Susanville, the California Correctional Center and High Desert State Prison CDCR workforce, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a remote northeastern county where AB 1482 applies with no standalone MSA CPI
📍 County Seat: Susanville — Lassen County Superior Court 👥 ~30K residents — California’s 51st most populous county ⚖️ Superior Court • 2610 Riverside Dr, Susanville, CA 96130
Lassen County sits in California’s far northeast, bordering Nevada to the east, Modoc County to the north, Plumas and Sierra counties to the west, and Sierra County and Nevada to the south. The county seat is Susanville, a small city of roughly 15,000 in the Susan River valley that is the regional commercial center for a very large and very thinly populated area. Lassen Volcanic National Park occupies the county’s southwestern corner, protecting the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range and the hydrothermal features surrounding it. Honey Lake provides wildlife habitat and waterfowl hunting access in the dry lake basin east of Susanville.
Lassen County’s economy is dominated by CDCR employment at two major state prison facilities: the California Correctional Center (CCC) and High Desert State Prison (HDSP), both in or near Susanville. These prisons employ hundreds of correctional officers, supervisors, healthcare staff, and administrative workers whose households constitute the most financially stable segment of the county’s rental market. The county also has some recreation and tourism employment related to Lassen Volcanic National Park and the surrounding national forests, plus county government and healthcare. No rent control; AB 1482; no standalone MSA CPI.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Susanville
Population
~30K
Top Employers
CDCR (California Correctional Center + High Desert State Prison), Lassen County government, Banner Lassen Medical Center, NPS (Lassen Volcanic NP), recreation/tourism, retail/service
Median Rent
~$800–$1,100/mo; Susanville market supported by prison workforce demand
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
Penal Code § 396: 10% cap during declared emergencies
Security Deposit Cap
1 month’s rent (Civil Code § 1950.5)
Deposit Return
21 calendar days with itemized statement
Court Filing
Lassen County Superior Court — 2610 Riverside Dr, Susanville, CA 96130
Lassen County — State Law & Local Highlights
Topic
Rule / Notes
AB 1482 Coverage & CPI Index
Most Lassen 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. Lassen 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 Lassen County or any city within it as of early 2026. AB 1482 is the sole regulatory framework.
CDCR Workforce: CCC & HDSP
California Correctional Center (CCC) and High Desert State Prison (HDSP) are the dominant employers in Lassen County. Together they employ hundreds of correctional officers, supervisors, healthcare professionals, and administrative staff whose households constitute the most financially stable tenant segment in the Susanville area. CDCR employment provides state civil service income, CCPOA union compensation, and defined benefit pension — the same highly reliable employment profile documented throughout this series for California’s other prison-county markets. Standard W-2 plus pay stubs documentation applies.
🔥 Wildfire Risk & 2021 Dixie Fire
Lassen County borders Plumas County to the west, and the 2021 Dixie Fire burned in both counties. Lassen County’s forested western terrain has significant wildfire risk; Civil Code § 1941.8 applies to properties in any declared disaster areas. Insurance availability is constrained in forested western Lassen County communities. Verify fire coverage annually.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park occupies the county’s southwestern corner, providing some NPS and concessionaire employment for park workers who may seek rental housing in nearby communities. NPS employees have stable federal W-2 income.
Remote Location & Extreme Winter
Susanville sits at roughly 4,200 feet elevation with cold winters and significant snowfall. Functional heating is a habitability requirement. The county’s extreme northeastern location makes it genuinely remote; the rental market is small and largely driven by state employment.
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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⚠️ 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.
CCC and HDSP CDCR staff: State civil service employees with stable W-2 income, CCPOA union compensation, and defined benefit pensions. Standard pay stubs plus W-2 documentation. Most reliable income profiles in the county — essentially recession-proof employment.
Banner Lassen Medical Center & county workers: Stable W-2 income. Standard qualification.
NPS employees (Lassen Volcanic NP): Stable federal W-2 income. Standard qualification.
Wildfire insurance (western communities): Forested western Lassen County communities face constrained insurance availability. FAIR Plan + DIC supplemental is the standard approach. Annual coverage verification recommended.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Lassen County Landlord-Tenant Law: Two State Prisons, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and California’s Most Remote Northeastern Rental Market
Lassen County is one of California’s most geographically remote counties — Susanville sits more than 90 miles from the nearest major California city by road, surrounded by national forests, the Modoc Plateau, Honey Lake, and the eastern Sierra terrain that defines California’s forgotten northeast corner. Its economy is shaped by a fact that is both simple and powerful: the state of California chose to build two major correctional facilities near Susanville, and those facilities have been providing stable public employment to Lassen County households for decades.
The CCC and HDSP Workforce
California Correctional Center and High Desert State Prison together employ hundreds of CDCR workers in Susanville and the surrounding area. The pattern documented throughout this series for California’s prison-county rental markets applies here in full: state civil service employment, CCPOA union representation, defined benefit pensions, and income stability that is essentially unmatched in a rural economy. A Lassen County CDCR employee is among the most financially reliable tenants a Susanville landlord will encounter — their income is stable, their employment is essentially permanent for the duration of a career commitment, and their compensation significantly exceeds what most private-sector alternatives in the county can provide.
Standard W-2 plus recent pay stubs qualification applies for established CDCR employees. The income profile is straightforward and the risk of income disruption is among the lowest of any tenant segment in California’s rural markets.
The No-MSA CPI Challenge
Lassen County joins the growing list of small rural California counties without a standalone BLS MSA for CPI publication. The AB 1482 annual rent increase calculation requires verification of the applicable index — potentially the Redding MSA given geographic proximity, or a statewide California index — with current HCD guidance or a licensed California attorney before use.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Lassen 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 Lassen County Superior Court, 2610 Riverside Dr, Susanville, CA 96130. 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. Lassen 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 Lassen County Superior Court, 2610 Riverside Dr, Susanville, CA 96130. 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.
