Cal. Civ. Code § 17975
California Health and Safety Code
Operative Text
(a) Any tenant who is displaced or subject to displacement from a residential rental unit as a result of an order to vacate or an order requiring the vacation of a residential unit by a local enforcement agency as a result of a violation so extensive and of such a nature that the immediate health and safety of the residents is endangered, shall be entitled to receive relocation benefits from the owner as specified in this article. The local enforcement agency shall determine the eligibility of tenants for benefits pursuant to this article. (b) For purposes of this section, “residential rental unit” includes a unit rented by a tenant for human habitation, regardless of the zoning designation or approved uses of the building, that is located in a building or portion thereof that is deemed or found to be a substandard building.
California Health & Safety Code § 17975 establishes that when a local enforcement agency issues an order to vacate a residential rental unit because violations are so serious that residents' immediate health and safety are endangered, the affected tenants become entitled to relocation benefits paid by the property owner. The local enforcement agency—not the tenant or landlord—determines which tenants qualify for these benefits. The rule applies broadly to any unit rented for human habitation, even if the building's zoning designation or approved use would not ordinarily classify it as residential, as long as the building has been found to be substandard.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17975, property owners bear the financial responsibility for relocation benefits when a local enforcement agency orders tenants to vacate due to health- and safety-endangering violations. Operators who maintain their properties in compliance with habitability and building standards generally avoid the circumstances that trigger this obligation. When an enforcement agency does make an eligibility determination, compliant owners cooperate with that process and fulfill any resulting relocation benefit obligations as specified in the article.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17975 gives tenants who are displaced—or facing displacement—by an enforcement agency's vacate order a right to relocation benefits from their landlord when the underlying violations endanger immediate health and safety. Eligibility is determined by the local enforcement agency, so tenants in this situation can contact that agency directly to understand whether they qualify. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can also help explain what the relocation benefits cover and what general options exist if an owner does not fulfill their obligations under this provision.
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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