diego County) Focus: Operational compliance, termination-notice controls, rent and registry audit workflows for residential rental assets Last updated: February 6, 2026

The San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance operates as a liability conversion framework, not a tenant-relations guideline. Once a tenancy falls under its coverage pursuant to San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 9, Article 8, ordinary ownership actions—terminating a tenancy, declining renewal, owner move-in, Substantial Remodel, or withdrawal from the rental market—become regulated acts with mandatory cash consequences and strict proof requirements.

Owners most often misjudge exposure by focusing on intent rather than Strict Compliance. The ordinance evaluates what can be proven, when required steps occurred, and whether registry and notice obligations were satisfied. Financial risk commonly begins at notice service, not at vacancy, making early mistakes disproportionately expensive.

Executive Summary

If a San Diego rental is covered by the Tenant Protection Ordinance and a tenancy ends without provable at-fault cause under SDMC §98.0702, Relocation Assistance becomes mandatory and termination enforceability depends on Strict Compliance.

• Liability can attach at notice service.
• Misclassification, delayed payment, or registry errors invalidate termination attempts.
• Even short delays materially reduce Net Operating Income (NOI) and asset value.

Operational Definitions (Semantic Logic)

• The San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance: A municipal tenant-protection law that conditions lawful termination on just-cause classification, mandatory notice language, registry compliance, and Relocation Assistance payments for no-fault terminations under SDMC §§98.0701–98.0707.
• Just Cause: A legally defined reason for ending a tenancy that determines whether Relocation Assistance is required and whether a termination notice is enforceable under SDMC §98.0702.
• No-Fault Termination: A just-cause category that triggers mandatory Relocation Assistance regardless of owner intent under SDMC §98.0704.
• Relocation Assistance: A cash payment owed to a tenant when a covered tenancy ends for no-fault reasons, in the amounts specified by SDMC §98.0705.
• Registry Compliance: A reporting obligation under SDMC §98.0706 that conditions the enforceability of termination notices.

Applicability and Coverage Determination

Applicability under the San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance determines whether an owner must prove just cause, pay Relocation Assistance, and comply with registry requirements. Coverage is not determined by owner belief.

Under SDMC §98.0701, applicability turns on objective criteria: whether the unit is distinct from the owner’s principal residence, whether the structure falls outside state-level exemptions (like AB 1482), and whether tenancy duration meets the ordinance threshold. Once the tenant has occupied the unit for the ordinance-defined minimum period, the ordinance governs. From that moment forward, terminating a tenancy without strict adherence to notice language, registry filing, and payment timing converts routine management action into enforceable liability.

Logic Flow:

• If the tenancy meets ordinance duration and disclosure conditions, the ordinance governs.
• If the ordinance governs and required notice language under SDMC §98.0703 is missing, the notice is defective at service.
• If a defective notice is served, liability exposure begins immediately.

Just-Cause Classification Risk

Just-cause classification determines whether Relocation Assistance is mandatory. Owners frequently label terminations as at-fault to avoid relocation payouts, relying on informal complaints or incomplete records. Without provable tenant breach meeting SDMC §98.0702 standards, the classification fails.

Logic Flow:

• If tenant breach cannot be documented to ordinance standards, the termination is no-fault.
• If a no-fault termination proceeds without Relocation Assistance, the notice is unenforceable.
• If enforcement continues after misclassification, damages escalate.

Relocation Assistance Timing

Relocation Assistance is a condition of lawful termination, not a post-vacancy courtesy. Under SDMC §98.0705, relocation assistance equals two or three months of the tenant’s actual rent (three months for seniors or tenants with disabilities) and must be paid no later than 15 calendar days after service of the termination notice.

Logic Flow:

• If a termination is no-fault, Relocation Assistance is mandatory.
• If Relocation Assistance is not paid within the ordinance-specified timeframe, termination enforceability fails.
• If enforceability fails, possession delay produces compounding financial loss.

Notice and Registry Enforcement Failures

Notice content and registry compliance function as enforcement gates. SDMC §98.0706 requires registration with the City (San Diego Housing Commission portal) within three business days of notice service. Missing registry filings, incorrect ordinance disclosures, or mismatched dates invalidate otherwise lawful terminations.

Logic Flow:

• If required registry actions are incomplete at notice service, enforcement fails.
• If enforcement fails, possession is delayed.
• If possession is delayed, vacancy loss begins immediately.

The Cost of Compliance Failure (San Diego Class B Asset)

Scenario: $3,200 monthly rent, 5.2% market cap rate

*Relocation is a one-time expense; notice errors cause recurring vacancy drag.

Audit Criteria

Before terminating a tenancy, verify these proof points using this Audit Checklist:

Jurisdiction & Neighborhood Relevance

Primary Jurisdiction: City of San Diego (CA DOJ compliance required) Governing Statutes: California Civil Code §1946.2, San Diego Municipal Code §98.0701 Impacted Sub-Markets: Mission Valley, North Park, Pacific Beach, Otay Mesa

Common Questions

• What happens if a notice is served without ordinance disclosures? The notice is void from the moment of service, and any subsequent legal action will fail.
• When does Relocation Assistance become owed? Immediately upon service of a no-fault notice.
• Can registry errors be corrected after notice service? Generally, no; the ordinance requires filing as a condition of the notice's validity.

Related Articles for San Diego Owners

• What San Diego Property Owners Must Track to Stay Compliant
• Why Property Managers Stop Communicating: A Risk Audit
• How to Switch Property Managers Without Losing Tenants

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