Section 602.9 Of Title 14. Malicious Mischief 594-625c From California Penal Code >> Title 14. >> Part 1.
602.9
. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any person who,
without the owner's or owner's agent's consent, claims ownership or
claims or takes possession of a residential dwelling for the purpose
of renting that dwelling to another is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year,
or by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars
($2,500), or by both that imprisonment and fine. Each violation is a
separate offense.
(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any person who, without
the owner's or owner's agent's consent, causes another person to
enter or remain in any residential dwelling for the purpose of
renting that dwelling to another, is guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year,
or by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars
($2,500), or by both that imprisonment and fine. Each violation is a
separate offense.
(c) This section does not apply to any tenant, subtenant, lessee,
sublessee, or assignee, nor to any other hirer having a lawful
occupancy interest in the residential dwelling.
(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude the prosecution of a
person under any other applicable provision of law.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section shall
not preclude the prosecution of a person on grand theft or fraud
charges. The Legislature finds that this section has never precluded
prosecution of a person on grand theft or fraud charges.