Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.3
California Civil Code
Operative Text
(a) A public entity shall not, by ordinance, regulation, policy, or administrative action implementing any ordinance, regulation, policy, or administrative action, compel a landlord or any agent of the landlord to make any inquiry, compile, disclose, report, or provide any information, prohibit offering or continuing to offer, accommodations in the property for rent or lease, or otherwise take any action regarding or based on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of residential rental property. (b) A landlord, or any agent of the landlord, shall not do any of the following: (1) Make any inquiry regarding or based on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of residential rental property. (2) Require that any tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of the rental property disclose or make any statement, representation, or certification concerning his or her immigration or citizenship status. (3) Disclose to any person or entity information regarding or relating to the immigration or citizenship status of any tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant of the rental property for the purpose of, or with the intent of, harassing or intimidating a tenant, prospective tenant, occupant, or prospective occupant, retaliating against a tenant or occupant for the exercise of his or her rights, influencing a tenant or occupant to vacate a dwelling, or recovering possession of the dwelling. (c) This section does not prohibit a landlord from doing any of the following: (1) Complying with any legal obligation under federal law, including, but not limited to, any legal obligation under any federal government program that provides for rent limitations or rental assistance to a qualified tenant, or a subpoena, warrant, or other order issued by a court. (2) Requesting information or documentation necessary to determine or verify the financial qualifications of a prospective tenant, or to determine or verify the identity of a prospective tenant or prospective occupant. (d) For purposes of this section, both of the following shall apply: (1) “Public entity” includes the state, a city, county, city and county, district, public authority, public agency, and any other political subdivision or public corporation in the state. (2) “State” includes any state office, department, division, bureau, board, or commission and the Trustees of the California State University and the California State University.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.3 bars both landlords and local public entities from using immigration or citizenship status as a basis for rental decisions, inquiries, or disclosures. Landlords may not ask about, require disclosure of, or share information about a tenant's or applicant's immigration status for purposes of harassment, retaliation, or pressuring someone to vacate. The law still permits landlords to verify financial qualifications and identity, and to comply with valid federal legal obligations such as court orders.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.3, compliant operators avoid asking applicants or tenants about immigration or citizenship status and do not require any related disclosures during the application or tenancy. Landlords also refrain from sharing such information with third parties for retaliatory or coercive purposes. Permissible screening remains focused on financial qualification and identity verification, and compliance with federal court orders or federally mandated program requirements is still allowed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1940.3 gives tenants and applicants the right to be free from landlord inquiries, disclosure demands, or retaliatory use of their immigration or citizenship status. If a landlord appears to violate this provision, tenants can document the conduct and explore options such as filing a complaint with a local rent board, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or raising the violation as a defense in a housing proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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