Albany · Renting & eviction
Renting in Albany: the rules that apply
Albany has no just-cause rule of its own; its Rent Review Program offers conciliation and mediation of increases over 5%, and the Rent Review Officer only recommends. State law sets the rent cap, just-cause and relocation rules for covered units.
Key points
- Rent review: City rule: a tenant may request review when increases total over 5% above base rent in 12 months; the increase is not delayed.
- Review request: City rule: send a written review request, with the notice copy, to the Director within 15 calendar days of receiving the notice.
- Rent cap: State law caps rent increases on covered units at 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
- Just cause: State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, a covered unit's tenancy may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.
- Notice to end: State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
- Relocation pay: State law: no-fault evictions of covered units require 1 month's rent as relocation pay or a rent waiver, paid within 15 calendar days.
Each rule below is marked Albany code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Albany code City rule: a tenant may request review when increases total over 5% above base rent in 12 months; the increase is not delayed. State law caps rent increases on covered units at 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
All 5 Albany rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Eviction and just cause
CA state law Albany has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Just cause required: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)). Just-cause eviction in California — the full state rule →
Relocation payments
CA state law Albany has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. No-fault eviction relocation assistance: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)). Relocation under California's just-cause law — the full state rule →
Notices
| Filing a copy with the city |
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|---|---|
| What a notice must say |
|
| Notice of a rent increase | At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% Applies: The 10% is measured against the rent charged at any time in the 12 months before the increase, counting all increases in that period together. |
|---|---|
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (landlord) | 60 days' notice; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year Applies: Where the unit is covered by just cause (Civ. Code § 1946.2) or a local ordinance, the notice must also state a qualifying cause. |
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (tenant) | At least as long as the rental period (one month for a month-to-month tenancy) |
| 30-day notice when the unit is sold to an owner-occupant | 30 days' notice when a separately sellable unit is in escrow to a natural person who will live there for at least a year Applies: Notice within 120 days of opening escrow, given once, and all § 1946.1(d) conditions met. |
| Notice to pay rent or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, stating the amount due and how to pay Applies: May be served any time within one year after the rent became due. |
| Notice to cure a lease violation or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, to perform the broken lease term or leave |
| No fee for serving notices | A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice |
Security deposits
CA state law Albany has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →
Retaliation
CA state law Albany has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →
Harassment and lockouts
CA state law Albany has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. 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)). Tenant harassment and lockouts in California — the full state rule →
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Albany has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →
Landlord entry
CA state law Albany has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →
Condo conversions
| Limits on conversions |
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|---|---|
| Relocation help |
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| Notice to tenants |
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| Tenants' right to buy |
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Other Albany rules on this
Albany's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Rent Review Program (§ 5-25)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Does a landlord in Albany need a reason to evict?
State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, a covered unit's tenancy may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.
Does an Albany landlord have to pay relocation?
State law: no-fault evictions of covered units require 1 month's rent as relocation pay or a rent waiver, paid within 15 calendar days.
How much notice does an Albany landlord have to give?
City rule: send a written review request, with the notice copy, to the Director within 15 calendar days of receiving the notice. State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
How much can an Albany landlord charge for a security deposit?
Albany has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)).
What happens to tenants when an Albany building converts to condos?
Albany's code: No more than 3% of the City's total multi-family rental housing may convert each year. (Based on the housing stock as of January 1 of each year. Nonprofit-motivated multifamily housing is not counted.) (§ 20.60.060); No more than 60% of the total annual allotment. (Applies to the first of the 2 yearly review rounds.) (§ 20.60.070).
General information, not legal advice.
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