Alturas and the remote Modoc Plateau, cattle ranching on the Oregon border, Lava Beds National Monument, and California’s most sparsely populated county where AB 1482 applies with no standalone MSA CPI
📍 County Seat: Alturas — Modoc County Superior Court 👥 ~9K residents — California’s 54th most populous county ⚖️ Superior Court • 108 E 4th St, Alturas, CA 96101
Modoc County is California’s most northeastern county, sharing long borders with both Oregon and Nevada in terrain that is high desert and sage plateau rather than the Sierra Nevada or Coast Range landscapes that define most of California. The county seat and only substantial community is Alturas, a ranching town of roughly 2,700 on the Pit River. Lava Beds National Monument, on the county’s southern border with Siskiyou County, preserves the volcanic lava tube caves and the site of the Modoc War of 1872–73. Goose Lake, straddling the Oregon border, and the Warner Mountains provide additional geographic landmarks in this vast and thinly settled county.
Modoc County’s economy is as simple as California gets: cattle ranching dominates the private economy; county government and healthcare provide the most stable employment; and a very small recreation economy serves visitors to Lava Beds and the surrounding national forests. The county’s population of roughly 9,000 makes it California’s third least populous county. Rents are among the lowest in California. The rental market is extremely small. No rent control; AB 1482; no standalone MSA CPI. Oregon and Nevada border income documentation considerations apply to some households.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Alturas
Population
~9K
Top Employers
Modoc Medical Center, Modoc County government, cattle ranching, Lava Beds National Monument (NPS), timber (limited), retail/service
Median Rent
~$600–$900/mo; among California’s lowest rents; very few rental units
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
Modoc County Superior Court — 108 E 4th St, Alturas, CA 96101
Modoc County — State Law & Local Highlights
Topic
Rule / Notes
AB 1482 Coverage & CPI Index
Most Modoc 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. Modoc 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 Modoc County as of early 2026. AB 1482 is the sole regulatory framework.
Cattle Ranching Economy
Modoc County’s private economy is dominated by cattle ranching on the sage and grassland plateaus that cover most of the county. Ranch employment income — for year-round ranch hands, livestock workers, and agricultural support workers — is more consistent than purely seasonal crop work. Established ranch hands with multi-year single-employer history can be qualified on W-2 plus pay stubs. For workers who have changed ranches or whose employment history is variable, prior year W-2 provides the most reliable basis.
Oregon and Nevada Border Workers
Some Modoc County residents work in Oregon (Jackson or Klamath counties) or Nevada. Use federal tax returns for income verification of cross-border workers — federal returns capture income from all states. California-only pay stubs or state tax returns may miss income earned across the border.
Healthcare & Government Anchors
Modoc Medical Center and Modoc County government are the county’s most stable employers. Standard W-2 qualification applies.
Extremely Limited Rental Stock
Modoc County has very few rental units in total. The rental market is genuinely small; maintaining documented consistent qualification criteria is essential to fair housing compliance in a market where informal practices are common.
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.
Ranch workers: Year-round ranch employees: W-2 plus pay stubs for stable single-employer history. Prior year W-2 for variable histories.
Modoc Medical Center & county workers: Stable W-2 income. Standard qualification.
Cross-border workers: Federal tax returns for workers earning income in Oregon or Nevada.
Very limited inventory: Few rental units county-wide. Apply consistent documented criteria regardless of market informality.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Modoc County Landlord-Tenant Law: California’s Cattle Country, the Oregon and Nevada Borders, and the Most Remote Rental Market in the State
Modoc County is California in a mode that most Californians never encounter: sage high desert, plateau ranch land, a sky that goes on forever, and a county seat of 2,700 people that is the largest community for a hundred miles in most directions. The rental market here is perhaps the most elemental in the state — a handful of Alturas rental properties, a few ranch worker accommodations in the broader county, and a regulatory framework that is simply AB 1482 applied to whatever the correct CPI index is.
The county’s economic character is cattle ranching, and ranch employment income is the predominant tenant profile beyond county government and healthcare workers. Year-round ranch employment at a single operation provides a more consistent income history than purely seasonal crop work; established ranch hands with multi-year single-employer history can be qualified on pay stubs plus W-2 documentation rather than requiring annual-only documentation.
The cross-border income consideration unique to Siskiyou County applies here as well: some Modoc County residents work in Oregon’s Lake or Klamath counties or in Nevada. Federal tax returns capture income from all states and are the correct documentation standard for cross-border workers; California-only pay stubs or state tax documents may not reflect out-of-state earnings.
The fair housing reminder noted for Calaveras County applies equally here: in a market this small, where informal screening based on community reputation is common, landlords must maintain documented consistent qualification criteria applied uniformly to all applicants. Informal screening that differs by applicant characteristics is fair housing liability regardless of community size or custom.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Modoc 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 Modoc County Superior Court, 108 E 4th St, Alturas, CA 96101. 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. Modoc 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 Modoc County Superior Court, 108 E 4th St, Alturas, CA 96101. 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.
