Antioch · Renting & eviction

Renting in Antioch: the rules that apply

Antioch adds its own rent stabilization, just-cause eviction, relocation pay, anti-harassment and buyout rules on top of state law. Antioch has no rules of its own on security deposits, repairs or landlord entry, so state law applies to those.

Ask about renting & eviction in Antioch See coverage

Key points

Rent increases: Under Antioch's rules, a landlord can petition for rent above the standard allowed amount for a fair return; tenants have 30 days to reply.
Just cause: Antioch's just-cause rules list the eviction grounds, such as unpaid rent or a lease breach not fixed 3 days after written notice.
Ending a tenancy: State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
Relocation pay: For a no-fault eviction, Antioch requires 2 months' rent plus moving expenses; households with a qualified tenant get 1 more month's rent.
Harassment: Antioch bans bad-faith harassment, such as cutting services or repeating buyout offers within 6 months after a written refusal.
Buyouts: Antioch tenants get a buyout agreement at least 5 days before signing, and may cancel in writing before the 30th day after everyone signs.

Each rule below is marked Antioch code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Rent increases

Antioch code Under Antioch's rules, a landlord can petition for rent above the standard allowed amount for a fair return; tenants have 30 days to reply.

All 5 Antioch rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Eviction and just cause

Antioch code Antioch's just-cause rules list the eviction grounds, such as unpaid rent or a lease breach not fixed 3 days after written notice.

All 15 Antioch rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Relocation payments

Antioch code For a no-fault eviction, Antioch requires 2 months' rent plus moving expenses; households with a qualified tenant get 1 more month's rent.

All 8 Antioch rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Notices

Antioch code State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.

All 5 Antioch rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Security deposits

CA state law Antioch 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

Antioch code What Antioch's code adds
Presumption period	No time limit; retaliation can be claimed no matter how much time has passed. § 11-4.01 · code text A tenant may assert retaliation affirmatively or as a defense to the landlord's action regardless of the period of time which has elapsed between the tenant's assertion or exercise of rights under this chapter and the alleged act of retaliation.
Protected activities	Asserting or using any right under these city rules. § 11-4.01 · code text No landlord may threaten to bring, or bring, an action to recover possession, cause the tenant to quit the unit involuntarily, serve any notice to quit or notice of termination of tenancy, decrease any housing services or increase the rent where the landlord's intent is retaliation against the tenant for the tenant's assertion or exercise of any right under this title.
Remedies	A defense against an eviction lawsuit. § 11-4.01 · code text Any action of retaliation described in division (A) shall be a defense to an action to recover possession, or it may serve as the basis for an affirmative action by the tenant for actual and punitive damages and injunctive relief. Actual and punitive damages, plus a court order to stop the conduct. § 11-4.01 · code text Any action of retaliation described in division (A) shall be a defense to an action to recover possession, or it may serve as the basis for an affirmative action by the tenant for actual and punitive damages and injunctive relief. The eviction case is void. Applies: If the landlord is found to have retaliated or harassed. § 11-6.08 · code text The landlord's eviction action being deemed void.

CA state law Underneath, California law still 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

Antioch code Antioch bans bad-faith harassment, such as cutting services or repeating buyout offers within 6 months after a written refusal.

All 25 Antioch rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Repairs and habitability

CA state law Antioch 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 Antioch 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 →

Buyout agreements

Antioch code What Antioch's code adds
Filing with the city	Yes, within 10 days after everyone signs the buyout agreement. § 11-6.07 · code text Landlord shall also file with the city a copy of the executed buyout agreement, along with proof of service to the tenant of the disclosure notice as required in this section, within ten days after the buyout agreement is executed by all parties.
Required terms	In English and, if negotiated in another language, in that language too, translated at the landlord's cost. § 11-6.07 · code text Be in writing in English and the language in which the buyout agreement was negotiated if other than English translated at the landlord's expense. The landlord must give each tenant the proposed agreement at least 5 days before signing. § 11-6.07 · code text The landlord shall give each tenant a copy of the proposed buyout agreement at least five days before it is executed by the parties. All 3 required statements in bold, at least 12-point type, next to the tenant's signature line. § 11-6.07 · code text Include the following statement in bold letters in at least 12-point boldface type in close proximity to the space reserved for the signature of the tenant: Statement: you may cancel in writing before the 30th day after everyone signs. § 11-6.07 · code text "You may cancel this buyout agreement in writing at any time before the thirtieth (30th) day after all parties have signed this buyout agreement." Statement: you have a right not to enter into a buyout agreement. § 11-6.07 · code text "You have a right not to enter into a buyout agreement." Statement: you may consult an attorney before signing. § 11-6.07 · code text "You may choose to consult with an attorney before signing this buyout agreement."
Time to cancel	30 days. Applies: Counted from when all parties have signed the buyout agreement. § 11-6.07 · code text A tenant shall have the right to rescind a buyout agreement for up to 30 days after its execution by all parties.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Antioch code What Antioch's code adds
Tax rate	10% of the rent charged by the operator. § 3-5.303 · code text For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel or motel, each person shall be subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of 10% of the rent charged by the operator.
Who collects it	The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. § 3-5.305 · code text Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by the provisions of this article to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient.

Condo conversions

Antioch code What Antioch's code adds
Relocation help	A plan for moving to comparable housing. Applies: Offered to each eligible tenant. § 9-5.3112 · code text The applicant shall offer to each eligible tenant a plan for relocation to comparable housing, as approved by the city. A relocation fee equal to 3 months' rent. Applies: For each tenant who does not choose to buy. Not available if the tenant was evicted for just cause. § 9-5.3112 · code text Payment of a relocation fee, equal to the amount of three month's rent, to each tenant who does not choose to purchase. 6 more months to find suitable replacement housing. Applies: Non-buying tenants who are handicapped, have minor children in school, or are 60 or older, living there before the completed tentative map application. § 9-5.3112 · code text Any tenant who chooses not to purchase and who is handicapped, or who has minor children in school, or is age 60 or older living in any unit prior to the time a completed tentative map application as determined by the Community Development Department shall be given an additional six months in which to find suitable replacement housing according to the timetable or schedule for relocation as approved in the conversion application.
Notice to tenants	Tenants may end any lease by giving 30 days' notice. Applies: Applies to tenants of a project proposed for conversion on the date of application. § 9-5.3112 · code text A tenant of any project proposed for conversion on the date of application for each conversion may terminate any lease after giving 30 days' notice.
Vacancy-rate test	The vacancy rate must be greater than 4.5%. Applies: Average rental vacancy rate in comparable multiple-family units in the city during the 12 months before the application is filed. § 9-5.3111 · code text The average rental vacancy rate in comparable multiple-family units (as defined by complex and unit size, age, and amenities) within the city during the 12 months preceding the filing of the application is greater than 4.5%; At a vacancy rate of 4.5% or less, a conversion may still be approved. Applies: A conditional use permit is possible if the applicant proposes added measures that effectively reduce tenant displacement and harm to the housing stock. § 9-5.3111 · code text provided, that a conditional use permit may be approved where the vacancy rate for comparable units is equal to or less than 4.5% if the applicant has proposed additional measures which the City Council finds would effectively mitigate the displacement of tenants and any adverse effects upon the housing stock within the city which would be caused by the proposed conversion.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much can an Antioch landlord charge for a security deposit?

Antioch 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 is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Antioch?

Antioch's code: 10% of the rent charged by the operator. (§ 3-5.303); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 3-5.305).

What happens to tenants when an Antioch building converts to condos?

Antioch's code: A plan for moving to comparable housing. (Offered to each eligible tenant.) (§ 9-5.3112); A relocation fee equal to 3 months' rent. (For each tenant who does not choose to buy. Not available if the tenant was evicted for just cause.) (§ 9-5.3112).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Antioch property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Antioch

Antioch Municipal Code — full text

Buying & selling in Antioch

Building on your lot in Antioch

Antioch overview