Mendota, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 8.28 § 8.28.030
Definitions
Operative Text
Notwithstanding any other provision in the Mendota Municipal Code, for purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: "City" shall mean the city of Mendota and/or any agent hired to implement this article. "Code" shall mean the Mendota Municipal Code unless otherwise specified. "Director" shall mean the city manager, or his or her designee. "Health and safety standards" shall mean the standards set forth in California Civil Code 1941.1. "Owner" means the person or entity identified and listed as having title by the latest property tax assessment roll, maintained by the Fresno County Assessor. "Property" or "residential rental property" means any lot or parcel of land containing residential rental units, and all improvements thereon, including common areas. "Residential rental unit" means any structure or part of a structure that is used or may be used by one or more persons as a home, residence, dwelling, or sleeping place for longer than thirty (30) days, including single family dwellings, duplexes, triplexes, or multi-family (four units or more) residential buildings, or the residential component of any mixed-uses, which is not an owner occupied unit, including rooming houses, boarding houses, apartment units, condominium units, and single room occupancies, but excluding: (1) mobile home parks; (2) any dwelling unit in a building that is properly registered pursuant to Chapter 8.30 of this code; (3) hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts used for transient lodging; (4) any rental units in a state licensed hospital, hospice, community care facility, intermediate care facility, or nursing home; (5) rental housing units owned, managed or operated by an educational, religious, or medical institution, or by a third party for an educational, religious, or medical institution, when units are used for the sole purpose of housing employees, students, clergy, patients, or others directly related to the operation or service of the institution; and (6) any temporary structure illegally established or inhabited that does not comply with the provisions of Title 15 of this code and that qualifies as a public nuisance pursuant to any of the subsections of Section 8.20.050 of this code. "Tenant's affirmative obligations" shall mean the standards set forth in California Civil Code 1941.2. An inspector's determination that a tenant is or is not in substantial violation of tenant's affirmative obligations, or the cause of the existence of a dilapidation or violation, or interferes substantially with the owner's obligation to effect necessary maintenance or repairs is not intended as evidentiary proof of the condition of the unit, and shall be used only for purposes of implementing and enforcing this article.
Section 8.28.030 of the Mendota Code of Ordinances establishes the working definitions that govern the city's residential rental inspection program. Key terms—such as "owner," "residential rental unit," and "health and safety standards"—are given specific meanings that may differ from everyday usage or other parts of the municipal code. Notably, the definition of "residential rental unit" is broad, covering single-family homes through large apartment buildings, but it carves out several categories, including mobile home parks, transient lodging, and certain institutional housing. These definitions set the interpretive boundaries for all other requirements in Chapter 8.28.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mendota Code § 8.28.030, property owners are identified by reference to the Fresno County Assessor's latest tax roll, so operators whose ownership information is outdated in county records should be aware that the city may rely on that record for enforcement purposes. The definition of "residential rental unit" is intentionally broad, and operators of rooming houses, single-family rentals, condominiums, and mixed-use buildings with residential components generally fall within the chapter's scope unless a specific exclusion applies. Compliant operators typically confirm whether their property type is covered or excluded before assuming the chapter's requirements do or do not apply to them.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8.28.030 defines the types of housing covered by Mendota's residential rental inspection program, which is relevant to tenants seeking to understand whether their unit falls under Chapter 8.28 protections. The provision also clarifies that an inspector's finding about a tenant's compliance with California Civil Code 1941.2 obligations is not treated as formal evidentiary proof of a unit's condition, but is used only for program implementation and enforcement. Tenants who have questions about whether their housing type is covered, or how an inspector's determination may affect them, may wish to contact the city of Mendota or consult a local tenant-rights organization for general information.
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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