Richmond · Renting & eviction

Renting in Richmond: the rules that apply

Richmond's own rules first, then the state law underneath — with the code text for every value.

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Key points

Rent increases — Richmond rule Eviction and just cause — Richmond rule Relocation payments — Richmond rule Notices — Richmond rule Security deposits — state law Retaliation — Richmond rule Harassment and lockouts — Richmond rule Repairs and habitability — state law Landlord entry — state law Short-term rentals — Richmond rule Hotel and short-term rental tax — Richmond rule

Richmond adds its own rules on rent increases, eviction and just cause, relocation payments, notices, retaliation, harassment and lockouts, short-term rentals and hotel and short-term rental tax on top of California's statewide rules. Each value below links to the section of the Richmond Municipal Code it was read from (checked October 2026).

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

Rent increases

Richmond code 60 percent of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, or three percent, whichever is lower Annual general adjustment ceiling: three percent

All 6 Richmond rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Eviction and just cause

Richmond code Legally owed rent nonpayment; continuing material lease breach, nuisance/substantial damage or refusal of reasonable lawful access after required written notice Unpaid rent after three-calendar-day notice identifying payee and amount; uncured lawful covenant breach after seven-calendar-day notice, excluding specified surrender and dependent-child occupancy duties; nuisance, damage or substantial interference; illegal use; refusal of materially similar renewal after seven-calendar-day written demand; unlawful access refusal after notice to cease; unapproved subtenant remaining at lease end or foreclosure

All 7 Richmond rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Relocation payments

Richmond code two times the contract monthly rent plus $1,000.00 entire fee

All 24 Richmond rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Notices

Richmond code Yes — a copy of the notice of entitlement, including proof of service with the time and date of service, must be filed with the Rent Board within one week of serving the tenant Written reasons for termination with specific facts permitting determination of the date, place, and circumstances

All 6 Richmond rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Security deposits

CA state law Richmond 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

Richmond code What Richmond's code adds
Presumption period	180 days prior to the alleged act of retaliation Applies: Residential rental property in foreclosure, after foreclosure-related transfer and before sale to a purchaser for value; Chapter 7.105 § 7.105.050 · code text In an action against the tenant, evidence of the assertion or exercise by the tenant of rights under this chapter or under state or federal law within 180 days prior to the alleged act of retaliation shall create a rebuttable presumption that the landlord's act was retaliatory.
Protected activities	Assertion or exercise of foreclosure-eviction chapter rights or state or federal law rights Applies: Residential rental property in foreclosure, after foreclosure-related transfer and before sale to a purchaser for value; Chapter 7.105 § 7.105.050 · code text No landlord may threaten to bring, or bring, an action to recover possession, cause the tenant to quit a rental unit involuntarily, serve any notice to quit or notice of termination of tenancy, decrease any services or increase the rent where the landlord's intent is to retaliate against the tenant for the tenant's assertion or exercise of rights under this chapter or under state or federal law. Exercising rights under state or local law § 6.40.160 · code text It is unlawful for an owner or landlord to recover possession of a residential rental dwelling unit or take any act against a tenant, including but not limited to, unlawful harassment in violation of Civil Code Section 1942.5 or Chapter 11.103 of this Code in retaliation against a tenant for exercising his or her rights pursuant to State or local law. Exercise of rights under the Tenant Anti-Harassment chapter Applies: Tenant Anti-Harassment protections § 11.103.070 · code text Retaliation against a tenant because of the tenant's exercise of rights under this chapter is prohibited.
Remedies	A tenant may assert retaliation as a defense to the landlord's action without the presumption 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. Applies: Residential rental property in foreclosure, after foreclosure-related transfer and before sale to a purchaser for value; Chapter 7.105 § 7.105.050 · code text A tenant may assert retaliation as a defense to the landlord's action without the presumption 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.

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

Richmond code Cutting off, withholding or threatening required services, including utilities, reasonable access, or removing doors or windows without prompt replacement Failing, or threatening to fail, to do repairs or maintenance required by the lease or housing, health or safety laws

All 19 Richmond rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Repairs and habitability

CA state law Richmond 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 Richmond 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 →

Short-term rentals

Richmond code What Richmond's code adds
Allowed	Yes, hosted home-shares of 1 or 2 bedrooms in a dwelling unit. Applies: Residential and Commercial Mixed-Use zones; the host lives on site; the home stays mainly residential. § 15.04.610.030 · code text Accessory short-term rentals of one or two bedrooms in a dwelling unit are allowed in Residential and Commercial Mixed-Use zoning districts, subject to the standards of this section and applicable license requirements of the Municipal Code, provided they do not detract from neighborhood character and the primary use of the dwelling remains residential. No. Applies: Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units cannot be rented for less than 30 days. § 15.04.610.030 · code text Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units may not be rented for periods shorter than 30 days.
Cap on rentals	There is no annual limit on home-shares. Applies: As long as all Code standards are met. § 15.04.610.030 · code text There are no limitations on the annual number of home shares permitted by this section, provided all of standards of this Code are met.
Minimum stay	ADUs and JADUs may not be rented for less than 30 days. Applies: Applies to accessory and junior accessory dwelling units. § 15.04.610.030 · code text Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units may not be rented for periods shorter than 30 days.
Permit or registration	A business license is required. Applies: Applies to a home-share business. § 15.04.610.030 · code text A valid business license is required to conduct a home-share business, and the applicable transient occupancy tax, as established by the Chapter 7.88 of the Municipal Code, must be paid by the guest when paying the rental.
Primary residence	Yes. Applies: Home-shares: a resident lives there at least 200 days a year; a primary-resident host lives on site, in the main home or an ADU. § 15.04.610.030 · code text A resident must occupy the dwelling unit for at least 200 days during each calendar year, and at least one of the unit's primary residents, acting as the host must be on-site, meaning the host is living in one of the bedrooms in the primary structure or in an accessory dwelling unit on the site.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Richmond code What Richmond's code adds
Tax rate	10% of the rent charged by the operator. Applies: Applies to hotel stays. § 7.88.030 · code text For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of ten percent of the rent charged by the operator.
Who collects it	Each operator collects the tax from every guest at the same time as the rent. Applies: Applies to hotel stays. § 7.88.050 · code text Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by this chapter to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much can a Richmond landlord charge for a security deposit?

Richmond 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)).

Can I rent out my home short-term in Richmond?

Richmond's code: Yes, hosted home-shares of 1 or 2 bedrooms in a dwelling unit. (Residential and Commercial Mixed-Use zones; the host lives on site; the home stays mainly residential.) (§ 15.04.610.030); No. (Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units cannot be rented for less than 30 days.) (§ 15.04.610.030).

What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Richmond?

Richmond's code: 10% of the rent charged by the operator. (Applies to hotel stays.) (§ 7.88.030); Each operator collects the tax from every guest at the same time as the rent. (Applies to hotel stays.) (§ 7.88.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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