Chapter 14.16
EVICTIONS
Sections:
14.16.040 Failure to institute action.
14.16.010 Eviction.
A. A landlord may, or shall, if required by Section 14.16.030, give notice required by law and bring an action to recover possession of a rental unit upon the happening of any of the following events:
1. The tenant is using the rental unit, or allowing the rental unit to be used, for illegal drug dealing activities or purposes.
The term “illegal drug dealing activities or purposes” includes, but is not limited to, possession for sale or sale of illegal drugs from the rental unit;
2. The tenant is committing or permitting to exist a “drug-related nuisance” in the rental unit or the appurtenances thereof, or the common areas of the complex containing the rental unit.
B. The term “drug-related nuisance” includes, but is not limited to, any activity commonly associated with illegal drug dealing such as complaints of noise, steady traffic day and night to a particular unit, barricaded units or sighting of weapons, brought to the attention of the landlord by other tenants, persons within the community, or law enforcement agencies. (Prior code § 12-1.401)
14.16.020 Notification.
The landlord shall state the reason for the eviction in the written notice of termination served on the tenant pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1946.
When the termination of tenancy is for any ground set forth in Section 14.16.010, the landlord shall file with the city attorney a declaration in a form prescribed by him setting forth the reasons for the termination with specific facts to permit a determination of the date, place, witnesses and circumstances concerning the reason. (Prior code § 12-1.402)
14.16.030 Legal proceedings.
An action under this chapter to recover possession of a rental unit shall be commenced by the landlord within sixty days after notice and request of the district attorney, city attorney, or chief of police, in a letter sent certified mail with a return receipt requested, notifying the landlord of the ground or grounds specified in Section 14.16.020. (Prior code § 12-1.403)
14.16.040 Failure to institute action.
If a landlord does not commence an action when required under the provisions of this chapter to recover possession of the rental unit, the district attorney, city attorney, or chief of police may file an action to evict the tenant from the premises of the rental unit and name the landlord as a defendant in the action if it can be established that the landlord aided or acquiesced to the illegal activity or nuisance described in Section 14.16.010. If the landlord has been named as a defendant in the action, the court may impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars against the landlord for his or her failure to comply with this section. (Prior code § 12-1.404)