Condo conversions in Oakland: the local rules

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

What Oakland's code says

Oakland code What Oakland's code adds
Relocation help	Relocation payments under the city's code-compliance relocation rules. Applies: Tenants who moved in without the required conversion notice, do not buy, and move out for code compliance repairs. § 16.36.030 · code text Tenants who vacate for code compliance repairs shall be paid relocation payments pursuant to O.M.C. Chapter 15.60. Relocation payments under the city's owner move-in relocation rules. Applies: Tenants who moved in without the required conversion notice, do not buy, and move out for an owner or relative move-in. § 16.36.030 · code text Tenants who vacate due to owner or relative move-in shall be paid relocation payments pursuant to OMC Section 8.22.850. Relocation payments under the city's Ellis Act relocation rules. Applies: Tenants who moved in without the required conversion notice, do not buy, and move out after an Ellis Act eviction. § 16.36.030 · code text Tenants who vacate due to an Ellis Act eviction shall be paid relocation payments pursuant to O.M.C. Section 8.22.450. Relocation payments in the amounts set by the city's relocation rules. Applies: Tenants who moved in without the required conversion notice, do not buy, and move out for any other reason except tenant fault. § 16.36.030 · code text Tenants who vacate for any other reason, unless evicted for tenant fault, shall be paid relocation payments in amounts pursuant to OMC Section 8.22.820. The owner pays the relocation payment at least 10 days before the expected move-out date. Applies: Applies to tenants who moved in without the required conversion notice and move out voluntarily. § 16.36.030 · code text If the tenant voluntarily vacates the premises, the owner shall make the payment directly to an eligible tenant household no later than ten (10) days before the expected vacation date.
Notice to tenants	Tenants may end their lease without penalty by giving the subdivider 30 days' written notice. Applies: After receiving the tenant rights notice; ends if the subdivider gives notice it abandoned the conversion. § 16.36.050 · code text After receipt of this notice, each tenant will be entitled to terminate his or her lease or rental agreement without any penalty upon notifying the subdivider in writing thirty (30) days in advance of such termination; Written notice of the tenant's right to buy, 17 days before the subdivider's sales program starts. Applies: Applies to conversions of 4 units or less. § 16.36.032 · code text If the conversion involves four (4) units or less, in which case no public report is issued, the subdivider shall give, seventeen (17) days before the start of the subdivider's sales program, a written notice to each tenant Within 5 days after the subdivision public report is received. Applies: Applies to conversions of 5 or more units; notice of the exclusive right to buy. § 16.36.032 · code text For conversions involving five (5) or more units, the subdivider shall give written notice within five (5) days after receipt of the subdivision public report to each tenant of his or her exclusive right Within 5 calendar days of receiving the buyer's offer. Applies: Applies to the owner's notice of intent to accept a buyer's offer and its terms. § 16.36.050 · code text The owner(s) (subdivider(s)) shall notify the tenant of owner's intent to accept a buyer's offer, and terms of offer, within five (5) calendar days of owner(s) receiving offer.
Tenants' right to buy	An exclusive right for at least 90 days to buy their own unit, at least 10% below public offering terms. Applies: Starts when the final subdivision public report is issued or, if none, when the sales program starts. § 16.36.032 · code text For conversions involving five (5) or more units, the subdivider shall give written notice within five (5) days after receipt of the subdivision public report to each tenant of his or her exclusive right for at least ninety (90) days after issuance of the subdivision public report to contract for the purchase of his or her respective unit 14 calendar days to match an accepted buyer's offer, less a discount of at least 10%. Applies: Applies after the owner gives notice of intent to accept a buyer's offer. § 16.36.050 · code text Thereafter, the tenant has fourteen (14) calendar days to match buyer's offer less a discount of at least ten (10) percent by entering into a purchase and sale agreement with owner(s).

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

Oakland's code: Relocation payments under the city's code-compliance relocation rules. (Tenants who moved in without the required conversion notice, do not buy, and move out for code compliance repairs.) (§ 16.36.030); Relocation payments under the city's owner move-in relocation rules. (Tenants who moved in without the required conversion notice, do not buy, and move out for an owner or relative move-in.) (§ 16.36.030).

Condo conversions in Oakland

What Oakland's code says

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