Apple Valley, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 8.34 § 8.34.030
Definitions
Operative Text
Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all terms used in this Chapter which are defined in the California Health and Safety Code, Division 13, Part 1.5, Section 17920 et seq.; and the California Code of Regulations, Title 25, Chapter 1, Article 2, and the applicable articles adopted pursuant thereto, are used in this Chapter as so defined. (a) Multi-family housing shall include apartment houses, hotels and motels. (b) Dwelling unit shall mean any building or portion thereof, including a manufactured home or portion thereof, which contains living facilities, including provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation as required by the Uniform Building Code, for not more than one family, including domestic employees of such family. (c) Rental housing unit shall mean a dwelling unit which is rented, leased, or subleased or offered or intended to be offered for rent, lease, or sublease as a residence and shall not include a dwelling unit intended for accommodation of transients. (d) Apartment shall mean a rental dwelling unit. (e) Apartment house shall mean any building or portion thereof containing two or more apartments or rental dwelling units. (f) Motel/hotel shall mean a building or buildings each containing one or more guest rooms or dwelling units or combinations thereof designed, used, and intended wholly or part, for the accommodation of transients. A motel/hotel does not include any jail, hospital, asylum, sanitarium, orphanage, prison, or other building in which human beings are housed and detained under legal restraint. (g) Premises include all buildings located on contiguous parcels of land under common ownership. (h) Property maintenance certificate is a certificate issued to owners of rental housing units which allows them to have tenants and/or clients occupy the buildings. The Town of Apple Valley will issue this certificate to owners and operators after said facilities pass appropriate inspections conducted by the Town. (i) Single family residential rental housing shall include any and all residential units other than multi-family units, hotels and motels, which are not owner-occupied. (j) Short-term rental shall mean any dwelling unit in which overnight accommodations are provided to guests for compensation that is rented, leased, or subleased for 30 consecutive days or less.
Apple Valley Code of Ordinances ch. 8.34 § 8.34.030 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Chapter 8.34's rental housing regulations. Key terms such as "dwelling unit," "rental housing unit," "apartment house," and "short-term rental" are given specific meanings that may differ from everyday usage — for example, a short-term rental is defined as any dwelling unit rented for 30 consecutive days or less. The section also introduces the "property maintenance certificate," a Town-issued credential that authorizes owners to have tenants occupy their rental buildings. These definitions govern how all other provisions in the chapter are interpreted and applied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Apple Valley should familiarize themselves with the precise definitions set out in ch. 8.34 § 8.34.030, as these terms determine which properties and arrangements fall under the chapter's requirements. Compliant operators typically ensure they hold a valid property maintenance certificate — issued by the Town of Apple Valley following an inspection — before allowing tenants or clients to occupy any rental housing unit. Operators also generally take care to distinguish between rental housing units (intended for non-transient residents) and motel/hotel accommodations or short-term rentals (30 days or fewer), since each category may carry different regulatory obligations under the chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Apple Valley benefit from understanding the definitions in ch. 8.34 § 8.34.030, because these terms determine whether a particular living arrangement qualifies as a "rental housing unit" or "dwelling unit" subject to the chapter's protections. For instance, a unit rented for more than 30 consecutive days is generally not classified as a short-term rental, which may affect what rights and obligations apply. Tenants who believe their housing situation is being misclassified or that a required property maintenance certificate has not been obtained can look into filing a concern with the Town of Apple Valley or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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