Alameda · Renting & eviction

Harassment and lockouts in Alameda

Alameda's own rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Alameda Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Alameda's code says

Alameda code What Alameda's code adds
Prohibited acts	Interrupt, terminate, or fail to provide housing services required by contract or State/County/local housing, health, or safety laws. Applies: In bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Interrupt, terminate or fail to provide housing services required by contract or by State, County or local housing, health or safety laws; Not performing repairs and maintenance required contractually or by State, County, or local housing, health, or safety laws is prohibited. Applies: Only when the failure is in bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Fail to perform repairs and maintenance required by contract or by State, County or local housing, health or safety laws; Do not fail to exercise due diligence in completing repairs and maintenance once undertaken. Applies: Only when done in bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Fail to exercise due diligence in completing repairs and maintenance once undertaken; Do not abuse a landlord’s housing access right, including through unrelated, excessive, targeted, evidence-gathering, or overbroad entries. Applies: In bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Abuse the landlord's right of access into a housing accommodation as that right is specified in California Civil Code Section 1954. Do not abuse a tenant with offensive words or conduct inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction. Applies: Only when done in bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Abuse the tenant with words or conduct which are offensive and inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction; Do not use fraud, intimidation, or coercion to influence or attempt to influence a tenant to vacate a housing accommodation. Applies: Only when done in bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Influence or attempt to influence a tenant to vacate a housing accommodation through fraud, intimidation or coercion; Do not threaten a tenant with physical harm by word or gesture. Applies: When done in bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Threaten the tenant, by word or gesture, with physical harm; Violate a law prohibiting discrimination on any listed basis. Applies: In bad faith; bases: race, gender, gender identity, sexual preference/orientation, ethnic background, nationality, religion, age, parenthood, marriage, pregnancy, disability, AIDS, minor-child occupancy. § 6-61.40 · code text Violate any law which prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, sexual orientation, ethnic background, nationality, religion, age, parenthood, marriage, pregnancy, disability, AIDS or occupancy by a minor child; Do not interfere with a tenant's right to quiet use and enjoyment of a housing accommodation under California law. Applies: Only when done in bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Interfere with a tenant's right to quiet use and enjoyment of a housing Accommodation as that right is defined by California law; Do not refuse to acknowledge receipt of a tenant's lawful rent payment. Applies: Only when done in bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Refuse to acknowledge receipt of a Tenant's lawful rent payment; Do not interfere with tenant privacy, including entering or photographing areas beyond the scope of lawful entry or inspection. Applies: In bad faith. § 6-61.40 · code text Interfere with a tenant's right to privacy, including, but not limited to, entering or photographing portions of a housing accommodation that are beyond the scope of a lawful entry or inspection.

The California rule underneath

Where Alameda's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see Tenant harassment and lockouts in California.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
Lockouts and self-help eviction banned	A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or remove the tenant's belongings to force a tenant out Civ. Code § 789.3(b)
Utility shutoffs banned	A landlord may not cut off water, heat, electricity, gas or other utilities to force a tenant out Civ. Code § 789.3(a)
Lockout / shutoff penalty	Actual damages plus up to $100 per day of violation, at least $250 per cause of action, and attorney's fees Civ. Code § 789.3(c), (d)

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

General information, not legal advice.

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Alameda Municipal Code — full text