Cal. Civ. Code § 17984
California Health and Safety Code
Operative Text
Neither an enforcement agency, any of its officers, nor any city or county for which an enforcement agency may act, is liable for costs in any action or proceeding that the enforcement agency may commence pursuant to this article.
California Health & Safety Code § 17984 establishes that enforcement agencies, their officers, and the cities or counties they represent cannot be held responsible for paying costs in legal actions or proceedings they initiate under this article. This is a liability-limiting rule that shields government actors from cost awards when they bring enforcement actions. It does not address the merits of any underlying housing violation claim, only the financial exposure of the governmental party.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17984, when an enforcement agency commences an action or proceeding against a property, the agency itself is insulated from any award of costs — meaning a property owner or manager generally cannot recover costs from the agency even if the proceeding resolves in the owner's favor. Operators facing enforcement actions should be aware that this provision removes one potential avenue of financial recourse against the government. Keeping thorough records of compliance efforts remains a standard practice for property managers navigating agency-initiated proceedings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17984 is primarily a rule about government liability rather than tenant rights, but it is relevant context for tenants to understand: enforcement agencies that act on housing complaints do so without fear of being assessed costs by the opposing party. This means agencies may be more willing to initiate proceedings when violations are reported. Tenants who believe housing code violations exist can generally file complaints with their local enforcement agency, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain how the enforcement process works in a given jurisdiction.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.