Except under certain circumstances and subject to certain conditions, a landlord generally may not interrupt utilities provided to a residential tenant—such as electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and in some areas, trash collection—unless the interruption results from bona fide repairs, construction, or an emergency.

A landlord generally may not shut off utilities to a residential tenant because the tenant is late in paying for the utilities. Laws vary from state to state, and laws related to a landlord’s interruption of a residential tenant’s utility services are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In California, landlords are prohibited from willfully interrupting a residential tenant's utility services, which include electricity, gas, water, sewer, internet, telephone, cable television, security systems, and trash collection, as a means of forcing a tenant to vacate the premises or to punish them for late payment of rent or utilities. This is considered a form of retaliatory eviction and is illegal under California Civil Code Section 789.3. Landlords are only allowed to interrupt these services for legitimate reasons such as repairs, construction, or emergencies, and they must provide reasonable notice when such interruptions are necessary. If a landlord unlawfully interrupts a tenant's utility services, the tenant may sue for injunctive relief, actual damages, and punitive damages. Additionally, the landlord could be liable for a civil penalty of up to $100 for each day the violation continues.