Cal. Civ. Code § 17975.2
California Health and Safety Code
Operative Text
The relocation payment shall be made available by the owner or designated agent to the tenant in each residential unit and shall be a sum equal to two months of the established fair market rent for the area as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to Section 1437f of Title 42 of the United States Code.In addition, the relocation payment shall include an amount, as determined by the local enforcement agency, sufficient for utility service deposits. The relocation benefits shall be paid by the owner or designated agent in addition to the return, as required by law, of any security deposits held by the owner. The relocation benefits shall be payable on a per residential unit basis.
Under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17975.2, when relocation benefits are triggered, the required payment to a tenant consists of two components: an amount equal to two months of the HUD-established fair market rent for the area, plus an additional sum determined by the local enforcement agency to cover utility service deposits. These relocation benefits are separate from and on top of any security deposit the owner is already required to return by law. The payment is calculated and owed on a per-unit basis, meaning each affected residential unit is entitled to its own full payment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17975.2, a compliant owner or designated agent makes the full relocation payment available to the tenant of each affected residential unit — not as a single lump sum across a building, but individually per unit. Operators generally confirm the current HUD fair market rent figure for their area and coordinate with the local enforcement agency to determine the correct utility deposit component before disbursing funds. The relocation payment is treated as entirely distinct from any security deposit return obligation, meaning both must be fulfilled independently.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17975.2 establishes that eligible tenants are entitled to a relocation payment covering two months of HUD fair market rent for the area plus a utility deposit amount set by the local enforcement agency — and this is owed on top of any security deposit the owner must already return. If a relocation payment has not been made available as required, tenants may have grounds to raise that failure as a violation through the local enforcement agency or as a defense in relevant proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations in your area can help clarify how § 17975.2 applies and what enforcement paths exist locally.
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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