Redwood City, the San Mateo County seat on the mid-Peninsula, has no local rent control ordinance — California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act) is the only rent and eviction protection available to most eligible renters here.·Updated May 2026
✓
Key Takeaways
Most pre-2011 multi-unit rentals; single-family homes, condos, and units built after 2011 are exempt
5% + Bay Area CPI, max 10% per year — approximately 8.8% for 2025
Required after 12 months of tenancy; both at-fault and no-fault reasons apply under AB 1482
Redwood City sits at the geographic and governmental heart of San Mateo County, roughly midway between San Francisco and San Jose on the Peninsula. With an estimated population of around 85,000 and a renter share that hovers near 45%, the city is a significant rental market — one shaped by proximity to major tech employers in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and the broader Silicon Valley corridor. That demand has kept rents persistently high, making tenant protections especially consequential.
Unlike neighboring cities such as East Palo Alto (which has local rent stabilization) or San Francisco (with its own rent ordinance), Redwood City has never enacted a local rent control law. The primary — and only — rent and eviction protection available to most Redwood City renters is California's statewide AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019. AB 1482 caps annual rent increases and requires landlords to show just cause before evicting tenants who have lived in a unit for at least 12 months, but it covers a narrower slice of the rental market than a local ordinance would.
This guide explains exactly which Redwood City rentals qualify for AB 1482 protections, how the rent cap is calculated using the Bay Area Consumer Price Index, what just-cause eviction means in practice, and where to get help if your landlord is not following the law.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Redwood City?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units in Redwood City that received a certificate of occupancy at least 15 years before the current date. Because that threshold rolls forward each year, units generally must have been built in 2011 or earlier as of 2026. The unit must also be used as a residential rental — not owner-occupied, not transient lodging.
Beyond the age requirement, a tenant must have lived in the unit for at least 12 consecutive months before the rent cap and just-cause eviction protections kick in.
Units exempt from AB 1482 in Redwood City:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), regardless of how old the property is, unless the owner has failed to provide the required exemption notice
Buildings constructed within the last 15 years — as of 2026, any unit with a certificate of occupancy dated 2012 or later is exempt; this threshold advances each January
Owner-occupied duplexes — where the owner resides in one of the two units
Corporate-owned single-family homes rented to tenants, where the corporate owner has failed to provide required AB 1482 notices (note: these may still be covered if the notice was not served properly)
Government-subsidized affordable housing governed by stricter affordability covenants or Section 8 project-based contracts
Transient occupancy — hotels, motels, and short-term rentals
Commercial properties
If you are unsure whether your Redwood City unit qualifies, use the address lookup tool at RentCheckMe.com or contact Bay Area Legal Aid for a free assessment.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered Redwood City rentals, AB 1482 limits rent increases to 5% plus the percentage change in the Bay Area Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a hard ceiling of 10% per year. The relevant CPI figure is the Bay Area region (San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area), published annually by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For rent increases taking effect in 2025, the Bay Area CPI increase is approximately 3.8%, putting the allowable cap at roughly 8.8% — well below the 10% maximum. Landlords may not exceed this figure for covered units regardless of market conditions.
Key rules about timing and stacking:
A landlord cannot raise rent within the first 12 months of a new tenancy for AB 1482 protections to apply.
After the 12-month mark, a landlord may raise rent no more than once every 12 months.
Landlords cannot bank unused increases from one year and apply them in a future year — each year's cap is independent.
Any increase must be preceded by proper written notice: 30 days for increases of 10% or less, 90 days for increases above 10% (which are not permitted under AB 1482 for covered units).
Because Redwood City has no local rent board to enforce these limits, tenants must self-enforce. If your landlord raises rent beyond the AB 1482 cap, you can refuse to pay the excess, send a written objection, or seek help from Bay Area Legal Aid or Tenants Together.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a tenant has lived in a Redwood City rental unit for 12 months (or if any member of the household has lived there for 24 months), AB 1482 requires the landlord to have a legally recognized reason — called just cause — to terminate the tenancy. There are two categories: at-fault and no-fault.
At-fault just cause reasons (tenant has done something wrong):
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of the lease that is not corrected after written notice
Nuisance or criminal activity on the property
Subletting without landlord permission when the lease prohibits it
Refusal to sign a substantially similar lease renewal
Failure to vacate after the lease expires following proper notice
No-fault just cause reasons (tenant has done nothing wrong):
Owner move-in — the landlord or a qualified family member intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
Ellis Act withdrawal — the landlord is removing all units in the building from the rental market
Substantial remodel — work requiring permits that cannot be completed with the tenant in residence (the remodel must be genuine and extensive)
Demolition of the unit
Relocation assistance: For any no-fault eviction under AB 1482, the landlord must pay the tenant one month's rent as relocation assistance, or waive the final month's rent. This is a mandatory payment — landlords who fail to provide it may face legal liability. If you receive a no-fault eviction notice in Redwood City, document the notice and consult legal aid immediately to ensure you receive what you are owed.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Redwood City has no local rent control ordinance and no local rent board. The City Council has not passed rent stabilization legislation, meaning there is no local agency that tracks rent increases, hears tenant complaints about excessive rents, or administers a registration program for landlords.
A key reason cities like Redwood City face limits on enacting local rent control is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a state law that prohibits local governments from applying rent control to single-family homes, condominiums, or any unit built after February 1, 1995. Given that a large share of Redwood City's rental stock was built after that date — particularly in downtown corridors and newer mixed-use developments — any local ordinance would cover only a narrow slice of the market even if enacted.
In practical terms, the absence of a local ordinance means:
There is no local hotline or rent board where you can file a complaint about a rent increase.
AB 1482 protections are self-enforced — your landlord is not required to register with any local agency, and no city official is monitoring compliance.
If your unit is exempt from AB 1482 (a condo, a new building, a single-family home), you have no rent increase cap under either local or state law.
The City of Redwood City does operate a Housing Division that provides information about affordable housing programs and resources. San Mateo County also administers housing assistance through the San Mateo County Housing Authority and the Human Services Agency. While neither body enforces AB 1482 directly, they can connect tenants with legal aid and emergency rental assistance programs.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by confirming whether your Redwood City rental is covered by AB 1482 using the address lookup tool at RentCheckMe.com. Enter your address to check your unit's construction date and coverage status under the Tenant Protection Act.
Bay Area Legal Aid — free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including eviction defense and rent dispute help
Centro Legal de la Raza — free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant Bay Area residents
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; tenant rights hotline and resources
Housing Is Key — California state rental assistance and eviction prevention; call 833-430-2122
7. Resources for Redwood City Tenants
Bay Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including eviction defense and rent dispute assistance.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides a tenant rights hotline and educational resources on AB 1482.
Centro Legal de la Raza — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant residents throughout the Bay Area, including housing matters.
Housing Is Key — California state program for rental assistance and eviction prevention; call 833-430-2122 for support.
San Mateo County Housing Authority — Administers rental assistance programs and Section 8 housing vouchers for San Mateo County residents.
8. Important Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control and tenant protection laws change frequently, and individual circumstances vary. If you have a specific legal question about your tenancy in Redwood City, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in San Mateo County.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Redwood City has never enacted a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. The only rent increase protections available to Redwood City renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which caps increases and requires just-cause eviction for eligible units. There is no local rent board, no landlord registration program, and no city agency that enforces rent limits.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Redwood City?
For units covered by AB 1482, the maximum allowable increase is 5% plus the Bay Area Consumer Price Index, capped at 10% per year. For 2025, the Bay Area CPI is approximately 3.8%, putting the cap at roughly 8.8%. Increases can only be applied once every 12 months, and your landlord cannot roll unused increases from prior years into the current year. If your unit is a single-family home, condo, or was built after 2011, no rent increase cap applies.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Redwood City?
AB 1482 covers most multi-unit residential rentals in Redwood City where the building received a certificate of occupancy in 2011 or earlier (the 15-year rolling threshold). Key exemptions include single-family homes and condos (excluded under the Costa-Hawkins Act), units built in 2012 or later, and owner-occupied duplexes. You also need to have lived in the unit for at least 12 months before the rent cap and just-cause eviction protections apply. Use the address lookup at RentCheckMe.com to check your specific unit.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Redwood City?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482 and you have lived there for at least 12 months, your landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate your tenancy — either an at-fault reason (like nonpayment or lease violation) or a no-fault reason (like owner move-in or Ellis Act withdrawal). For no-fault evictions, you are entitled to one month's rent in relocation assistance. If your unit is exempt from AB 1482, your landlord can issue a 30- or 60-day notice to vacate without stating a reason, depending on the length of your tenancy.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Redwood City?
Because Redwood City has no local rent board, your main options are free legal aid organizations. Bay Area Legal Aid (baylegal.org) serves low-income Bay Area tenants with eviction defense and rent disputes. Centro Legal de la Raza (centrolegal.org) provides free services for Latino and immigrant residents. Tenants Together (tenantstogether.org) runs a statewide tenant rights hotline. For urgent rental assistance, contact Housing Is Key at 833-430-2122 or visit housingiskey.com.
Get notified when rent laws change in Redwood City
We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.