Markleeville, the Carson River, the Lake Tahoe basin’s southern approach, California’s smallest and most rural county, and a recreation-dependent micro-market where AB 1482 applies with no standalone MSA CPI
📍 County Seat: Markleeville — Alpine County Superior Court 👥 ~1,100 residents — California’s 56th most populous county ⚖️ Superior Court • 99 Water St, Markleeville, CA 96120
Alpine County is California’s least populous county — home to roughly 1,100 residents, making it smaller than most California apartment complexes — and one of the highest in average elevation, with terrain spanning the Sierra Nevada crest between Amador, El Dorado, and Calaveras counties to the west and Nevada and Douglas County, Nevada to the east. The county seat is Markleeville, an unincorporated community on the Carson River of perhaps 200 people. Monitor Pass, Ebbetts Pass, and Carson Pass are the Sierra crossings that give the county its limited road access.
Alpine County may have fewer than 50 private rental units in the entire county. The economy is recreation (summer hiking, cycling, fishing; limited winter recreation), county government (one of the smallest county governments in the US), and a handful of service and hospitality businesses serving visitors. The California Tahoe region’s proximity draws visitors but does not generate significant year-round workforce demand. No rent control; AB 1482; no standalone MSA CPI. Extreme winter isolation — the county’s mountain passes close seasonally — is the primary habitability consideration.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Markleeville
Population
~1,100
Top Employers
Alpine County government (tiny), recreation/tourism, Grover Hot Springs State Park (California State Parks), retail/service (minimal)
Median Rent
~$600–$900/mo if units are available; inventory may be fewer than 50 county-wide
County-Wide Rent Control
None — AB 1482 is the primary framework
AB 1482 CPI Index
No standalone MSA — verify applicable BLS index before any rent increase
Alpine County Superior Court — 99 Water St, Markleeville, CA 96120
Alpine County — State Law & Local Highlights
Topic
Rule / Notes
AB 1482 Coverage & CPI Index
Any Alpine County rental housing built before 2010 and not otherwise exempt is subject to AB 1482’s 5%+CPI rent cap (max 10%) and just-cause eviction after 12 months. Alpine County has no standalone BLS MSA. Verify the applicable CPI index with HCD guidance or a licensed California attorney before any AB 1482 rent increase. Key exemptions: units built within 15 years, SFRs/condos without corporate ownership (written notice required), owner-occupied duplexes. Expires January 1, 2030.
No Local Rent Control
No rent control in Alpine County as of early 2026. AB 1482 is the sole regulatory framework.
Extreme Winter Isolation
Alpine County’s Sierra Nevada passes — Monitor, Ebbetts, Carson — close seasonally under snow. Markleeville can be isolated for extended periods during severe winter weather. Functional heating is an absolute habitability requirement. Landlords must ensure properties are fully winterized before the snow season and have contingency plans for utility access during extended winter weather.
Tiny Rental Market
Alpine County may have fewer than 50 private rental units in the entire county. Landlord-tenant transactions here are rare enough that every one carries proportionally higher relationship stakes. Written leases, consistent documented qualification criteria, and full compliance with all California landlord-tenant requirements are essential regardless of the county’s size.
Recreation Economy
Summer recreation (hiking the PCT, cycling the Alpine Tour, fishing, hot springs at Grover Hot Springs State Park) brings seasonal visitors and some hospitality employment. Seasonal workers: annual W-2 or tax return documentation.
County Government Employment
Alpine County government is one of the smallest in the United States. Government employees provide the most stable year-round employment in the county. Standard W-2 qualification.
SFR Exemption & Deposit Cap
SFR/condo exemption requires written notice. Security deposit capped at 1 month’s rent (effective July 1, 2024). Return within 21 days.
Last verified: March 2026
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AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act) requires just cause for evictions of tenants in place 12+ months. 3-day notice can only include rent - no late fees, utilities, or other charges. AB 2347 (eff. Jan 2025/2026) doubled tenant response time from 5 to 10 business days. Notice excludes weekends and court holidays.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Superior Court (Unlawful Detainer). Pay the filing fee (~$385-435).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about California eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified California attorney or local legal aid organization.
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including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
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AI-generated, state-specific eviction notices, pay-or-quit letters, lease termination documents, and more — pre-filled with your tenant's information and built to California requirements.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
CPI index verification: No standalone MSA. Verify applicable BLS index with HCD or an attorney before any AB 1482 rent increase.
County government workers: Stable W-2 income. Standard qualification.
Recreation and seasonal workers: Annual W-2 or tax return for seasonal hospitality and recreation workers.
Winter isolation preparation: Ensure properties are fully winterized: heating system inspection, weatherproofing, utility access plan for extended winter weather. Mountain pass closures can extend isolation.
Document everything: In a market with fewer than 50 rental units, every tenancy is significant. Full written documentation of qualification criteria, lease terms, and inspection records is essential.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Alpine County Landlord-Tenant Law: California’s Smallest County, Markleeville, and a Rental Market of Extraordinary Smallness
Alpine County requires almost no introduction as a rental market because it barely qualifies as one in the conventional sense. With roughly 1,100 residents and perhaps fewer than 50 private rental units in the entire county, Alpine County’s landlord-tenant activity in any given year might consist of a handful of transactions. Yet those transactions are governed by the complete body of California landlord-tenant law — AB 1482, Civil Code §§ 1940–1954.071, and all the notice, habitability, and deposit return requirements that apply in San Jose or San Francisco. The law does not scale down to county size.
Markleeville is, in many ways, a living example of what California was before the population explosion of the 20th century: a small mountain community on a river, organized around a county courthouse, with a general store, a bar, and a hot springs down the road at Grover Hot Springs State Park. Monitor Pass and Ebbetts Pass — the mountain crossings that connect Alpine County to the rest of California — close under winter snow, creating the kind of seasonal isolation that is genuinely rare in a state as connected as California.
For landlords, the practical guidance is simple: ensure every rental property is fully winterized before the passes close; respond immediately to any habitability issue because the tenant’s alternatives are severely limited in a county this remote and small; use written leases with full AB 1482 compliant terms; verify the applicable CPI index before any rent increase; and document qualification criteria consistently for every applicant regardless of how few applicants there are. The county’s smallness makes informal practices tempting and fair housing documentation essential.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Alpine County has no standalone BLS MSA — verify the applicable CPI index for AB 1482 with HCD guidance or a licensed attorney. No local rent control as of early 2026. Unlawful detainer filed at Alpine County Superior Court, 99 Water St, Markleeville, CA 96120. Security deposit cap: 1 month’s rent (effective July 1, 2024). AB 1482 expires January 1, 2030. Consult a licensed California attorney. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Alpine County has no standalone BLS MSA — verify the applicable CPI index for AB 1482 with HCD guidance or a licensed attorney before any rent increase. No local rent control as of early 2026. Unlawful detainer filed at Alpine County Superior Court, 99 Water St, Markleeville, CA 96120. Security deposit cap: 1 month’s rent (effective July 1, 2024). AB 1482 rent cap: 5%+CPI (verify index), max 10%. Just cause after 12 months. Expires January 1, 2030. Consult a licensed California attorney. Last updated: March 2026.
