Newark · Renting & eviction
Renting in Newark: the rules that apply
Newark offers rent review instead of a rent cap of its own, requires termination notices to be filed with the city, and bans landlord harassment. State law sets the rent cap for covered units, deposits and landlord entry.
Key points
- Rent review: City rule: no city rent cap; a tenant may request review within 15 calendar days of notice when increases over 12 months exceed 5%.
- 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: The city covers just cause and relocation in its city guidance, Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance.
- Termination notices: City rule: landlords file every termination notice with the community development department and report the tenancy's status within 60 days.
- 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.
- Harassment: City rule: bad-faith harassment, such as cutting services, abusing entry or refusing lawful rent, is banned and is a defense against eviction.
Each rule below is marked Newark code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
| Annual increase limit |
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| Petitions and pass-throughs |
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Also in Newark's code: Rent Review (Ch. 5.50); Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance (city guidance). This page does not summarize it yet.
CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Rent cap right now: 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.8% inflation) (Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)). California's statewide rent cap — the full state rule →
Eviction and just cause
Newark has a related local rule: Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance (city guidance). 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. |
|---|---|
| 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
Newark has a related local rule: Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance (city guidance). This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| No-fault eviction relocation assistance | One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice Applies: For no-fault just causes (owner move-in, withdrawal from market, substantial remodel, government order) on covered units; regardless of the tenant's income. |
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Notices
Newark code City rule: landlords file every termination notice with the community development department and report the tenancy's status within 60 days. State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
All 6 Newark rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Security deposits
CA state law Newark 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 Newark 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
Newark code City rule: bad-faith harassment, such as cutting services, abusing entry or refusing lawful rent, is banned and is a defense against eviction.
All 19 Newark rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Newark 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 Newark 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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| Who collects it |
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Other Newark rules on this
Newark's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Rent Review (Ch. 5.50)
- Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance (city guidance)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Newark?
City rule: no city rent cap; a tenant may request review within 15 calendar days of notice when increases over 12 months exceed 5%. State law caps rent increases on covered units at 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.
Does a landlord in Newark need a reason to evict?
The city covers just cause and relocation in its city guidance, Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance. Newark also has a related rule: Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance (city guidance).
Does a Newark landlord have to pay relocation?
Newark has a related local rule: Newark Tenant Protections: 2026 Rent Review, Notices, and Relocation Assistance (city guidance). Otherwise state law applies: 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)).
How much can a Newark landlord charge for a security deposit?
Newark 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 Newark?
Newark's code: 14% of the rent. (§ 3.16.020); Each operator collects the tax from every guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 3.16.040).
General information, not legal advice.
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