Source: California Legislative Information website, http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
A brief summary of some recently passed laws covering topics such as
ADUs being sold as condominiums, disclosures, remote online notarization, and more.
Source: California Legislative Information website, http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
AB-968: Single-family residential property: disclosures.
Flippers of residential 1 to 4 properties must disclose recent repairs and renovations to the property in addition to all other
existing disclosures. Applies to properties that are resold within 18 months of closing. Standard TDS categories, exemptions,
and cancellation rights apply. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB968
AB-1033: Accessory dwelling units: local ordinances: separate sale or conveyance.
Allows local agencies to adopt ordinances to allow the separate conveyance of an ADU from the primary residence as
a condominium.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1033
SB-976: Accessory dwelling units: owner-occupancy requirements.
Makes permanent the existing prohibition on local government’s ability to require owner-occupancy on a parcel containing an
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU).
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB976
AB-12: Tenancy: security deposits.
Landlords may collect no more than one month’s rent for either furnished or unfurnished units in addition to the first month’s
rent. There is an exception for small landlords, defined as a landlord who is a natural person or LLC and owns no more than two
residential rental properties with no more than a total of four units offered for rent.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB12
Below are summaries of new state laws that may affect real estate licensees and applicants.
Unless otherwise noted, the laws take effect January 1, 2024.
SB-696: Notaries public.
This law establishes a framework for licensed California notaries to conduct remote online notarizations (RON), including
provisions for the licensure of remote online notarization platforms by the Secretary of State and requirements relating to
data security and privacy in online notarial transactions. California notaries will be authorized to perform RON once the
Secretary of State certifies the technology project (but no later than January 1, 2030).
However, California will provide clear recognition of notarial acts performed by persons outside of California if performed in
conformity with the laws of that jurisdiction beginning January 1, 2024.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB696
SB-890: Property taxation: change of ownership and base year value transfers.
Prop 19 cleanup: Applies Prop 19 to subsequent transfers of ownership interests in a mobile home park or floating home
marina following tenant acquisition.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB890
AB-434: Housing element: notice of violation.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development is now responsible for providing notification of housing
law violations in 13 additional categories of housing law including local government ministerial approval, permit denial, ADU
conveyance, commercial to residential use permitting, ministerial approval of housing splits and affordable housing.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB434
SB-469: Housing: publicly funded low-rent housing projects.
Adds exclusions to the requirement that any publicly funded low rent housing project receive voter approval
by the people in the city or county in which the project will be situated.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB469
AB-584: California Coastal Act of 1976: coastal development: emergency waiver.
The California Coastal Act previously exempted improvements of $25,000 or less if necessary to protect life and public
property from imminent danger. This exemption limit is now increased to $125,000 which amount will be adjusted annually
for inflation pursuant to the consumer price index.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB584
AB-323: Density Bonus Law: purchase of density bonus units by nonprofit housing organizations:
civil actions.
Limits the ability of developers to sell deed-restricted units intended for owner-occupancy to purchasers that would rent
the unit.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB323
Source: California Legislative Information website, http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
AB-821: Planning and zoning: general plan: zoning ordinance: conflicts.
Requires a local agency to approve developments that are consistent with its general plan even if not consistent with the
applicable zoning ordinance, or to amend the zoning ordinance to make it consistent with the general plan within 180 days.
Provides a legal remedy to ensure compliance.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB821
SB-423: Land use: streamlined housing approvals: multifamily housing developments.
Ministerial approval process under SB 35 is extended by 10 years to sunset in 2036 and expanded to apply to cities in coastal
zones and to cities without a compliant housing element per HCD.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB423
AB-1485: Housing element: enforcement: Attorney General.
The Attorney General has an unconditional right to intervene without court permission in lawsuits brought by third parties for
alleged violations of state housing laws.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1485
AB-684: Land use: streamlined approval processes: development projects of 10 or fewer residential
units on urban lots under 5 acres.
Requires a local government to ministerially approve, without discretionary review or a hearing, a parcel map or a tentative and
final map for a housing development project where the proposed subdivision will result in 10 or fewer parcels and the housing
development project on the lot proposed to be subdivided will contain 10 or fewer units.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB684
AB-1620: Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act: permanent disabilities: comparable or smaller units.
Allows a jurisdiction with local rent control to require an owner of a rent-controlled unit to allow a tenant with a permanent
physical disability to relocate to an available comparable or smaller unit located on an accessible floor of the property and retain
their same rental rate.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1620
AB-1764: Housing omnibus.
Option to provide receipts for tenant screening fees by email when both landlord and tenant agree to it first.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1764
SB-267: Credit history of persons receiving government rent subsidies.
Landlord must Landlord must offer “ability to pay” in lieu of reliance on credit history and reports in assessing a tenant’s rental
application when prospective tenant is receiving a government rent subsidy such as a Section 8 rental voucher. offer “ability to
pay” in lieu of reliance on credit history and reports in assessing a tenant’s rental application when prospective tenant is receiving
a government rent subsidy such as a Section 8 rental voucher.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB267
SB-712: Tenancy: personal micromobility devices.
SB 712 prohibits a landlord from prohibiting a tenant from owning personal micromobility devices or from storing and recharging
up to one personal micromobility device in their dwelling unit for each person occupying the unit, subject to certain conditions
and exceptions.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB712
AB-1418: Tenancy: local regulations: contact with law enforcement or criminal convictions.
Prohibits local ordinances that penalize tenants and landlords for various types of law enforcement contacts, i.e., local “crime
free” rental housing programs and ordinances.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1418
SB-567: Termination of tenancy: no-fault just causes: gross rental rate increases.
This law tightens up the requirements for a landlord to terminate a tenancy under the Tenant Protection Act (i.e., California
statewide rent cap and just cause eviction law) for no-fault evictions based upon owner move-in or substantial remodeling.
Additionally, an owner who violates the TPA by improperly terminating a tenancy or by raising rent beyond the maximum
amount is liable for actual damages, reasonable attorney’s fees and costs (at the discretion of the judge), up to three times actual
damages for willful violations and punitive damages. The Attorney General et al is authorized to seek injunctive relief.
EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2024
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB567
AB-1317: Unbundled parking.
Requires landlords to unbundle parking from the price of rent for the life of the property. The agreement to lease the parking
spot shall not be included in a rental agreement or addendum. “Unbundled parking” means the practice of selling or leasing
parking spaces separate from the lease of the residential property. EFFECTIVE JANUARY 25, 2025
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1317
SB-478: Consumers Legal Remedies Act: advertisements.
Makes it an unlawful business practice to advertise, display, or offer a price for a good or service that does not include all
mandatory fees or charges (other than taxes or fees imposed by a government and postage or carriage charges that will be
reasonably and actually incurred to ship the physical good to the consumer). EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB478
SB-33: Commercial financing: disclosures.
Removes a sunset provision that applies to a requirement to disclose the cost of a commercial financing transaction expressed
as an annualized rate. The requirement was scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2024. By removing the sunset, SB 33 requires
commercial financing providers to provide the specified disclosure indefinitely.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB33
Source: California Legislative Information website, http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
AB-225: Real property: environmental hazards booklet.
Updates the state’s Homeowners Guide to Environmental Hazards booklet to add, as resources permit, three new chapters
related to wildfires, climate change, and sea level rise to provide consumers with valuable information regarding these risks.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB225
AB-1280: Fire hazard severity zones: disclosures.
Expands the disclosures required by the Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement (NHD) to include High as well as Very High Fire
Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) by explicitly highlighting three new subcategories of FHSZs. If the property is located in any of
these zones, the defensible space and (for properties built before 2010) fire hardening disclosures would then be required.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1280
SB-553: Occupational safety: workplace violence: restraining orders and workplace violence
prevention plan.
Requires employers to establish, implement and maintain an effective workplace violence prevention plan (WVPP) that includes,
among other elements, maintenance of incident logs, provision of specified trainings, and conduct of periodic reviews of the
plan. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB553
SB-505: Property insurance.
SB 505 would require the association to develop and implement a similar clearinghouse program for commercial policies and will
require the association to comply with privacy statutes and regulations, as specified, pertaining to the information collected in
both of the clearinghouse programs. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB505
SB-699: Contracts in restraint of trade.
Strengthens and clarifies current law against noncompetition agreements by making them unenforceable even if signed
out of state; prohibiting an employer from attempting their enforcement; prohibiting an employer from entering into a void
noncompetition agreement; and providing damages and enforcement mechanisms against employers that do any of the above.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB699
AB-1076: Contracts in restraint of trade:
noncompete agreements.
Codifies existing case law by specifying that the prohibition on noncompete agreements is to be broadly construed to void
noncompete agreements or clauses in the employment context no matter how narrowly tailored unless they satisfy specified
exceptions. Additionally provides that a violation of the prohibition on noncompete agreements in employment constitutes
unfair competition.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1076
SB-71: Jurisdiction: small claims and limited civil case.
Small claims limit increased from $10,000 to $12,500 for natural persons among other limit increases.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB71
SB-602: Trespass.
Allows property owners to maintain a “no trespass” letter on file with local law enforcement for up to one year or for a time
determined by local ordinance.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB602
SB 537: Short-term lodging: advertising: rates.
Prohibits a place of short-term lodging, as defined, from advertising, displaying, or offering a room rate that does not include all
fees or charges required to stay at the short-term lodging, except government-imposed taxes and fees. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2024
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB537
SB-644: Hotel and private residence rental reservations: cancellation: refunds.
Requires short-term rentals (or a hosting platform, hotel, or third-party booking service) to allow a consumer to cancel a
reservation within 24 hours without penalty if made at least 72 hours or more before the time of check-in and to have the funds
refunded to the original form of payment.
For more info: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB644
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