Richmond CA Rent Control Guide: Rent Program, Annual Adjustment and Selling a Rented Home

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Selling a Richmond, CA rental? The Rent Program may apply

Richmond voters approved rent control and just cause eviction rules in 2016. This guide covers which units are covered, the annual adjustment, and what it means when you sell.

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Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Richmond’s rent control law

Richmond’s Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction and Homeowner Protection Ordinance (Richmond Municipal Code chapter 11.100) was passed by Richmond voters in November 2016, and the Rent Program began in January 2017. A five-member Rent Board appointed by the City Council sets policy and hears appeals, and the Rent Program staff handle enrollment, counseling, petitions and fees. A separate Relocation Ordinance sets payments owed to tenants displaced for certain reasons.

Which Richmond rentals are covered

Per the Rent Program’s 2025 guide, most Richmond rentals are covered, but not all units get both rent control and just cause protections. The guide sorts units into three groups.

Fully covered	Multi-unit properties built with permits before February 1, 1995. Rent control and just cause for eviction both apply.
Partially covered	Units with one dwelling on one parcel, such as a single-family home or condo, and new construction built with permits after February 1, 1995. Just cause applies, rent control does not.
Exempt	Government-subsidized units such as Section 8, units where the landlord and tenant share a kitchen or bathroom, a permitted ADU added to an owner-occupied single-family home, and nonprofit homes for the aged.

The guide tells owners to contact the Rent Program to confirm coverage, and it notes that an owner or tenant can ask for an administrative decision on a claimed exemption. Confirm this before you set a price, since coverage decides what a buyer can charge.

The Annual General Adjustment

Under Measure P, approved by Richmond voters on November 8, 2022, the Annual General Adjustment (AGA) equals 3% or 60% of the Bay Area CPI, whichever is less. The Rent Board announces it by June 30 each year, and it can apply on or after September 1 after proper notice under California Civil Code 827.

The guide lists 1.62% for 2025, and the city’s rent increase page lists 1.5% for 2026. A new tenancy must run one full calendar year before an AGA can apply. A landlord can recover up to 5% of previously deferred AGAs each year in addition to the current one.

The Maximum Allowable Rent equals the base rent plus each year’s AGA, where base rent is the rent in effect on July 21, 2015, or the first rent charged to tenants who moved in later. Tenants or landlords can file rent adjustment petitions. If a landlord petition succeeds, the guide says the increase may not exceed 15% in one year; larger approved amounts are spread over several years.

Compliance steps before raising rent

File a property enrollment form and a tenancy registration form for each rent-controlled tenancy.
Pay the Residential Rental Housing Fee and hold an active rental business license.
Serve a 30 or 90 day written notice under Civil Code 827.
File a copy of the notice and proof of service with the Rent Program within 10 business days.
Note that a landlord who is out of compliance may have a rent increase deemed null and void.

Just cause for eviction and relocation

For covered units the guide lists eight just causes: failure to pay rent, breach of lease, nuisance, failure to give access, owner or relative move-in, withdrawal from the rental market under the Ellis Act, temporarily vacating for substantial repairs, and a temporary tenancy.

Breach, nuisance and access cases require a written warning notice first. A landlord must file any eviction notice with the Rent Program within two business days of serving it, and the guide says failure to comply may be a defense to an unlawful detainer.

Relocation payments are required for owner move-ins, Ellis Act withdrawals, government orders to vacate permanently, and, as a temporary payment, for repairs. The amount is set by City Council resolution, depends on unit size, and increases for a Qualified Tenant Household, such as one with a disabled member, a child under 18, lower income, or a terminal illness. Tenants cannot waive these payments.

What this means when you sell

A buyer of a covered Richmond building takes on the rent cap, the just cause rules and the filing duties. A buyer who plans to move in must pay permanent relocation and follow the owner move-in rules.

For a seller, the useful preparation is: confirm coverage, make sure enrollment, tenancy registration and fees are current, assemble current rents and the last increase notices, and avoid ending tenancies for the sale unless a listed just cause applies. An as-is cash sale with tenants staying avoids those problems.

State law as a backstop (AB 1482)

California’s Tenant Protection Act limits annual increases to 5% plus the regional CPI change, up to a maximum of 10%, and bars more than two increases in a 12-month period.

Just cause applies after 12 months of tenancy, or 24 months if at least one tenant has lived there that long, and no-fault evictions require relocation help.

The law has exemptions, including units built in the last 15 years, many owner-occupied single-family homes and duplexes with the owner living in one unit, and single-family homes or condos not owned by a corporation or LLC when the landlord gave written notice.

Per the City of Culver City’s summary the law runs through January 1, 2030. Where a local ordinance is stricter, owners follow the local rule; where a unit is outside the local program, the state rules may still apply.

Common mistakes when selling a Richmond rental

Three errors come up often. First, raising rent without enrollment, registration and fee compliance, which the guide says can make the increase null and void. Second, skipping the 10-business-day filing of a rent increase notice or the two-business-day filing of an eviction notice.

Third, treating a single-family home as fully exempt: the guide lists those homes as partially covered, so just cause still applies. A buyer’s lawyer will check these items, so clearing them before you list protects your price and timeline.

Where to get help

The Richmond Rent Program is at 440 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 200, and can be reached at (510) 234-RENT (7368). The program’s website is richmondrent.org.

How to sell a house in Richmond

Confirm whether the unit is fully covered, partially covered or exempt.
Check enrollment, tenancy registration and fee status with the Rent Program.
Gather rent rolls, base rents and the last increase notices.
Request a free cash offer and compare it with a listing’s net proceeds.
Choose your closing date; tenants can usually stay in place.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Richmond, CA have rent control?

Yes. The Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction and Homeowner Protection Ordinance, passed by voters in 2016, applies rent control and just cause rules to most multi-unit rentals built before February 1, 1995.

What is Richmond’s Annual General Adjustment?

The AGA is the allowed yearly increase. Under Measure P it is 3% or 60% of the Bay Area CPI, whichever is less. The city lists 1.62% for 2025 and 1.5% for 2026.

Are single-family homes covered by Richmond rent control?

Generally not for rent control. The Rent Program’s guide lists single-family homes and condos as partially covered, meaning just cause applies but not rent control.

Do I have to file rent increase notices with the city?

Yes. A copy of the notice and proof of service must be filed with the Rent Program within 10 business days of serving the tenant.

Can I sell a Richmond rental with tenants in it?

Yes, many owners sell as-is with tenants in place. Make sure enrollment and fees are current first.

More guides

Sources

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.