FAQs • Citrus Heights, CA • CivicEngage

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Rental Housing Inspection Program

A rental property is any type of home or dwelling unit that is not occupied by the owner of record.

Rental properties are defined as "residential property in which the owner does not reside." This means a house could be occupied by an owner’s relative or friend who is paying less than market value; providing house-sitting services; paying utilites only or paying no rent at all and still be considered a rental.

2. Are any properties exempt from the RHIP?

Yes. Properties that are:

Newly constructed within the last five years
Subject to verifiable, routine, periodic inspections by another government agency. Proof of the inspections will be needed.
Units that are occupied by the owner of record
Units occupied by a family member within one generation of the owner of record

To be considered for exemption from the RHIP you must complete a RHIP Application for Exemption and submit the required documentation.

3. What if I don't collect rent for this property?: Any non-owner occupied property will be considered a rental property. Rent is defined as "means to grant the possession or enjoyment of, in exchange for money or any other consideration." (CHMC 50-244) This means that a house could be occupied by an owner’s relative or friend who is paying less than market value; providing house-sitting services; paying utilities only or no rent at all and still be considered a rental.

4. Do I need to register my rental property every year?

Yes. Annual registration, including payment of the annual registration fee is a requirement of the program. Registration is complete once 1) a completed registration form is provided to the City and 2) the annual registration fee and housing stock fees is paid. (CHMC 50-247)

Registrations are valid for a period of one year or until within 30 days of any change in owner or local contact representative information.

5. I own more than one rental. Do I need to pay a separate registration fee per property?: Yes. The annual registration fee is per rental property.

6. Will I be notified of the inspection?: RHIP will provide written notice of the date and time of inspection to the owner and any local contact representative. This notice shall be sent by mail to the address provided on the most recent annual registration form at least 30 days in advance. A separate notice will be sent to the tenants at the rental property address.

7. What if violations are caused by the tenant?: All violations are the responsibility of the rental property owner. If the tenant has caused the violations, the RHIP will work with the owner and the tenant to achieve compliance; however, the owner is ultimately responsible to bring the rental property into compliance.

8. Can a tenant refuse an inspection?: Yes. Only if there are no known substandard living conditions or exigent circumstances.

9. What services do the fees pay for?: State Law requires the City to maintain certain health and safety standards. Fees collected are used to fund the program that responds to violations of those standards. The increased fees directly fund the Rental Housing Inspection Program (RHIP)

10. What are the program fees?

RHIP Annual Registration Fees
Registration Fee
Single Family Residence	$65
Duplex-Fourplex (2-4 units)	$105
5 or more units on a single property	$140

Housing Stock Fee
1 - 4 units	$27 per unit
5 - 99 units	$20 per unit
100 or more units	$17 per unit

The Housing Stock Fee and the annual registration fee for the Rental Housing Inspection Program was approved by City Council Resolution #2018-112. Effective January 1, 2019 new fees are based on the number of rental units per property and are billed annually through Consolidated Utilities Billing and Services.

11. How will the RHIP fees be collected?: The HSF and the annual registration fee will be collected by the County's Consolidated Utility Billing and Service (CUBS) at the beginning of each calendar year. The county will then forward the fees to the City.

12. Is the Housing Stock Fee (HSF) per rental unit or per rental property?: The Housing Stock Fee (HSF) is per rental unit. If you own a duplex, you would need to pay one annual registration fee and 2 Housing Stock Fees. For more information about the Housing Stock Fee, click here.

13. Can the program fees be passed on to the tenants?: Yes. The RHIP has no authority to demand the rental property owner not pass the fees on to the tenant. However, the cost of the program is a max of $6.66 per month for a single unit rental property.