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Brentwood is a fast-growing city of approximately 65,000 residents in eastern Contra Costa County, situated in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Many tenants in Brentwood search for information about rent increases, security deposit rules, eviction protections, and their rights when a landlord fails to make repairs.
Brentwood does not have a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. However, tenants may be covered by California's statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), which limits annual rent increases and requires landlords to have just cause before ending a tenancy for qualifying units. State law also protects against security deposit overcharges, self-help evictions, and uninhabitable conditions.
This article is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently; consult a qualified attorney or local legal aid organization to understand how current law applies to your specific situation.
The City of Brentwood has no local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Landlords in Brentwood are not subject to any city-imposed cap on rent increases beyond what California state law requires.
Instead, many Brentwood tenants are covered by California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), codified at Civil Code § 1947.12. This statewide law caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum of 10%. For the period August 2025 through July 2026, the applicable CPI for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward metro area is 1.3%, making the effective cap 6.3% for covered units during this period.
AB 1482 applies to most residential rental units built before January 1, 2005, that are not already subject to a local rent control ordinance. Exemptions include single-family homes and condominiums (with proper notice), owner-occupied duplexes, and certain subsidized housing. Tenants should check whether their specific unit qualifies.
Even without a local ordinance, Brentwood tenants benefit from several important California state-law protections:
Just-Cause Eviction (AB 1482 / SB 567): Under Civil Code § 1946.2, landlords of covered units may not terminate a tenancy after 12 months without a qualifying just-cause reason. At-fault reasons include nonpayment of rent, lease violations, subletting without permission, and criminal activity. No-fault reasons — such as owner move-in or substantial renovation — require the landlord to provide relocation assistance equal to one month's rent. SB 567, effective April 1, 2024, tightened these requirements, restricting how landlords may use the substantial-remodel ground and requiring proof of intent.
Security Deposits (AB 12): Effective July 1, 2024, Civil Code § 1950.5 (as amended by AB 12) limits security deposits to one month's rent for most landlords. Small landlords who own no more than two residential properties with four or fewer total units may collect up to two months' rent. Deposits must be returned within 21 days after the tenant vacates, along with an itemized written statement of any deductions.
Habitability: Landlords must maintain rental units in a habitable condition under Civil Code §§ 1941.1 and 1942. If a landlord refuses to make necessary repairs, tenants may, under certain conditions, repair and deduct the cost from rent (up to one month's rent, once per 12-month period), or vacate and terminate the lease.
Retaliation Prohibited: Under Civil Code § 1942.5, a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for exercising any legal right — such as requesting repairs, contacting a code enforcement agency, or organizing with other tenants.
Source-of-Income Discrimination Prohibited: California Government Code § 12955 prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to tenants based on their source of income, including housing vouchers (Section 8).
Notice Requirements: For month-to-month tenancies, landlords must give 30 days' notice to tenants who have lived in the unit less than one year, and 60 days' notice for tenancies of one year or more (Civ. Code § 1946.1).
No Self-Help Evictions: Landlords are strictly prohibited from locking out tenants, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant to leave (Civ. Code § 789.3). Such actions entitle the tenant to actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
California law governs security deposits for Brentwood rentals. Under Civil Code § 1950.5, as amended by AB 12 (effective July 1, 2024):
To lawfully evict a tenant in Brentwood, a landlord must follow California's formal eviction process — there are no shortcuts.
Notice Requirements:
Just-Cause Requirements (AB 1482 / SB 567): For covered units, after 12 months of tenancy, landlords must state a qualifying just-cause reason in the termination notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2). No-fault terminations (e.g., owner move-in, substantial remodel, demolition) require the landlord to pay one month's rent as relocation assistance. SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024) added documentation requirements and limits on the substantial-remodel ground.
Unlawful Detainer Court Process: If the tenant does not comply with the notice and vacate, the landlord must file an unlawful detainer (UD) lawsuit in Contra Costa County Superior Court. The tenant has five court days to file a written response. If the landlord wins at trial or by default, the court issues a judgment and writ of possession, and only a sheriff can enforce the eviction.
No Self-Help Evictions: Landlords are prohibited from removing tenants by force, changing locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities (Civ. Code § 789.3). These actions expose the landlord to actual damages, punitive damages of up to $100 per day, and attorney's fees.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant and landlord laws change frequently; the information above may not reflect the most current legal developments. If you have a specific legal problem or question, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a local legal aid organization. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this article.
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