Antioch's Rent Stabilization Ordinance, effective November 2022, limits annual rent increases and requires just cause for evictions in qualifying units. California's AB 1482 provides a backstop for units not covered by the local ordinance.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Residential rental units with a certificate of occupancy issued before February 1, 1995. Single-family homes and condominiums are exempt.
Annual increases capped at the lesser of 3% or 60% of the CPI for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area.
Just-cause eviction protections apply under the Antioch Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, effective September 10, 2024.
City of Antioch Rent Program — https://www.antiochca.gov/rent
Antioch is a city in eastern Contra Costa County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area along the San Joaquin River Delta. Like many Bay Area cities, Antioch experienced significant rent increases in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, placing substantial pressure on lower-income renters. In response, the City of Antioch enacted the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), which became effective on November 11, 2022, making Antioch one of the more recent Bay Area cities to adopt formal rent stabilization protections.
The RSO limits annual rent increases for qualifying pre-1995 rental units and established the Antioch Rent Program to administer and enforce these protections. Complementing the RSO, the city subsequently passed the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (effective September 10, 2024) and the Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (effective October 12, 2023), creating a comprehensive framework of tenant protections in Antioch.
Rental units not covered by Antioch's local ordinance — such as units built in 1995 or later, single-family homes, and condominiums — may still be protected by California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (up to 10%) and requires just cause for eviction for tenants who have lived in a unit for 12 months or more.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Antioch?
The Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance covers residential rental units whose certificate of occupancy was issued before February 1, 1995. Because city data only tracks construction year as a whole number, units built in 1994 or earlier are reliably covered; units recorded as built in 1995 may or may not be covered depending on whether their certificate of occupancy predates February 1, 1995.
Units covered by the Antioch RSO:
Residential rental units with a certificate of occupancy issued before February 1, 1995
Multi-unit apartment buildings meeting the pre-1995 threshold
Units exempt from the Antioch RSO:
Single-family homes (exempt under Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act)
Condominiums (exempt under Costa-Hawkins)
Units with a certificate of occupancy issued on or after February 1, 1995
Units where the owner shares the dwelling with a tenant (owner-occupied duplexes and similar arrangements may be exempt — confirm with the Antioch Rent Program)
Subsidized affordable housing units with rent restricted by a government agency
AB 1482 backstop for uncovered units:
If your unit is exempt from the Antioch RSO — for example, it was built in 1995 or later, or it is a single-family home or condo — you may still be protected by California's AB 1482. AB 1482 caps annual increases at 5% plus local CPI (maximum 10%) and requires just cause for eviction for tenants with 12 or more months of continuous occupancy. AB 1482 does not apply to single-family homes and condos where the owner has provided required written notice of the exemption, or to units built within the last 15 years.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
Under the Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance, landlords of covered units may increase rent by no more than the lesser of 3% or 60% of the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metropolitan area in any 12-month period. This formula is designed to tie allowable rent increases to actual inflation while capping them at 3% in higher-inflation years.
The applicable CPI figure is determined annually, so the allowable increase percentage may vary from year to year. Landlords and tenants should check with the Antioch Rent Program each year to confirm the current allowable increase percentage before any rent change is implemented.
Additional rent increase rules:
Banked increases: Check with the Antioch Rent Program regarding whether unused annual increases may be banked and applied in future years.
Landlord petition for fair return: Landlords who believe the allowable increase does not provide a fair return on their investment may petition the Rent Program for relief.
Capital improvement pass-throughs: The ordinance may permit landlords to petition to pass through costs of certain capital improvements. Contact the Rent Program for current rules.
Vacancy decontrol: Under Costa-Hawkins, landlords may reset rent to market rate upon a tenant voluntarily vacating or being lawfully evicted. The new tenant's rent then becomes the base rent subject to RSO limits going forward.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Antioch's Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, effective September 10, 2024, prohibits landlords from terminating a tenancy covered by the ordinance without a valid just-cause reason. This protection generally applies to tenants who have continuously and lawfully occupied their unit for at least 12 months.
At-fault just-cause reasons (tenant is at fault):
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of a lease term after written notice to cure
Maintaining, committing, or permitting a nuisance
Committing waste to the rental unit
Criminal activity on or near the premises
Refusal to sign a new lease with materially similar terms
Subletting in violation of the lease
Refusal to provide the landlord access to the unit as required by law
No-fault just-cause reasons (tenant is not at fault):
Owner or qualified family member move-in
Withdrawal of the unit from the rental market (Ellis Act)
Substantial rehabilitation or renovation requiring vacancy (with required permits)
Demolition of the unit
Government or court order requiring vacancy
Relocation assistance:
For no-fault evictions, landlords are generally required to provide relocation assistance to displaced tenants. The specific amount and conditions are set by the ordinance — contact the Antioch Rent Program for current relocation assistance amounts and eligibility.
Relationship to AB 1482:
For units not covered by Antioch's Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, California AB 1482 provides just-cause eviction protections for eligible tenants (12+ months of occupancy) in qualifying units. AB 1482 requires relocation assistance equivalent to one month's rent for no-fault terminations.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Antioch Rent Program
The City of Antioch administers its Rent Stabilization Ordinance through the Antioch Rent Program. The program oversees landlord registration, annual rent increase notifications, petition processes, and enforcement of the ordinance's tenant protections.
Landlord registration requirements:
Landlords of covered units are required to register their rental properties with the Antioch Rent Program and pay an annual registration fee. Failure to register may affect a landlord's ability to implement rent increases. Tenants can inquire with the Rent Program whether their unit's landlord is properly registered.
Filing a petition:
Both tenants and landlords may file petitions with the Antioch Rent Program. Tenants may petition if they believe a landlord has imposed an unlawful rent increase or has failed to maintain habitable conditions. Landlords may petition for a fair return if they believe the allowable increase is insufficient. Contact the Rent Program directly to obtain petition forms and information on the hearing process.
Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance:
Antioch's Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance, effective October 12, 2023, prohibits landlords from engaging in conduct designed to force a tenant to vacate, including threatening tenants, interfering with their quiet enjoyment, withholding repairs, reducing services, or taking retaliatory actions. Tenants who experience harassment may file a complaint with the Rent Program and may have a private right of action against a landlord who violates the ordinance.
Tenants and landlords should contact the Rent Program directly for current contact numbers, office hours, and petition deadlines.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Use RentCheckMe's address checker to quickly determine whether your Antioch unit is covered by the local Rent Stabilization Ordinance or by California's AB 1482 statewide protections.
Local & regional resources:
Antioch Rent Program — www.antiochca.gov/rent — The primary resource for Antioch RSO questions, registration, and petitions.
Bay Area Legal Aid — baylegal.org — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including housing matters.
Centro Legal de la Raza — centrolegal.org — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant Bay Area residents facing housing issues.
Tenants Together — tenantstogether.org — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; maintains a directory of tenant rights resources by city.
Housing Is Key (State of California) — housingiskey.com — State housing resource hotline: 833-430-2122.
Contra Costa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — For referrals to local attorneys who handle landlord-tenant disputes in Contra Costa County.
7. Resources for Antioch Tenants
Antioch Rent Program — Official city program administering the Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance, Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, and Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance. File petitions, check landlord registration status, and get current allowable increase information.
Bay Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including assistance with unlawful rent increases, evictions, and habitability issues.
Centro Legal de la Raza — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant residents of the Bay Area facing housing and other civil legal issues.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides tenant rights education and a directory of local resources.
Housing Is Key — California state housing resource hub 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, ordinance provisions, and applicable CPI percentages change frequently. The information on this page reflects our best understanding as of May 2026 but may not reflect recent amendments or administrative changes. For advice about your specific situation, contact the Antioch Rent Program directly, or reach out to a qualified legal aid organization such as Bay Area Legal Aid.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Yes. Antioch enacted its Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), which became effective November 11, 2022. The RSO limits annual rent increases for qualifying residential units and is enforced by the Antioch Rent Program. Antioch also has a Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (effective September 10, 2024) and a Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance (effective October 12, 2023).
What is the rent increase cap in Antioch?
Under the Antioch RSO, landlords may raise rent annually by no more than the lesser of 3% or 60% of the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area. The exact allowable percentage is recalculated each year based on current CPI data. Tenants should confirm the current cap with the Antioch Rent Program before accepting any rent increase notice.
Is my unit covered by Antioch's rent control ordinance?
Your unit is covered by the Antioch RSO if it has a certificate of occupancy issued before February 1, 1995, and is not a single-family home or condominium (both of which are exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act). Units built in 1995 or later, single-family homes, and condos are not covered by the local ordinance but may qualify for protections under California's AB 1482. Use RentCheckMe's address checker or contact the Antioch Rent Program to confirm your unit's status.
Can my landlord evict me without just cause in Antioch?
Not if you are covered by Antioch's Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, which became effective September 10, 2024. Landlords must have a qualifying at-fault or no-fault reason to terminate a covered tenancy, and no-fault evictions generally require payment of relocation assistance. Tenants in units not covered by the local ordinance may still have just-cause protections under California's AB 1482 if they have lived in the unit for 12 months or more.
How do I contact the Antioch Rent Board?
Antioch's rent stabilization program is administered by the Antioch Rent Program, which can be reached through the city's official website at antiochca.gov/rent. From there you can find current contact information, petition forms, landlord registration details, and the current allowable rent increase percentage. For legal assistance, Bay Area Legal Aid (baylegal.org) serves Contra Costa County tenants at no cost.
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