Skip to content

Oakland · Renting & eviction

Relocation payments in Oakland

For qualifying moves, Oakland's base payment per unit is $6,500 (studio/1-bedroom), $8,000 (2-bedroom) or $9,875 (3+ bedrooms), raised each July 1. Households with lower-income, elderly or disabled tenants or minor children get one extra $2,500 per unit, shared equally and not CPI-adjusted.

Ask about relocation payments in Oakland See coverage

Key points

  • Relocation pay: For qualifying moves, Oakland's base payment per unit is $6,500 (studio/1-bedroom), $8,000 (2-bedroom) or $9,875 (3+ bedrooms), raised each July 1.
  • Extra relocation: Households with lower-income, elderly or disabled tenants or minor children get one extra $2,500 per unit, shared equally and not CPI-adjusted.

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
Extra for protected tenants
  • A single additional relocation payment of $2,500.00 per unit.
    Applies: For Qualifying Relocation Events where the household includes lower income, elderly or disabled tenants, and/or minor children; divided equally among eligible tenants. Not increased by the annual CPI adjustment.
    § 8.22.820 · code text
    Tenant Households in Rental Units that include lower income, elderly or disabled Tenants, and/or minor children shall be entitled to a single additional relocation payment of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) per unit from the Owner.
Amount
  • The base relocation payment is $9,875.00 per unit.
    Applies: For units with 3 or more bedrooms, when tenants must move because of a Qualifying Relocation Event; divided equally among all tenants. This is the base amount in the code; it rises each July 1 with the CPI Adjustment, so the current amount is higher.
    § 8.22.820 · code text
    and nine thousand eight hundred seventy-five dollars ($9,875.00) per unit for units with three or more bedrooms.
  • The base relocation payment is $6,500.00 per unit.
    Applies: For studios and one-bedroom apartments, when tenants must move because of a Qualifying Relocation Event; divided equally among all tenants. This is the base amount in the code; it rises each July 1 with the CPI Adjustment, so the current amount is higher.
    § 8.22.820 · code text
    Tenant Households who are required to move as a result of a Qualifying Relocation Event shall be entitled to a relocation payment from the Owner in the sum of six thousand five hundred dollars ($6,500.00) per unit for studios and one-bedroom apartments;
  • The base relocation payment is $8,000.00 per unit.
    Applies: For two-bedroom apartments, when tenants must move because of a Qualifying Relocation Event; divided equally among all tenants. This is the base amount in the code; it rises each July 1 with the CPI Adjustment, so the current amount is higher.
    § 8.22.820 · code text
    eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00) per unit for two-bedroom apartments;
  • 1/3 of the total payment.
    Applies: Upon taking possession, for owner or relative move-in evictions when the tenant occupied the unit less than 1 year.
    § 8.22.850 · code text
    Upon taking possession of the rental unit, the tenant will be eligible for one-third (⅓) of the total payment pursuant to subsection B., above.
  • Eligible for two-thirds (⅔) of the total payment.
    Applies: For owner or relative move-in evictions, if occupancy was at least 1 year but less than 2 years when the termination notice took effect.
    § 8.22.850 · code text
    After one (1) year of occupancy of the rental unit, the tenant will be eligible for two-thirds (⅔) of the total payment pursuant to subsection B., above.
  • Eligible for the full amount of the total payment.
    Applies: For owner or relative move-in evictions, if the tenant occupied the unit 2 years or more as of the termination notice’s effective date.
    § 8.22.850 · code text
    After two (2) years of occupancy of the rental unit, the tenant will be eligible for the full amount of the total payment pursuant to subsection B., above.
  • Amounts in paragraphs A-B are the cap on relocation payments.
    Applies: For temporary relocations under O.M.C. 15.60.110 B.
    § 8.22.820 · code text
    In the case of temporary relocations under O.M.C. 15.60.110 B., the amounts in paragraphs A-B shall be a cap on relocation payments.
  • Relocation payments increase annually on July 1 in accordance with the CPI Adjustment.
    Applies: Applies to relocation payments and eviction notices served on or after July 1.
    § 8.22.820 · code text
    The relocation payments specified in subsection 8.22.820 A. shall increase annually on July 1 in accordance with the CPI Adjustment as calculated in O.M.C. subsection 8.22.070 B.3, and the increase shall apply to all eviction notices served on or after July 1. The first increase shall take place on July 1, 2017.
Exemptions
  • Tenant must choose relocation payments under this section or O.M.C. Chapter 15.60 and may not collect both.
    Applies: Applies when a tenant is also eligible under the code-enforcement relocation program in O.M.C. Chapter 15.60.
    § 8.22.450 · code text
    A tenant who is also eligible for relocation under the City of Oakland's code enforcement relocation program (O.M.C. Chapter 15.60), must elect for either relocation payments under this section or O.M.C. Chapter 15.60, and may not collect relocation payments under both.
  • Code compliance or Ellis Act evictions follow the Code Compliance Relocation Ordinance and the Ellis Act Ordinance.
    Applies: Stated in the owner or relative move-in relocation section.
    § 8.22.850 · code text
    Relocation payment procedures pursuant to code compliance or Ellis Act evictions will be governed by the Code Compliance Relocation Ordinance and the Ellis Act Ordinance.
When it is paid
  • The owner must pay the additional payment within 15 days of the tenant’s notice or eligibility documentation.
    Applies: For additional relocation payments in Ellis Act withdrawals for lower-income households, elderly or disabled tenants, and/or households with minor children.
    § 8.22.450 · code text
    The owner must pay the tenant the additional payment provided for in Section 8.22.450(B) within fifteen (15) days of the tenant's notice of eligibility or the tenant supplying documentation of the tenant's eligibility.
  • The owner must make the additional payment within 15 days of the tenant’s notice or documentation of eligibility.
    Applies: For additional relocation payments to households with lower income, elderly or disabled tenants, and/or minor children in owner or relative move-ins.
    § 8.22.850 · code text
    The owner must pay the tenant the additional payment provided for in Section 8.22.820 B. within fifteen (15) days of the tenant's notice of eligibility or the tenant supplying documentation of the tenant's eligibility.
  • Pay half of the relocation payment when the termination notice is given and the remaining half when the tenant vacates.
    Applies: For base relocation payments in Ellis Act withdrawals and owner or relative move-ins.
    § 8.22.450 · code text
    The owner must pay the tenant half of the relocation payment provided for in Section 8.22.450 A. when the termination notice is given to the household and the remaining half when the tenant vacates the unit.
When relocation is owed
  • The owner withdraws the accommodation from rent or lease, requiring the tenant household to move.
    Applies: For rental units withdrawn from rent or lease.
    § 8.22.450 · code text
    Tenant Households who are required to move as a result of the Owner's withdrawal of the accommodation from rent or lease shall be entitled to a relocation payment from the Owner equal to Relocation Payment amounts set forth in O.M.C. 8.22.820 A.
  • Relocation payment is required for an owner or relative move-in eviction or after a tenant leaves following the owner’s stated intent to recover possession.
    Applies: Applies to owner or relative move-ins.
    § 8.22.850 · code text
    An owner who evicts a tenant pursuant to O.M.C. Section 8.22.360 A.9. or where a tenant vacates following a notice or other communication stating the owner 's intent to seek recovery of possession of the unit under this O.M.C. Section must provide relocation payment under this Section.

The California rule underneath

Where Oakland's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see Relocation under California's just-cause law.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
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.
Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does an Oakland landlord have to pay relocation?

For qualifying moves, Oakland's base payment per unit is $6,500 (studio/1-bedroom), $8,000 (2-bedroom) or $9,875 (3+ bedrooms), raised each July 1. Households with lower-income, elderly or disabled tenants or minor children get one extra $2,500 per unit, shared equally and not CPI-adjusted.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Oakland property

Ask GoCodebook how Oakland's relocation payments rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on renting & eviction in Oakland

All renting & eviction rules in Oakland

Rent increases in Oakland

Relocation under California's just-cause law

Oakland Municipal Code — full text