Concord Rent Control Guide: Tenant Protection Program, Just Cause and Selling a Rental

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Concord caps rent on covered units at 5% and limits just cause for small house landlords

Concord regulates rents and evictions under its Residential Tenant Protection Program, with different rules for houses and condos. Here is what it covers, what relocation costs, and what it means if you plan to sell.

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

Concord rent control at a glance

Local law	Residential Tenant Protection Program, Concord Municipal Code Chapter 19.40; amendments effective May 22, 2025
Rent cap	5% per 12 months for covered units, per the Attorney General’s chart
Single-family homes and condos	The ordinance does not cap their rent; just cause applies only if the landlord rents three or more
No-fault relocation	Two times the current rent plus $2,000 (no payment for a substantial remodel)
Registration	All rentals register each year; 2026 windows were Feb 1 to Mar 31 (houses, condos) and May 1 to Jun 30 (multifamily)
City office	925-671-5070, concordrentprogram@cityofconcord.org

How the Concord program works

Concord’s Residential Tenant Protection Program covers rent increases, just cause evictions and a rent registry. On April 22, 2025 the City Council approved amendments that took effect May 22, 2025.

They set a fixed cap of 5 percent on annual rent increases for covered units, narrowed the eviction rules for small landlords and updated registration, notice and relocation rules. The Attorney General’s chart lists the Concord cap as 5 percent every 12 months.

The program applies to apartments and other multi-unit rentals; the rules for rented houses and condos are different, as explained below.

Rented houses and condos in Concord

The city’s FAQ says the ordinance does not control the rent a landlord charges on a single-family home or condominium. State law can: Civil Code 1947.12 limits increases to 5 percent plus local CPI, or 10 percent, if the owner is a real estate investment trust, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member.

Just cause protection depends on how many such homes you rent. From April 19, 2024 to May 22, 2025 every rented house and condo in Concord was covered. Since May 22, 2025, a unit is covered only if the landlord rents three or more single-family homes or condominiums in Concord.

A landlord who rents two or fewer is not covered by just cause, but still has to register each unit every year and follow Municipal Code Section 19.40.060. For 2026 the city set registration windows of February 1 to March 31 for houses and condos and May 1 to June 30 for multifamily properties. Registration goes through the city’s rent registry portal.

Just cause, lease renewal and relocation

Where just cause applies, an at-fault reason such as nonpayment of rent, a major lease violation, nuisance or criminal activity needs no payment to the tenant. No-fault reasons include owner move-in, an Ellis Act withdrawal, compliance with a government order and demolition.

For those the ordinance requires relocation assistance of two times the current rent plus $2,000. A substantial remodel is an approved reason, but the city says it does not require relocation assistance.

If your unit is covered you cannot require the tenant to leave at the end of a lease; you must offer a new lease, though the ordinance does not control the rent you set in it.

A termination notice for a covered single-family home or condo must be filed with the city within seven days of serving it.

The city is direct about sales: a sale of the home is not a listed no-fault just cause. The ordinance does allow owner or relative move-in after a purchase, or removal from the market under the Ellis Act, if the requirements in Section 19.40.070 are met. For help the city points landlords and tenants to ECHO Housing at (925) 732-3919, and its program line is 925-671-5070.

State law sets the floor everywhere. Under Civil Code 1947.12, a covered owner may not raise the rent more than 5 percent plus the local change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, and that section remains in effect until January 1, 2030.

The statute exempts, among other things, housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years, housing already under a stricter local cap, and a single-family home or condominium that is not owned by a real estate investment trust, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, as long as the written exemption notice was given to the tenant.

Selling a rented Concord house

Rent rules matter at the sale because a buyer steps into your landlord role the day escrow closes. The tenant’s lease, deposit and any protections under the rules above go with the property.

A cash buyer who plans to keep the tenant needs a clean rent history; a buyer who plans to occupy the house needs to know whether the law lets them end the tenancy and what it will cost.

Our statewide guide to selling a tenant-occupied home walks through the basics, and our tenant-occupied page shows how a cash sale works when the house is rented.

If you own a rented Concord house, condo or small building, a cash sale can close as-is, with the tenant in place or on a timeline that follows the program.

Documents to gather before you talk to a buyer

The signed lease or month-to-month agreement, plus any addenda and the date each tenant moved in.
A rent ledger showing the amount and date of every increase over the last few years.
Copies of every notice you served: rent increases, entry notices, cure or termination notices.
Proof of any registration, program fee or required notice to the city, where the city asks for one.
The security deposit amount and where it is held.
Any open repair requests, permits or code complaints on the unit.

Common mistakes landlords make before a sale

The most expensive mistake is raising the rent or serving a termination notice right before listing without checking whether the increase is allowed or the notice states a valid reason.

A notice that does not follow the rules can be void, and it can give the tenant a defense that a buyer will price in. A second mistake is promising a buyer the house will be vacant when the tenant has protections that make that uncertain.

A third is skipping required city paperwork, which in some cities blocks future rent increases until it is cured.

If the tenant is cooperating, many sellers simply sell with the tenant in place and let the buyer decide. If you want the house vacant, ask the city or a landlord-tenant attorney what notice, reason and payment the rules require before you offer a buyout or serve anything.

When the house also needs repairs or has unfinished permits, see our guide to selling as-is and the cost list in our seller closing costs guide.

How to sell a house in Concord

Check whether your rentals are covered by just cause and bring registration current.
Gather the lease, rent ledger and every notice you served.
Request a no-obligation cash offer as-is.
Decide whether the buyer keeps the tenant or follows the program’s rules for a vacant sale.
Close on your timeline with no repairs or commissions.

More local pages: We Buy Houses in Concord, selling as-is, selling fast, and the Contra Costa County hub.

Own a rented Concord property? Get a cash offer and skip repairs and showings.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Concord have rent control?

Yes. The Residential Tenant Protection Program in Municipal Code Chapter 19.40 covers rent increases and just cause eviction. Amendments effective May 22, 2025 set a fixed 5 percent annual cap for covered units.

Does Concord rent control apply to a rented single-family home?

The city says the ordinance does not control the rent on single-family homes or condos. State law may cap increases if the owner is a REIT, corporation or LLC with a corporate member.

Do Concord just cause rules apply to my house or condo?

Only if you rent three or more single-family homes or condos in Concord. Landlords who rent two or fewer are not covered by just cause but must still register each unit.

Is selling a just cause to evict in Concord?

No. The city says a sale is not a listed no-fault just cause. Owner move-in after a purchase or an Ellis Act withdrawal is allowed if the ordinance’s requirements are met.

How much relocation assistance does Concord require?

Two times the current rent plus $2,000 for a covered no-fault termination such as owner move-in, an Ellis Act removal, a government order or demolition. A substantial remodel does not require relocation assistance.

Who can answer questions?

The city program line at 925-671-5070 or concordrentprogram@cityofconcord.org. The city cannot give legal advice.

More guides

Sources

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