Renting to a servicemember in Coronado works like any other lease, with a few federal and state rules layered on top. A servicemember tenant can end the lease early on qualifying PCS or deployment orders under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. § 3955) and California's parallel Military and Veterans Code § 409, without an early termination charge. California also bars a two-month deposit for service members and protects military and veteran status in housing, so you screen every applicant on the same criteria and never on military status or source of income.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Confirm the details for your situation with a California attorney or tax professional. Rules are stated as of October 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Under the SCRA, a tenant who signed while in service and then gets PCS orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days may terminate with written notice and a copy of the orders.
  • For a monthly lease, termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice. You may not charge an early termination fee.
  • California law prohibits housing discrimination based on military or veteran status and on source of income, including in advertising (Gov. Code § 12955).
  • The small-landlord two-month deposit exception never applies to a service member, and you may not refuse to rent to one because of it (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(5)(B)).
  • HOMES.mil is the Department of Defense's official off-base housing listing site.
  • BAH is set by duty location ZIP code, pay grade and dependency status. Check rates in the official DoD calculator rather than relying on figures you read elsewhere.

Fair housing comes first

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act makes it unlawful for a housing owner to discriminate against any person because of "veteran or military status" or "source of income," among other protected characteristics (Gov. Code § 12955 (opens in a new tab)). The ban covers notices and advertisements, and it extends to a perceived characteristic or an association with someone who has it.

For an owner, that means:

  • Write ads about the home, its features and rules, not about the renter you want. Don't advertise a preference for, or against, military households.
  • Use one set of written screening criteria for every applicant: income, credit or alternatives to credit, and rental history. Our leasing services page describes how applications are handled.
  • Treat BAH like any other lawful, verifiable income. Asking about the level or source of income is not itself discrimination; treating applicants differently because of it is.
  • Don't steer. Answer every applicant's questions about the home the same way.

Using a broker or property manager also removes the federal fair housing exemption that some owners of three or fewer houses otherwise have (42 U.S.C. § 3603(b)). California's law applies either way.

Ending a lease on military orders (SCRA and MVC 409)

The federal rule is 50 U.S.C. § 3955 (opens in a new tab). California's Military and Veterans Code § 409 has parallel provisions. The federal SCRA is the safest framework to follow.

Who qualifies

A lease of premises "occupied, or intended to be occupied, by a servicemember or a servicemember's dependents" can be terminated if:

  1. the lease was signed before the person entered military service, and they entered service during the lease term; or
  2. the servicemember signed the lease while in service and then received orders for a permanent change of station (PCS) or a deployment of not less than 90 days; or
  3. the servicemember signed on receiving orders and then received a stop movement order.

"Military orders" include orders for separation or retirement, and PCS includes separation or retirement from service.

How notice is delivered

The tenant delivers written notice of termination plus a copy of the orders to you or your agent by hand delivery, private business carrier, mail with return receipt requested, or other electronic means reasonably calculated to ensure actual receipt.

When it takes effect

  • Monthly rent: termination is effective 30 days after the first date on which the next rental payment is due after the notice is delivered. Example: rent is due on the 1st and notice arrives March 10. The next rent date is April 1, so the lease ends May 1.
  • Any other lease: the last day of the month after the month the notice is delivered.

Money rules

  • Rent for the period before the effective date is prorated.
  • You may not impose an early termination charge. You can still collect taxes, summonses, title and registration fees, and charges for excess wear or use under the lease.
  • Rent paid in advance for any period after the effective date must be refunded within 30 days of the effective date.
  • Knowingly holding a servicemember's security deposit to collect rent for the period after termination is a federal misdemeanor. California's 21-day deposit return rule (Civ. Code § 1950.5) still applies.
  • The termination also ends any obligation a dependent has under the lease. If the servicemember dies during military service, the spouse or a dependent may terminate within one year of the death.

Military clauses

Many leases near installations include a "military clause." It is a negotiated lease term, not a legal requirement, and it can only add to SCRA protections, not take them away. The SCRA applies whether or not the lease has one. Military OneSource advises servicemembers not to sign documents that waive SCRA rights, so don't ask them to.

Eviction protection during service

Under 50 U.S.C. § 3951, during military service a landlord may not evict a servicemember or their dependents from a residence without a court order, where the monthly rent does not exceed an annually adjusted ceiling. For 2026 that ceiling is $10,542.60 per month (Federal Register, March 10, 2026). If military service materially affects the tenant's ability to pay, the court must stay the case for 90 days, unless justice requires a different period, or adjust the lease obligation. A knowing violation can bring a fine, up to one year of imprisonment, or both.

Security deposits for service members

  • One month's rent is the general cap, furnished or unfurnished (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1)).
  • The two-month exception never applies to a service member. Certain small landlords may otherwise collect up to two months, but not when the prospective tenant is a service member, and you may not refuse to rent to a service member because of this.
  • Higher-than-standard security for a service member (for example, because of credit or housing history), on or after April 1, 2025: give a written statement of the amount and the reason on or before signing, and return the extra amount after no more than six months if the tenant is not in arrears. The return date must be in the lease.

Listing on HOMES.mil

HOMES.mil is a U.S. Government system and the Department of Defense's official listing site for off-base housing. Landlords and property managers create a login and list their properties, and listings must meet minimum housing standards. AHRN.com is a separate, privately owned site that says it is not endorsed or sponsored by the Department of War (the name the federal government now uses for DoD in official notices) or any military branch, so don't treat it as the official channel.

The Navy Housing Service Center serving Naval Base Coronado is at 2625 LeHardy Street, Building 3544, Naval Base San Diego, San Diego, CA 92136, open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., phone 619-556-8443.

BAH and PCS timing

BAH. Basic Allowance for Housing is set by duty location ZIP code, pay grade and whether the member has dependents. 2026 rates took effect January 1, 2026, with a nationwide average increase of 4.2%, and members who stay eligible at the same location are rate-protected from decreases. Look up current rates in the official DoD BAH calculator (opens in a new tab). BAH can be a useful reference point, but set rent from comparable Coronado rentals, not from an allowance. See how much rent a Coronado home can get.

PCS timing. Moves follow orders, so plan around them:

  • Expect notice, not a full term. Budget for the possibility of an SCRA termination on any lease, and keep your listing photos and description ready.
  • Show during the notice period. Civil Code § 1954 allows entry to show the home to prospective tenants with reasonable written notice; 24 hours is presumed reasonable.
  • Be ready for a remote move-in. Incoming tenants may sign before they arrive, so have clear digital lease, deposit and key procedures.
  • If you are the one with orders, see PCS orders from Coronado: keep and rent, or sell.

For every other rule that applies to your lease, see California landlord laws for Coronado owners and long-term vs. furnished rentals. The full series is in the Coronado Rental Guide.

For the statewide rules, see military tenants and the SCRA and the security deposit calculator.

More from the Military Rental Guide

Frequently asked questions

Can a military tenant break a lease in California?

Yes, if they qualify. Under 50 U.S.C. § 3955, a servicemember who signed a lease while in service and then receives PCS orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days may terminate with written notice and a copy of the orders. California's Military and Veterans Code § 409 has parallel provisions, and no early termination charge may be imposed.

How much notice does a servicemember have to give to end a lease?

For a lease with monthly rent, termination takes effect 30 days after the first date the next rent payment is due after the notice is delivered. If rent is due on the 1st and notice arrives March 10, the lease ends May 1. Prorated rent is owed up to that date.

Can I ask a military applicant for two months' deposit?

No. Civil Code § 1950.5 caps security at one month's rent. The small-landlord exception that allows up to two months does not apply to a service member, and you may not refuse to rent to a service member because of that.

Can I prefer military tenants or require a military clause?

You cannot prefer or avoid applicants because of military or veteran status; California protects it under Gov. Code § 12955, including in ads. A military clause is a negotiated term that can only add to SCRA rights, and any applicant may ask for lease terms.

Is AHRN the official military housing site?

No. HOMES.mil is the Department of Defense's official off-base housing listing site. AHRN.com is privately owned and says it is not endorsed or sponsored by the Department of War or any military branch.

Next step: set up a lease that works with orders

A lease built for the SCRA, clear deposit terms and consistent screening make military moves routine instead of stressful. McKee Properties has managed rentals from its Coronado office since 1989. To see what your home could rent for, start with a free, no-obligation Coronado rental analysis.

Talk With a Local Property Expert

Ask your questions, get honest answers, and see if we’re the right fit — no commitment.

Schedule a Call