Richmond 2026 Annual General Adjustment

Official source: https://www.richmondca.gov/3376/Rent-Increase
Source retrieved: 2026-09-27
Date window: 2026-09-01 through 2027-08-31
Scope retained: 1.5% AGA, banked-increase cap, and Rent Program notice filing deadline.

Limitation: This is dated official operational guidance, not the full municipal code. Use the linked official source for the current version and confirm property-specific coverage, exceptions, service, and filing requirements.

Source: https://www.richmondca.gov/3376/Rent-Increase

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Rent Control & Annual General Adjustment

Current Rules at a Glance:

2026 Annual General Adjustment (AGA): 1.5% (Approved by the Rent Board on June 17, 2026)

Effective Date: Valid for increases taking effect between September 1, 2026, and August 31, 2027.

Maximum Cap: Up to 6.5% if utilizing "banked" previous untaken rent increases. If all applicable AGAs have gone into effect, your Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR) may be 1.5% plus the current rent.

Notice Deadline: Landlords must file the notice with the Rent Program within ten (10) business days of serving the tenant with a Proof of Service.

Annual General Adjustment Rent Increases 2016-2026

| Year | Allowable Rent Increase | Applies to Tenants Who Moved In BEFORE: | 2016 | 3.0% | September 1, 2015

(does not apply to the rent increase

notices on or before June 21, 2017)

| 2017 | 3.4% | September 1, 2016 | 2018 | 3.6% | September 1, 2017 | 2019 | 3.5% | September 1, 2018 | 2020 | 2.9% | September 1, 2019 | 2021 | 1.6% | September 1, 2020 | 2022 | 3.0% | September 1, 2021 | 2023 | 3.0% | September 1, 2022 | 2024 | 1.4% | September 1, 2023 | 2025 | 1.62% | September 1, 2024 | 2026 | 1.5% | September 1, 2025

Step 1: Compliance and Check Eligibility:

Ensure compliance with the Richmond Rent Ordinance, which includes:

Property Enrollment: Only required once. If there has been a change in ownership, mailing address, rental status, or agent, please complete the form.

Tenancy Registration for each rent-controlled unit.

Payment of the Residential Rental Housing Fee

Active Rental Business License (contact the Finance Department to verify (510) 620-5555)

Property Coverage: To confirm the status of your Rental Unit, contact the Richmond Rent Program.

Fully Covered Rental Units: Rent Control applies to multi-unit properties on one parcel built before February 1, 1995.

Partially Covered Rental Units: NOT subject to Rent Control, which includes:

Governmentally subsidized units/Section 8

Properties with one dwelling unit on one parcel (i.e., Single-Family Home or Condominium)

"New Construction" built with permits after February 1, 1995

Tenancy Length: The Annual General Adjustment (AGA) can only apply after a tenant has lived in the unit for one full calendar year.

Calculation Tool: Use the interactive Maximum Allowable Rent & Rent Increase Calculator to calculate the rent increase limit.

If you require assistance with calculating the rent increase amount, you may schedule an appointment with a Housing Counselor by contacting the Rent Program.

Step 2: Download Required Notice Forms:

Landlords may use the official templates. Providing an invalid notice makes the increase legally void.

2026 Annual General Adjustment Templates (1.5% AGA)

30 - Day Written Notice: Download 30-Day AGA Notice Template (PDF) - Used for total increases of 10% or less in a 12-month period.

90 - Day Written Notice: Download 90- Day AGA Notice Template (PDF) - Used for total increases of more than 10% in a 12-month period.

Rent Program Brochure: Download Official Rent Program Brochure - Must be served to the tenant alongside the increase notice

2025 Annual General Adjustment Templates (1.62% AGA)

30 - Day Written Notice: Download 30-Day AGA Notice Template (PDF) - Used for total increases of 10% or less in a 12-month period.

90 - Day Written Notice: Download 90- Day AGA Notice Template (PDF) - Used for total increases of more than 10% in a 12-month period.

Rent Program Brochure: Download Official Rent Program Brochure - Must be served to the tenant alongside the increase notice

Step 3: File with the Richmond Rent Program (Within 10 Business Days)

After serving the tenant, you must submit a copy of the notice plus a signed Proof of Service Form to the Rent Program by one of the following methods:

Online Submission: Complete the digital upload on the Richmond Form Center. Go to "File a Notice of Rent Increase with the Rent Board" below. If filing for more than five (5) Rental Units, online submission is required.

In-Person Delivery: Bring the documents to the Rent Program Office: 440 Civic Center Plaza, 2nd Floor, Richmond, CA 94804.

Mail Submission: Send documents to: Richmond Rent Program, 440 Civic Center, Suite 200, Richmond, CA 94804.

Important: Rent Increase Notice(s) will not be accepted by email to the Richmond Rent Program.

Rent Adjustment Petitions:

If the standard AGA rate does not fit your operational needs or if you believe an increase is unlawful, please visit Petition Forms for more information. Richmond Landlords and Tenants may file rent adjustment petitions, depending on the reasons allowed by the Richmond Rent Ordinance. The option to file a Rent Adjustment Petition is ONLY for Fully Covered Rental Units.

Need Assistance?

Speak directly with a Rent Program staff member who can assist you with scheduling an appointment with a Housing Counselor or submit an Appointment Request Form. Appointments are available by phone, in-person, or Zoom.

Phone: (510) 234-RENT (7368)

Email: rent@ci.richmond.ca.us

Office Hours: Monday-Friday | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM & 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM

Educational Materials and News

Instructional Video: Understanding Annual General Adjustments & Banking

Vídeo de Instrucciones: Entendiendo el Ajuste General Anual y la Banca

Rent Board Approves New Policy on Excess Rent Refunds

On June 19, 2019, the Rent Board rescinded Subsection (C) of Regulation 605, eliminating the requirement for Landlords to return excess rent via a cashier’s check with 10 days. In lieu of this requirement, and upon agreement of the Tenant, excess rent may be returned to the Tenant through the execution of a repayment agreement between the Tenant and Landlord, a reduction of Tenant’s rent until the amount is satisfied, the Landlord's partial payment of the amount owed combined with a reduction in rent, or other calculable forms of repayment. Under Section 11.100.100 of the Richmond Municipal Code, Tenants may not waive any provisions of the Rent Ordinance, which means that under any repayment plan, Tenants cannot waive or modify the amount of excess rent owed. The Tenant may only agree to modify the method and form of repayment. As is prudent practice, Landlords and Tenants are encouraged to document any agreement in writing and may request mediation through the Rent Program to facilitate an excess rent repayment agreement. Tenants who choose not to agree to a repayment plan, or whose Landlord fails to adhere to a previously agreed upon repayment plan, may file an Excess Rent petition with the Rent Program to compel the Landlord to refund any excess rent owed.