Montebello, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 9.70 § 9.70.030
Definitions
Operative Text
Wherever they appear in this chapter, the following defined terms shall have the meanings provided in this section, unless it is apparent from their context that a different meaning is intended: "City" means the city of Montebello. "Housing Services" means all services provided by the landlord related to the use or occupancy of a rental unit, including but not limited to, insurance, repairs, replacement, maintenance, painting, utilities, heat, water, elevator service, laundry facilities, recreational areas and/or pools, janitorial service, refuse removal, furnishings, parking, storage, and security services. "Landlord" means an owner, lessor, or sublessor who receives or is entitled to receive rent of the use and occupancy of any rental unit or portion thereof, and the representative, agent, or successor of such owner, lessor, or sublessor. For purposes of this chapter, a landlord does not include an individual whose primary residence is the same rental unit as the tenant. "Notice of Termination" means the written notice from a landlord to a tenant informing the tenant of the termination of its tenancy in accordance with California Civil Code Section 1946.1 and California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1162, as amended. "Rent(s)" is the sum of all periodic payments and all nonmonetary consideration demanded or received by a landlord from a tenant for the use or occupancy of a rental unit, including tenant's access to and use of housing services. Rent includes without limitation, the fair market value of goods accepted, labor performed, or services rendered. "Rental Unit(s)" means any dwelling units as defined in California Civil Code section 1940, subsection (c), including joint living and work quarters, located in the city and used or occupied in consideration of payment of rent. This definition applies to any dwelling space that is actually used for residential purposes, whether or not the residential use is legally permitted, including live workspaces, mobile homes rented by the owner of a mobile home to a tenant, and accessory dwelling units. For purposes of compliance with this chapter, rental unit does not mean any dwelling unit in which the landlord or any member of his/her immediate family occupies one of the dwelling units on the property containing the rental unit and it is necessary for the landlord or any member of his/her immediate family to use either a bathroom or kitchen facility common with the tenant. "Tenant" means a person entitled, by written or oral agreement, or by sufferance, to the use or occupancy of any rental unit.
Section 9.70.030 of the Montebello Code of Ordinances establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's rental housing chapter by defining key terms such as "Landlord," "Tenant," "Rental Unit," "Rent," "Housing Services," and "Notice of Termination." These definitions set the boundaries of who and what is covered under Chapter 9.70, including a broad conception of rent that encompasses non-monetary consideration and a broad conception of rental units that includes spaces used residentially even if not legally permitted for that use. Certain living arrangements—such as owner-occupied units where the landlord shares a bathroom or kitchen with the tenant, or where the landlord's primary residence is the same unit as the tenant's—are explicitly carved out from coverage.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Montebello Code ch. 9.70 § 9.70.030, operators who share a primary residence with their tenant, or who occupy a unit on the same property and share a bathroom or kitchen with the tenant, fall outside the chapter's definition of "Landlord" or "Rental Unit" respectively, which affects how the rest of Chapter 9.70 applies to their property. Compliant operators generally maintain clear records of all periodic payments and non-monetary consideration they receive, since the definition of "Rent" is broad enough to include goods, labor, and services. Understanding which units qualify as "Rental Units" under this section—including accessory dwelling units and mobile homes—helps operators determine which of their properties are subject to the chapter's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9.70.030 of the Montebello Code of Ordinances defines "Tenant" broadly to include anyone with a written or oral agreement, or even a tenancy by sufferance, giving many residents a basis to assert coverage under Chapter 9.70 even without a formal lease. The expansive definition of "Rent" means that non-cash arrangements—such as performing labor or providing goods in exchange for occupancy—may still fall within the chapter's protections. Tenants who believe their living situation qualifies as a "Rental Unit" under this section, including those in accessory dwelling units or live-work spaces, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand how these definitions affect their rights under the broader chapter.
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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