Cal. Civ. Code § 66-28-402
Rules. [Effective until January 1, 2027. See the version effective on January 1, 2027.]
Operative Text
(a) A landlord, from time to time, may adopt rules or regulations, however described, concerning the tenant's use and occupancy of the premises. It is enforceable against the tenant only if: (1) Its purpose is to promote the convenience, safety, or welfare of the tenants in the premises, preserve the landlord's property from abusive use, or make a fair distribution of services and facilities held out for the tenants generally; (2) It is reasonably related to the purpose for which it is adopted; (3) It applies to all tenants in the premises; (4) It is sufficiently explicit in its prohibition, direction, or limitation of the tenant's conduct to fairly inform the tenant of what the tenant must or must not do to comply; (5) It is not for the purpose of evading the obligations of the landlord; and (6) The tenant has notice of it at the time the tenant enters into the rental agreement. (b) A rule or regulation adopted after the tenant enters into the rental agreement is enforceable against the tenant if reasonable notice of its adoption is given to the tenant and it does not work a substantial modification of the rental agreement.
Tennessee Code Ann. § 66-28-402 sets out the conditions under which a landlord's rules or regulations governing use and occupancy of a rental property are legally binding on tenants. To be enforceable, a rule must serve a legitimate purpose (such as safety, convenience, or fair distribution of services), apply equally to all tenants, be clearly written, and not be designed to help the landlord dodge its own obligations. Rules in place at the time of move-in must be disclosed to the tenant before signing; rules adopted later can only be enforced if the tenant receives reasonable notice and the new rule does not substantially change the terms of the existing rental agreement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 66-28-402, property owners and managers who want their house rules to carry legal weight generally ensure that every rule is written with enough clarity that a tenant can understand exactly what conduct is required or prohibited. Compliant operators apply rules uniformly across all tenants in the property and provide written notice of any rules in effect before a new tenant signs a lease. When new rules are introduced mid-tenancy, operators typically give reasonable advance notice and take care that the change does not amount to a material alteration of the existing rental agreement.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 66-28-402 means that a landlord's rules are not automatically enforceable just because they appear in a lease or a separate document — they must meet specific legal requirements, including being disclosed to you before you signed your rental agreement. If a rule was added after you moved in without reasonable notice, or if it substantially changes the terms of your agreement, it may not be enforceable against you under this provision. Tenants who believe a rule fails to meet these standards can raise that issue as a defense in any proceeding based on the rule, and may benefit from consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Tennessee landlord-tenant law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 29, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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