Richmond Rent Ordinance: a landlord’s compliance checklist
General information for owners of rental property in Richmond, from an office in Point Richmond. The City’s Rent Program decides how its rules apply to a particular property, so check the facts there too.
Information current as of October 2026. This checklist gives general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Rules and fee amounts change, so confirm each item with the Richmond Rent Program or counsel before acting.
Rental property in Richmond sits under two layers of law: California’s landlord-tenant statutes and the City’s Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, and Homeowner Protection Ordinance (Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 11.100, usually called the Richmond Rent Ordinance). The Richmond Rent Program and Rent Board administer the City’s rules. The checklist below follows the order most owners meet them. For the longer discussion, see the page on Richmond landlord and eviction counsel.
The checklist
- Find out which rules cover each unit. The City describes units as “fully covered” (rent control and just-cause protections) or “partially covered” (just cause only). Rent control generally reaches properties with more than one dwelling unit on a parcel built before February 1, 1995.
- Enroll the units and pay the Residential Rental Housing Fee. Owners must enroll rental units, register tenancies for rent-controlled units, and pay the fee. The City warns that owners who are out of compliance may not qualify to raise rent and may be unable to evict lawfully.
- Check the rent before any increase. For rent-controlled units the Rent Board sets the yearly Annual General Adjustment, now the lesser of 3% or 60% of CPI. A rent-increase notice must be given under Civil Code section 827 and filed with the Rent Program.
- Use a listed reason to end a tenancy. A tenancy can be ended only for a listed just-cause reason, such as nonpayment, breach of lease, nuisance, failure to give access, owner or relative move-in, withdrawal from the rental market, temporary vacancy for substantial repairs, or a temporary tenancy.
- File every termination notice with the Rent Program. A copy of each termination notice, including a three-day notice to pay rent or quit, goes to the Rent Program with a proof of service within two business days after service. The Rent Board’s regulations treat a failure to file as a complete defense in an unlawful detainer.
- Plan for relocation payments. No-fault terminations, such as owner move-in, withdrawal from the market, and substantial repairs, require relocation payments and specific notices under Chapter 11.102.
- Check the state rules where the City’s do not apply. For some single-family homes and newer buildings, the statewide Tenant Protection Act (Civil Code sections 1946.2 and 1947.12) may still impose just-cause and rent-cap rules unless the property qualifies for an exemption and the required notice was given.
- Keep records. Keep leases, rent rolls, notices, proofs of service, Rent Program filings and fee receipts together for each property. A buyer, a lender or a court may ask for them.
What this checklist leaves out
It does not cover tenants’ rights, a specific property’s coverage status, or every notice a particular situation may require. The Rent Ordinance is written for residential rental units; commercial leases are generally governed by the lease itself (see commercial lease disputes).
Check the source
The City publishes landlord guidance and forms on its Rent Program landlord page. Statewide changes taking effect in 2027 are summarized in the 2027 landlord-law guide.
Talk with the office
Call (510) 255-1094, email daniel@buttlaw.com, or use the contact form. The office at 111 Park Place, Suite 204, in Point Richmond is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please do not send confidential details until the firm has confirmed in writing that it represents you.