Barstow, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.040

Residential rental registration program

In Force
Verified 11/13/2026 · Next check 2/11/2027
BarstowInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

Barstow, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.040
(a) Purpose. This section establishes a residential rental unit registration program for the purpose of tracking ownership and outstanding sewer or trash debts of residential rental units within the city. It is intended as an aid in the preservation of the city's rental housing stock and is therefore in furtherance of the public health, safety and general welfare.
(b) New residential rental units. Each owner of property used as a residential rental unit shall complete a residential rental unit registration form within 15 days of the later of the following:
(1) Acquisition of such property; or
(2) Initial use of such property by that owner as a residential rental unit.
(c) Existing residential rental units. Each owner of property used as a residential rental unit on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section shall complete a residential rental unit registration form within 60 days of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section.
(d) Registration late fee. There will be no charge for residential rental units registered within time limits established by the ordinance codified in this chapter. If a property owner registers the residential rental unit after the time permitted by subsections (b), (c) and (f) of this section, a late fine of $25.00 per unit, per month shall be imposed.
(e) Procedure.
(1) Completed residential rental unit registration forms shall be filed with the city manager or his designee on a form provided by the city and shall include the following information:
a. The property owner name and, if not a natural person, the legal status of the entity and, if applicable, the state of formation or incorporation and the agent for service of process;
b. Contact information, including, current phone and mailing address, of person responsible for property; and
c. The date of acquisition of the property.
(2) The city manager or his designee shall approve a residential rental unit registration form unless:
a. The applicant has made one or more material misstatements in the application; or
b. There are unpaid utility charges currently owed the city for the property. In lieu of denying an application due to unpaid sewer or trash charges, the city manager or his designee may approve a residential rental unit registration form if the applicant submits a security deposit in an amount reasonably established by the city manager or his designee to ensure payment of charges for utility service to the property by the city.
(f) Registration renewal. Each property owner issued a residential rental unit registration form shall update the registration form within 30 days of any change in any information required by the city's application pursuant to subsection (e) of this section.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Barstow Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.040 establishes a mandatory registration program requiring owners of residential rental units to file registration forms with the city, disclosing ownership details and contact information. The program is designed to help the city track ownership and any outstanding sewer or trash debts tied to rental properties. Registrations must be kept current, with updates filed within 30 days of any change to the required information, and late registrations are subject to a $25 per unit, per month fine.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 13, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Barstow Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.040, compliant rental property owners register each unit within 15 days of acquiring a property or beginning to use it as a rental, using the form provided by the city manager's office. Operators generally ensure that any outstanding sewer or trash charges are resolved before submitting a registration, since unpaid utility balances can result in denial — though a security deposit may be accepted as an alternative. Keeping registration information current, including filing updates within 30 days of any ownership or contact changes, and registering on time helps avoid the $25 per unit, per month late fine.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Barstow Code of Ordinances ch. 5.90 § 5.90.040 requires that landlords register their rental units with the city, which means tenants can generally expect their rental property to appear in the city's registration records. If a tenant has reason to believe a landlord has not complied with this registration requirement, they may contact the city manager's office to inquire about a property's registration status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Barstow's local ordinances can help tenants understand how this registration program may be relevant to their housing situation.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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Related Rules

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LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
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STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUISANCE PREVENTION
§ 14.546
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES

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