Rent Control in Concord

Key Takeaways

  • Multifamily buildings with 2+ units built before February 1995; single-family homes and condos are exempt from rent stabilization
  • Annual rent increases capped at 5% (effective August 1, 2025), replacing the prior cap of 3% or 60% of CPI
  • Just-cause eviction protections apply under the local ordinance; landlords with 3+ single-family homes or condos are covered; landlords with 2 or fewer are exempt
  • City of Concord Housing Division — concordca.gov

Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.

1. Overview of Rent Control in Concord

Concord is a mid-sized city in Contra Costa County in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. As rents climbed sharply across the region during the late 2010s and into the 2020s, tenant advocates pushed for local protections. In response, Concord enacted the Residential Tenant Protection Program, effective April 19, 2024, and subsequently amended on May 22, 2025. The program represents Concord's first formal rent stabilization and just-cause eviction framework.

The ordinance applies to multifamily rental properties built before February 1995, capping annual rent increases and requiring landlords to show just cause before terminating a tenancy. A rent registry requirement applies to all rental properties in the city, regardless of whether the unit is otherwise covered by rent stabilization.

For units that fall outside the local ordinance — including newer construction and most single-family homes — California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) may still apply, generally limiting annual rent increases to 5% plus local CPI (with a 10% ceiling) and providing its own just-cause eviction protections for qualifying tenants statewide.

2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Concord?

Concord's Residential Tenant Protection Program covers multifamily rental units meeting all of the following criteria:

Exempt from rent stabilization:

Just-cause eviction protections have a different scope: they extend to covered single-family homes and condos when the landlord owns 3 or more such properties. Landlords who own 2 or fewer single-family homes or condos are exempt from the just-cause provisions for those properties.

AB 1482 backstop: Tenants in newer multifamily buildings (built between 1995 and 15 years ago) or in exempt property types may still be protected by AB 1482, which caps increases at 5% + local CPI (max 10%) and requires just cause after 12 months of tenancy for qualifying units statewide.

3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases

Under the Concord Residential Tenant Protection Program, annual rent increases for covered units are capped as follows:

Landlords must provide proper written notice before any rent increase — generally 30 days for increases under 10% and 90 days for larger increases, consistent with California law.

Pass-throughs and petitions: Landlords who believe the standard cap does not cover extraordinary cost increases (such as capital improvements or government-mandated costs) may have the ability to petition for additional adjustments through the City's Housing Division. Tenants may also petition if they believe an increase violates the ordinance.

Banked increases: Landlords may not apply previously unused increase allowances from prior years cumulatively in a single year beyond the annual cap.

Units not covered by the local ordinance but subject to AB 1482 are limited to 5% + local CPI (not to exceed 10%) annually.

4. Just Cause Eviction Protections

Concord's Residential Tenant Protection Program requires landlords to have just cause before terminating a covered tenancy. Just-cause reasons are divided into at-fault and no-fault grounds.

At-fault just-cause reasons (tenant is responsible):

No-fault just-cause reasons (tenant is not at fault):

Relocation assistance: For no-fault terminations involving covered single-family homes and condos, the ordinance requires relocation assistance of 2 months' rent plus a $2,000 moving stipend for permanent relocations. Relocation assistance may also apply to no-fault evictions from covered multifamily units — tenants should confirm requirements with the City's Housing Division.

AB 1482 provides a parallel just-cause framework for tenants in units that qualify statewide but are not covered by the local ordinance, generally after 12 months of tenancy.

5. Local Rules and Special Protections

Administering Agency: The Concord Residential Tenant Protection Program is administered by the City of Concord Housing Division, within the Community Development Department. There is no standalone rent board; the Housing Division handles registration, complaints, and petitions.

Rent Registry: All rental property owners in Concord — including those whose units are exempt from rent stabilization — must register their rental units with the City's rent registry. Registration provides the City with data on rents and ownership, helps enforce the ordinance, and may be required before a landlord can raise rents or pursue eviction under the program. Landlords who fail to register may face penalties.

Filing a Petition: Both landlords and tenants may file petitions with the Housing Division. Tenants can petition to challenge a rent increase they believe exceeds the cap or to assert other violations of the ordinance. Landlords may petition for upward adjustments based on documented extraordinary costs. Petitions are reviewed by City staff, with hearings available in contested cases.

Anti-Harassment: The ordinance prohibits landlord harassment of tenants, including attempts to force tenants to vacate through interference with habitability, services, or quiet enjoyment. Tenants who experience harassment may file a complaint with the Housing Division.

Lease Renewals: Covered tenants have the right to lease renewal on similar terms, and a landlord's refusal to renew without just cause may constitute a violation of the ordinance.

6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources

Use RentCheckMe's address checker to quickly determine whether your Concord unit is likely covered by the local Residential Tenant Protection Program or by AB 1482.

The first stop for Concord-specific questions is the City of Concord Housing Division, which administers the program, maintains the rent registry, and accepts tenant and landlord petitions:

Additional resources for Concord renters:

7. Resources for Concord Tenants

8. Important Disclaimer

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws and local ordinances change frequently — the Concord Residential Tenant Protection Program was amended as recently as May 2025. For advice specific to your situation, contact the City of Concord Housing Division, Bay Area Legal Aid, or a licensed California attorney familiar with landlord-tenant law.

Check Your Address

Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.

Use the Address Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Concord have rent control?
Yes. Concord enacted the Residential Tenant Protection Program, effective April 19, 2024, which provides rent stabilization and just-cause eviction protections for eligible tenants. The program was amended on May 22, 2025. It applies to multifamily buildings with 2 or more units built before February 1, 1995. Tenants in units not covered by the local ordinance may still have protections under California's AB 1482.
What is the rent increase cap in Concord?
As of August 1, 2025, Concord's Residential Tenant Protection Program caps annual rent increases at 5% for covered units. This replaced the prior formula of 3% or 60% of CPI, whichever was lower. Landlords may only raise rent once per 12-month period and must provide proper written notice in advance.
Is my unit covered by Concord's rent control ordinance?
Your unit is likely covered if it is in a multifamily building with 2 or more units that was built before February 1, 1995. Single-family homes and condominiums are exempt from rent stabilization under the ordinance and under California's Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. If your unit was built after 1995 or is a condo or single-family home, you may still have protections under AB 1482 — check with the City's Housing Division or use RentCheckMe's address checker to confirm.
Can my landlord evict me without just cause in Concord?
No, not if your unit is covered by the Concord Residential Tenant Protection Program. Landlords must have a valid at-fault or no-fault just-cause reason to terminate a covered tenancy. No-fault evictions — such as owner move-in or removal from the rental market — may trigger relocation assistance of 2 months' rent plus a $2,000 moving stipend for qualifying tenants. Just-cause protections for single-family homes and condos apply only when the landlord owns 3 or more such properties.
How do I contact the Concord Rent Board?
Concord does not have a standalone rent board. The program is administered by the City of Concord Housing Division, which is part of the Community Development Department. You can reach them through the City's official website at concordca.gov, where you can also access the rent registry, file a petition, and submit tenant complaints. Bay Area Legal Aid (baylegal.org) can also help if you need free legal assistance.

Get notified when rent laws change in Concord

We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.