California Criminal & credit history rules

Can a landlord deny a tenant for criminal or credit history in California?

California FEHA fair-housing regulations bar landlords from using arrests that did not lead to conviction, sealed/expunged/dismissed convictions, juvenile adjudications, or a "blanket ban" on all people with a criminal record. Adverse action based on a conviction must rest on a directly related conviction tied to a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest (nature, severity, and time elapsed matter). Statute text: "It is unlawful for a person to: (1) Seek, consider, use, or take an adverse action based on criminal history information about any arrest that has not resulted in a criminal conviction; ... (5) Implement a "blanket ban" or categorical exclusion practice that takes adverse action against all individuals with a criminal record regardless of whether the criminal conviction is directly related to a demonstrable risk to the identified substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest or purpose." Credit reporting lookbacks and FCRA/CCRAA notice rules also apply.

Verified Source: 2 C.C.R. §§ 12265, 12266, 12269 (FEHA housing regs, Art. 24) · last checked 2026-10-16