City of Salinas Just Cause Eviction and Tenant Protection Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2682)
On September 24, 2024, the Salinas City Council adopted comprehensive tenant protection ordinances consisting of the following four (4) ordinances, which became operative on January 1, 2025:
- The Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which limits annual rent increases;
- The Just Cause Eviction and Tenant Protection Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2682), which restricts evictions to specified at-fault and no-fault grounds and requires relocation assistance for no-fault evictions;
- The Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance, which prohibits landlords from using coercive or retaliatory tactics to force tenants to vacate; and
- The Rental Registry and Program Administration Ordinance, which establishes the administrative framework and oversight necessary to implement and enforce the tenant protection program.
The City developed these ordinances as an integrated package, purportedly to address rising housing costs, displacement, and housing instability. Together, they are designed to work in tandem to regulating rent increases, limiting unjust evictions, preventing tenant harassment, and providing enforcement and administrative mechanisms to ensure compliance and protect housing stability for Salinas renters.
In this article, we will review the Just Cause Eviction and Tenant ProtectionOrdinance (“Ordinance 2682”) and look at the key differences between it and the statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019.
Summary of City of Salinas Just Cause Eviction and Tenant Protection Ordinance
Ordinance 2682 applies to most residential rental units in the City of Salinas (the “City”), with exemptions for certain owner-occupied properties, transient lodging, dormitories, and shared housing.
The Ordinance 2682 requires landlords to have either an at-fault or no-fault just cause before terminating a tenancy. At-fault causes include nonpayment of rent, lease violations, nuisance, criminal activity, and refusal to provide lawful access. Unlike state law, Ordinance 2682 requires landlords to provide written warnings and opportunities to cure many violations before pursuing eviction and includes protections against eviction due to the addition of family members within legal occupancy limits.
For no-fault evictions, Ordinance 2682 places strict limits on owner move-in and substantial-remodel evictions. Owners must meet detailed residency requirements, and tenants displaced by repairs or demolition may receive temporary housing options and rights to return. Landlords must also provide extensive notices and demonstrate good-faith reasons for termination.
A key feature is relocation assistance. Tenants displaced through no-fault evictions are entitled to relocation payments equal to three (3) months of actual rent. If the unit is re-rented within five (5) years, eligible displaced tenants receive a right of first refusal to return at substantially the same rent and lease terms. Ordinance 2682 also regulates buyout agreements and requires landlords to provide disclosures regarding tenant rights.
Ordinance 2682 is enforced through strong tenant remedies. Violations can serve as a defense to eviction actions, and tenants may recover damages, attorney’s fees, and injunctive relief. The City may also pursue enforcement actions, and landlords are prohibited from retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights under Ordinance 2682.
Comparison With California’s Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482)
Ordinance 2682 provides stronger protections than AB 1482 through the imposition of stricter requirements for owner move-in and remodel evictions, including occupancy obligations, vacancy restrictions, and limitations on multiple owner move-in evictions within the same property. State law generally allows these evictions with fewer conditions.
The largest difference is relocation assistance. AB 1482 requires one (1) month’s rent (or a rent waiver), while Ordinance 2682 requires three (3) months of actual rent and grants displaced tenants with a right of first refusal if the property is rented again within five (5) years.
Ordinance 2682 also adds procedural requirements absent from AB 1482, including filing eviction notices with the City Attorney, mandatory tenant-rights disclosures, multilingual notices, and detailed buyout regulations. Enforcement is broader as well, allowing affirmative defenses, enhanced damages, attorney’s fees, and city enforcement authority. As a result, Ordinance 2682 establishes substantially stronger tenant protections than the statewide baselines under AB 1482.