Official city rental guidance: oakland-just-cause

Official city rental guidance: oakland-just-cause¶

Official source: https://www.oaklandca.gov/Community/Housing-Programs-Support/Evictions-and-Tenant-Rights/Managing-Evictions-For-Landlords/Read-the-Just-Cause-for-Eviction-Ordinance

Snapshot retrieved: 2026-09-26T16:51:38.752461+00:00

Read the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance | City of Oakland, CA

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Read the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance

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Read the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance

The Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance prohibits a property owner from terminating a tenancy without good or just cause.

Current Ordinance

Current Regulations(PDF, 249KB)

All units covered by the Rent Adjustment Program are also covered under the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance. However, if your unit is not covered under RAP, it may still be covered under this ordinance.

This ordinance defines 10 good or just causes for an eviction as the following:

The tenant has not paid their rent.

The amount of rent demanded cannot be less than one month of fair market rent for a unit of equivalent size in the Oakland metro area as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The tenant has continued to violate a provision of the lease after written notice to stop.

The violation caused substantial actual injury to the landlord or to other residents

Includes failure to comply with income recertification requirements for deed-restricted affordable housing units.

The tenant's conduct was unreasonable; and

The term of tenancy is reasonable, legal, and was accepted in writing by the tenant.

The tenant has substantially damaged the unit and refused to stop damaging it or pay for repairs after written notice.

The tenant has continued to disturb other tenants and neighbors after written notice to stop.

The tenant uses the unit for something illegal (like selling drugs).

The tenant will not let the owner into the apartment, even with a 24 hours' written notice.

The owner wants to move back into the unit, if allowed by a written agreement with the tenant or it is allowed by the lease.

The owner or family member wish to move into the unit. Except if the tenant is:

60-years-old or older

disabled

catastrophically ill

The owner wants to remove the unit from the market through the Ellis Act.

The owner wants to perform substantial upgrades to the unit which cannot be completed with the tenant living there.

Previous Ordinance Versions

Just Cause Ordinance, 2007(PDF, 45KB) version reflecting portions invalidated pursuant to settlement in Kim v. City of Oakland

Just Cause Initiative Ordinance No. 12537(PDF, 856KB) enacted November 5, 2002

Previous Regulation Versions

Previous Just Cause for Eviction Regulations (2021)(PDF, 610KB)

Previous Just Cause for Eviction Regulations (2019)(PDF, 160KB)

Previous Just Cause for Eviction Regulations (2018)(PDF, 122KB)

Previous Just Cause Regulations (2017)(PDF, 221KB)

Previous Just Cause Regulations (2009)(PDF, 873KB)

Previous Just Cause Regulations (2007)(PDF, 43KB)

Previous Just Cause Regulations (2004)(PDF, 3MB)

Just Cause Summary (2008)(PDF, 22KB)

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