Retaliation in Richmond: the local rules

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

What Richmond's code says

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.

The California rule underneath

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 →

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Retaliation in Richmond

What Richmond's code says

The California rule underneath

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