Chico · Renting & eviction
Renting in Chico: the rules that apply
Chico has no relocation, notice or deposit rule of its own. For rent increases its code has Condominium Conversion Requirements (condominium conversions only); for eviction, a Prohibition of Price Gouging section (part of the price gouging ordinance).
Key points
- Rent increases: State law caps increases on covered units at 5% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months.
- Just cause: State law requires a just cause stated in the notice to end a covered tenancy after 12 months of lawful occupancy.
- Relocation pay: State law requires 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice, for no-fault evictions from covered units.
- 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.
- Deposits: State law limits a deposit to 1 month's rent, or 2 months for a qualifying small landlord, returned within 21 days of move-out.
Each rule below is marked Chico code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (extracted October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Chico has a related local rule: Condominium Conversion Requirements (§ 18.13.020) — condominium conversions only. This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Rent cap right now | 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the California consumer price index (Department of Industrial Relations), used for counties outside the four metro areas, April to April, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. |
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| Statewide rent increase cap (AB 1482) | 5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months Applies: Covered units only; measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. |
| Number of rent increases | No more than two increases in any 12-month period |
| Rent cap — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| Rent cap — single-family home or condo exemption | A home or condo that can be sold on its own is exempt when the owner is not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant was given the written exemption notice Applies: The same exemption applies to the just-cause rule (§ 1946.2(e)(8)). |
| Rent cap — owner-occupied duplex exemption | A duplex in one building is exempt when the owner lived in the other unit at the start of the tenancy and still does, unless either unit is an ADU or JADU |
| New tenancy resets the rent | When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases |
| Rent cap sunset | § 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Eviction and just cause
Chico has a related local rule: Prohibition of Price Gouging (§ 9.55.030) — part of the price gouging ordinance. This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Just cause required | After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice Applies: Covered units only (§ 1946.2(e) exempts, among others, housing built in the last 15 years and single-family homes or condos not owned by a corporation or REIT when the tenant got the required notice). If new adult tenants joined before anyone reached 24 months, all tenants need 12 months or one needs 24. |
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| Chance to cure first | For a curable lease violation, the owner must first serve a notice to cure before a 3-day notice to quit |
| Just cause — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| Just cause law sunset | § 1946.2 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Relocation payments
CA state law Chico 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
We found no Chico rule on this in the Chico Municipal Code (extracted October 2026). The state rule below applies.
| 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. |
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| 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 Chico 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 Chico 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 Chico 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 Chico 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 Chico 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 →
Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Condo conversions
| Relocation help |
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| Notice to tenants |
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| Tenants' right to buy |
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Other Chico rules on this
Chico's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Condominium Conversion Requirements (§ 18.13.020) — condominium conversions only
- Prohibition of Price Gouging (§ 9.55.030) — part of the price gouging ordinance
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Chico?
State law caps increases on covered units at 5% plus inflation or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months. Chico also has a related rule: Condominium Conversion Requirements (§ 18.13.020) — condominium conversions only.
Does a landlord in Chico need a reason to evict?
State law requires a just cause stated in the notice to end a covered tenancy after 12 months of lawful occupancy. Chico also has a related rule: Prohibition of Price Gouging (§ 9.55.030) — part of the price gouging ordinance.
Does a Chico landlord have to pay relocation?
State law requires 1 month's rent, paid within 15 calendar days of the notice, for no-fault evictions from covered units.
How much notice does a Chico landlord have to give?
State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
How much can a Chico landlord charge for a security deposit?
State law limits a deposit to 1 month's rent, or 2 months for a qualifying small landlord, returned within 21 days of move-out.
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Chico?
Chico's code: The hotel tax is 10% of the rent. (§ 3.52.080); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 3.52.100).
What happens to tenants when a Chico building converts to condos?
Chico's code: Current, ongoing information on the location and rent of comparable rental housing in the Chico urban area. (Each tenant who chooses not to buy their unit.) (§ 18.13.030); Transportation, or its reasonable cost up to 25% of the monthly rent. (Tenants 62 or older, disabled or lower income; to find comparable replacement housing in the Chico urban area.) (§ 18.13.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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