The risks of withholding rent over fire safety
California law may allow tenants to respond to serious, unrepaired habitability problems — including dangerous fire hazards — but rent withholding has strict rules and real risks, so it should never be done casually.
To even consider it, the problem generally must be serious enough to affect health or safety, the landlord must have had proper written notice and a reasonable chance to fix it, and the problem must not have been caused by you. Even then, withholding rent the wrong way can expose you to eviction.
Other options may fit your situation better. Reporting the hazard to your local fire department or code-enforcement office is often powerful, because inspectors can order the landlord to fix life-safety problems quickly. The "repair and deduct" remedy may also apply to some qualifying repairs, within legal limits.
Because the rules are detailed and the stakes are high, this is a situation where getting advice first really matters. A free, confidential review can look at your specific facts and help you choose the safest path.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.