California Rental Acronym Glossary for Landlords

This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Acronyms below are common usage. Statute numbers, agency names, and local ordinances change. Verify before relying on any specific reference. Always consult a licensed California attorney for advice specific to your property.

If you own or manage California rental property, you spend a non-trivial part of your week deciphering acronyms. State statutes, federal agencies, county departments, city ordinances, and pamphlet sources all use their own shorthand. This glossary is the working list for landlords. Bookmark it.

Statutes and Codes

CCPCalifornia Code of Civil Procedure

Procedural rules for civil cases. CCP §1161 is the unlawful detainer statute (3-day notice to pay or quit, 30/60-day notices to terminate). Every California eviction notice cites CCP somewhere.

Civ CodeCalifornia Civil Code

Substantive landlord-tenant law. Habitability standards (§1941, 1941.1, 1942), notice to enter (§1954), security deposits (§1950.5), pest control disclosure (§1940.8), and many more.

HSCCalifornia Health and Safety Code

Building, health, and habitability rules. Smoke alarms (§13113.7), carbon monoxide alarms (§17926), mold disclosure (§26147), meth contamination (§25400.28).

B&PCalifornia Business and Professions Code

Real estate licensing, contractor licensing, advertising rules.

AB 1482Assembly Bill 1482, Tenant Protection Act of 2019

Statewide rent cap (CPI + 5%, max 10%) and just-cause eviction rules for most multifamily properties at least 15 years old. Applies on top of any local ordinance.

Federal

HUDU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Federal housing agency. Publishes Fair Housing rules, Section 8 / HCV vouchers, and the lead-based paint pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home."

EPAU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Issues lead-based paint regulations under 42 U.S.C. §4852d. Co-publishes the lead pamphlet with HUD.

FHAFederal Fair Housing Act

42 U.S.C. §3601. Federal anti-discrimination law for housing. Applied alongside California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

HCVHousing Choice Voucher (Section 8)

HUD-administered rental subsidy. Locally administered by Public Housing Authorities. CA prohibits "source of income" discrimination, so refusing a voucher is unlawful.

California Agencies

CRDCalifornia Civil Rights Department

Formerly DFEH. Enforces FEHA. Receives housing discrimination complaints.

FEHAFair Employment and Housing Act

California's anti-discrimination law. Broader protected classes than federal FHA, including source of income and immigration status.

DCBALos Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs

Administers the LA County Rent Stabilization Ordinance for unincorporated areas. Different from the City of Los Angeles LAHD.

DRECalifornia Department of Real Estate

Licenses real estate brokers and salespeople. Property managers acting for owners must be licensed if they handle leases or trust funds beyond a single property.

City of Los Angeles

LAHDLos Angeles Housing Department

The City of Los Angeles agency that enforces RSO, JCO, and habitability complaints. Runs SCEP inspections. Issues REAP orders.

LAMCLos Angeles Municipal Code

Citywide code. Rental rules live in §151 (RSO) and §151.30+ (JCO). Anti-harassment is §45.33.

RSORent Stabilization Ordinance (LAMC §151)

Rent caps and just-cause eviction rules for covered units (most multifamily built before October 1, 1978, with two or more units). Annual unit registration with LAHD required.

JCOJust Cause Ordinance (LAMC §151.30+)

Just-cause eviction rules that apply to all rentals in the City of Los Angeles, including units not subject to RSO rent caps. Eviction notices must cite a permitted just cause.

TAHOTenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (LAMC §45.33)

Prohibits landlord conduct intended to harass, coerce, or pressure a tenant into vacating. Pattern-of-delay repair behavior can trigger TAHO.

SCEPSystematic Code Enforcement Program

LAHD's proactive habitability inspection program. Covers rentals of two or more units. Roughly four-year inspection cycle. Funded by an annual fee on covered properties.

REAPRent Escrow Account Program

If you fail to fix SCEP violations, LAHD can place the property into REAP. Tenants pay rent into city-managed escrow at a reduced rate. Cloud on title. Administrative fees.

UMPUtility Maintenance Program

LAHD program covering utility-related violations (water service, gas, electric).

ULAMeasure ULA, "United to House LA"

2022 ballot measure imposing a transfer tax on LA City property sales over $5 million. Affects landlord exit strategy.

RACRent Adjustment Commission

Sets the annual allowable RSO rent increase for the City of Los Angeles, typically 3-8%, based on CPI.

West Hollywood

WHMCWest Hollywood Municipal Code

WHMC §17.52 is the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. WHMC §17.56.010 is the maintenance schedule (paint every 4 years, carpet/floor every 7, etc.).

NBSNeighborhood and Business Safety Division

West Hollywood code enforcement. Runs the proactive multifamily inspection program.

RSCRent Stabilization Commission

West Hollywood body that hears RSO petitions and disputes.

THPTenant Habitability Plan

Required filing with the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Division before construction or rehab work that will make a unit uninhabitable.

Santa Monica

SMMCSanta Monica Municipal Code

Citywide code. SMMC Chapter 13.02 (Property Maintenance) was amended April 28, 2026 to adopt Civil Code §1941.1 conditions as enforceable city violations.

SMRCBSanta Monica Rent Control Board

Administers the Santa Monica Rent Control Charter Amendment.

Notices, Service, and Court

UDUnlawful Detainer

The civil action a landlord files to evict a tenant after a notice expires. Governed by CCP §1161 et seq.

3-Day3-Day Notice to Pay or Quit (or to Perform Covenants or Quit)

CCP §1161(2). The standard notice for unpaid rent. Strict statutory format.

30/60-Day30-Day or 60-Day Notice to Terminate

CCP §1946 / §1946.1. No-fault termination of a periodic tenancy. Length depends on tenancy duration; just-cause limits apply under AB 1482 and local JCO.

24-Hour Notice24-Hour Notice of Intent to Enter

Civ Code §1954. Required before a landlord enters for inspection, repair, showings, or court order.

POSProof of Service

The signed declaration showing how, when, and on whom a notice was served. Posted-and-mailed, personally delivered, or substituted service.

NTQNotice to Quit

Generic shorthand for any pre-eviction notice. Includes 3-day, 30-day, and 60-day variants.

RFARequest for Admission

A discovery tool used in unlawful detainer cases.

Housing Programs

HCDCalifornia Department of Housing and Community Development

State agency. Funds affordable housing, sets state-level housing element rules.

PHAPublic Housing Authority

Local agency that administers Section 8 / HCV. In LA, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and the LA County Housing Authority (LACDA).

HACLAHousing Authority of the City of Los Angeles

Administers HCV vouchers and public housing in the City of Los Angeles.

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