Do this today
- Write the date, time, and how they entered.
- Ask in writing for notice next time, if that is the rule.
- If it felt like harassment, City of San Diego — Housing Commission / renter resources or legal aid — not a group chat.
Can a landlord in San Diego enter whenever they want?
Generally no — except that emergencies and the lease can change the picture. California Civil Code — hiring of real property is the California starting point. Write down any entry you believe was improper. Do not import Los Angeles RSO rules into San Diego. Ask the City whether your unit is covered by a local program.
What if they keep coming in?
A pattern of unannounced entry can be a harassment or privacy problem. City of San Diego — Housing Commission / renter resources may take a complaint. Legal aid can tell you whether California gives a specific remedy. Do not change the locks without advice.
The San Diego layer
Do not import Los Angeles RSO rules into San Diego. Ask the City whether your unit is covered by a local program.
California Civil Code — hiring of real property (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1940 to 1954.06) is the California floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
San Diego questions
How much notice does a landlord in San Diego have to give before entering?
That hour-count or day-count is in California Civil Code — hiring of real property and sometimes in a city rule. This desk does not invent it. Write down what happened and take it to legal aid or City of San Diego — Housing Commission / renter resources.
What number should I call in San Diego?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. City of San Diego — Housing Commission / renter resources does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org