If the repair is yours to pay
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Default rule and exceptions
California bars a landlord from showing, renting, or leasing a vacant unit it knows has a current bed bug infestation, and requires a standardized bed-bug educational notice to all tenants; once notice/visibility of an infestation exists, the landlord must act, including reporting pest-control findings to tenants in writing within 2 business days.
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Not show, rent, or lease a vacant unit known to have a current bed bug infestation; provide bed-bug education notice; report pest-control findings in writing within 2 business days of receipt. |
| Tenant | Report suspected infestations to the landlord; the landlord has no inspection duty absent notice or a visible infestation. |
| Exceptions | The law creates no duty on the landlord to inspect for bed bugs absent notice of a suspected or actual infestation. |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 27, 2026.
A landlord shall not show, rent, or lease to a prospective tenant any vacant dwelling unit that the landlord knows has a current bed bug infestation... This section does not impose a duty on a landlord to inspect... if the landlord has no notice of a suspected or actual bed bug infestation.
The landlord shall notify the tenants of those units inspected by the pest control operator... of the pest control operator's findings. The notification shall be in writing and made within two business days of receipt of the pest control operator's findings.
City rules rest on state law. Read California's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for rental: bedbugs/pests in Statewide, CA?
The landlord. Not show, rent, or lease a vacant unit known to have a current bed bug infestation; provide bed-bug education notice; report pest-control findings in writing within 2 business days of receipt.
Are there exceptions in Statewide, CA?
The law creates no duty on the landlord to inspect for bed bugs absent notice of a suspected or actual infestation.
What is this based on for Statewide, CA?
This verdict is sourced to California Civil Code §1954.602: Bed Bug Infestations and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- California Civil Code §1954.602: Bed Bug Infestationsstatute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
- California Civil Code §1954.605: Bed Bug Infestations, notice of findingsstatute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-27
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