Alameda has a local Rent Control Ordinance that stabilizes rents and requires just cause for eviction in qualifying multi-unit buildings. For units not covered by the local ordinance, California's AB 1482 provides a statewide backstop.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Multi-unit properties (2+ units on a legal lot) built before February 1995. Single-family homes and condos are not automatically exempt — the 2+ unit requirement is the key factor. Temporary tenancies of 30 days or less are exempt.
Annual General Adjustment (AGA) tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI); the exact percentage is set each year by the Alameda Rent Program.
Just-cause eviction protections apply to covered units under the local ordinance, with relocation assistance required for certain no-fault evictions.
City of Alameda Rent Program — https://www.alamedaca.gov/rentprogram
Alameda is a mid-sized island city in Alameda County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area directly east of Oakland. Like many Bay Area cities, Alameda experienced rapid rent increases during the region's technology-driven housing boom, prompting residents and tenant advocates to push for local protections. In response, Alameda voters passed Measure L1 in November 2016, establishing the City of Alameda Rent Control Ordinance (codified in Alameda Municipal Code Chapter VI, Article XV). The ordinance took effect in early 2017 and has been administered by the City's Rent Program ever since.
The Alameda Rent Control Ordinance provides three core protections for eligible renters: rent stabilization through an Annual General Adjustment (AGA) tied to the Consumer Price Index, just-cause eviction requirements, and relocation payment obligations when tenants are displaced through no-fault evictions. Unlike the rent control laws in San Francisco or Berkeley, Alameda's ordinance does not automatically exempt single-family homes or condominiums — the defining criterion is whether the property contains two or more units on a legal lot and was built before February 1995.
Renters living in units that fall outside the local ordinance's coverage — such as units in buildings constructed in 1995 or later — may still have protections under California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019). AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (up to 10% total) and requires just cause for eviction in buildings that are at least 15 years old, acting as a critical backstop where local rent control does not reach.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Alameda?
The Alameda Rent Control Ordinance applies to residential rental units that meet all of the following criteria:
Located in a building or on a legal lot with two or more residential units
Built before February 1, 1995 (units in buildings constructed in 1995 are potentially covered only if built in January 1995; without month-level data this cannot always be confirmed)
Used as a residential rental (not owner-occupied or transient)
The following units are exempt from the local ordinance:
Units in buildings with only one residential unit on the legal lot (i.e., true single-unit parcels) — though note that single-family homes and condos on a lot with 2+ units are not automatically exempt
Units built on or after February 1, 1995
Temporary or transient tenancies of 30 days or less
Subsidized affordable housing units where rent is restricted by a government program (in some circumstances)
For units not covered by the local ordinance — including newer construction built 15 or more years ago — AB 1482 may apply. AB 1482 limits annual rent increases to 5% plus local CPI (maximum 10%) and requires just cause for eviction, but it does not create a rent board process or allow individual rent decrease petitions. Single-family homes and condominiums are exempt from AB 1482 when the owner has provided proper written notice of the exemption.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
Under the Alameda Rent Control Ordinance, rent increases for covered units are governed by the Annual General Adjustment (AGA). Each year, the Alameda Rent Program calculates the AGA based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metropolitan area. Landlords of covered units may raise rents by the AGA percentage without filing a petition with the Rent Program, provided they follow proper notice requirements.
Key rules for rent increases under the ordinance include:
Only one rent increase per unit per 12-month period is permitted under the AGA.
Landlords may bank unused AGA increases and apply them in future years, subject to limits set by the Rent Program.
Increases above the AGA require filing a Landlord Petition for Upward Rent Adjustment with the Rent Program, which may be granted for documented capital improvement costs or fair return on investment.
Tenants may file a Tenant Petition for Downward Rent Adjustment if the landlord has failed to maintain habitable conditions or has otherwise violated the ordinance.
For units covered only by AB 1482 (not the local ordinance), the cap is 5% plus the regional CPI, with a maximum of 10% per year. Landlords must provide at least 90 days' written notice for any increase over 10% of the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
The Alameda Rent Control Ordinance requires landlords to have just cause to terminate a tenancy in any covered unit. Just-cause reasons are divided into at-fault and no-fault categories.
At-fault just-cause reasons (tenant is responsible):
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of the lease that is not cured after written notice
Nuisance or illegal activity on the premises
Refusal to execute a new lease with substantially similar terms upon expiration
Subletting in violation of the lease
Failure to vacate after the tenancy has been lawfully terminated for other at-fault reasons
No-fault just-cause reasons (landlord is responsible for the displacement):
Owner move-in (landlord or qualifying family member will occupy the unit as primary residence)
Withdrawal of the unit from the rental market under the Ellis Act
Substantial rehabilitation or necessary repairs requiring the unit to be vacated
Demolition of the unit
When a landlord terminates a tenancy for a no-fault reason, the ordinance requires the payment of relocation assistance to the displaced tenant. The amount of relocation assistance is set by the Rent Program and is generally calculated based on a multiple of the tenant's current monthly rent. Landlords must pay relocation assistance before or at the time the tenant vacates.
For units covered by AB 1482 but not the local ordinance, similar at-fault and no-fault just-cause categories apply after 12 months of occupancy, and relocation assistance of one month's rent is required for no-fault terminations.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
The City of Alameda Rent Program administers the Rent Control Ordinance. The Rent Program is staffed by city employees and overseen by the Alameda Rent Review Advisory Committee (RRAC), which conducts hearings on landlord and tenant petitions.
Unit Registration: Landlords of covered rental units are required to register their units with the Rent Program annually and pay a per-unit registration fee. Failure to register can limit a landlord's ability to collect rent increases and may result in penalties. Tenants can verify whether their unit is registered through the Rent Program's online portal.
Filing a Petition: Both landlords and tenants may file petitions with the Rent Program:
Landlord Petition for Upward Rent Adjustment: Used when a landlord seeks a rent increase above the AGA, based on capital improvements, operating cost increases, or fair return.
Tenant Petition for Downward Rent Adjustment: Used when a tenant believes their rent exceeds the lawful amount, or the landlord has failed to maintain the unit in habitable condition.
General Petitions: Either party may petition for a hearing before the RRAC on other disputes arising under the ordinance.
Petitions are submitted to the Rent Program office (2263 Santa Clara Ave., Room 190, Alameda, CA 94501) or online through the City's portal. After submission, the RRAC schedules a mediation or hearing. Decisions of the RRAC may be appealed to the Alameda Rent Hearing Officer.
Anti-Harassment Provisions: The Alameda Rent Control Ordinance prohibits landlord harassment of tenants. Prohibited conduct includes threatening tenants, interfering with their right to quiet enjoyment, attempting to coerce a tenant to vacate through unlawful means, and retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights under the ordinance. Tenants who experience harassment may file a complaint with the Rent Program or pursue civil remedies.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Use RentCheckMe's address checker to quickly determine whether your Alameda rental unit is covered by the local Rent Control Ordinance or by California's AB 1482 statewide protections.
The primary official resource for Alameda renters is the City of Alameda Rent Program:
City of Alameda Rent Program — Official ordinance information, unit registration lookup, petition forms, and staff assistance. Phone: (510) 747-4346.
Additional resources for Alameda renters:
Bay Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including eviction defense and rent board representation.
Centro Legal de la Raza — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant renters in the Bay Area.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides know-your-rights resources and referrals.
Housing Is Key — State of California housing assistance hotline: 833-430-2122.
7. Resources for Alameda Tenants
City of Alameda Rent Program — Official administrator of the Alameda Rent Control Ordinance. Handles unit registration, AGA announcements, landlord and tenant petitions, and RRAC hearings.
Bay Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including eviction defense and representation before rent boards.
Centro Legal de la Raza — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant renters in the Bay Area, including housing and eviction matters.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering know-your-rights resources, local chapter support, and referrals.
Housing Is Key — State of California housing assistance program and hotline (833-430-2122) for renters facing housing instability.
8. Important Disclaimer
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI adjustments, and local ordinance provisions change frequently — always verify current rules with the City of Alameda Rent Program or a qualified tenant rights attorney. If you need legal assistance, contact Bay Area Legal Aid or Centro Legal de la Raza for free services.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Yes. Alameda voters passed Measure L1 in November 2016, establishing the City of Alameda Rent Control Ordinance (Alameda Municipal Code Chapter VI, Article XV), which took effect in 2017. The ordinance provides rent stabilization, just-cause eviction protections, and relocation assistance requirements for qualifying rental units. Units not covered by the local ordinance may still be protected by California's statewide AB 1482.
What is the rent increase cap in Alameda?
For units covered by the Alameda Rent Control Ordinance, the annual rent increase cap is set by the Annual General Adjustment (AGA), which is calculated each year based on the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area. Landlords may apply banked increases from prior years subject to Rent Program limits. Increases above the AGA require a landlord petition and Rent Program approval. For units covered only by AB 1482, the cap is 5% plus local CPI, up to a maximum of 10% per year.
Is my unit covered by Alameda's rent control ordinance?
Your unit is likely covered if it is in a building or on a legal lot with two or more residential units and was built before February 1, 1995. Unlike some California cities, Alameda does not automatically exempt single-family homes or condominiums — the two-or-more-unit requirement is the key factor. Temporary tenancies of 30 days or less are exempt. You can verify coverage through the City of Alameda Rent Program's online portal or by calling (510) 747-4346.
Can my landlord evict me without just cause in Alameda?
No, not if your unit is covered by the Alameda Rent Control Ordinance. Landlords must have a recognized at-fault reason (such as nonpayment of rent or lease violation) or a no-fault reason (such as owner move-in or Ellis Act withdrawal) to terminate a covered tenancy. For no-fault evictions, the landlord must pay relocation assistance as required by the Rent Program. Units covered only by AB 1482 have similar just-cause protections after the tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months.
How do I contact the Alameda Rent Board?
The City of Alameda Rent Program administers the ordinance and can be reached by phone at (510) 747-4346 or in person at 2263 Santa Clara Ave., Room 190, Alameda, CA 94501. The program's website at alamedaca.gov/rentprogram offers petition forms, registration information, and AGA announcements. The Rent Review Advisory Committee (RRAC) holds public hearings on landlord and tenant petitions.
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