Unincorporated Contra Costa County does not have its own rent control ordinance. Tenants in unincorporated communities such as Bay Point, El Sobrante, North Richmond, Rodeo, and Crockett are covered only by California’s statewide Tenant Protection Act, which caps annual rent increases and requires just cause for most evictions. Three incorporated cities inside the county — Richmond, Antioch, and Concord — have adopted local rent stabilization ordinances that are stricter than the state baseline, so what applies to you depends on which jurisdiction your address sits in.
First, Find Out Which Jurisdiction You Live In
The rules that protect your tenancy depend entirely on whether your address is inside city limits or in unincorporated territory. This is not always obvious. Areas like North Richmond and El Sobrante contain unincorporated pockets that sit right next to city boundaries, and a mailing address does not always match the governing jurisdiction. The Contra Costa County Assessor’s Office or the county’s online parcel lookup can confirm which government controls your parcel.
If you are in unincorporated territory, state law is the only layer of protection you have. If you are inside Richmond, Antioch, or Concord, your city’s ordinance applies and is stricter than state law. Tenants in other incorporated cities within the county that have not adopted their own rent control, including Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill, fall back on the same statewide rules as unincorporated areas.
Statewide Rent Cap for Unincorporated Areas
California Civil Code Section 1947.12, part of the Tenant Protection Act, limits how much a landlord can raise rent on a covered unit in any twelve-month period. The cap is 5% plus the local change in the Consumer Price Index, or 10%, whichever is lower.1California Legislative Information. California Code CIV 1947.12 When inflation runs at 4%, the maximum increase is 9%. When inflation runs higher, the ceiling locks at 10%.
The increase is measured against the lowest rent charged for the unit during the twelve months before the increase takes effect. Landlords cannot stack multiple raises inside the same twelve-month window to get around the cap, and any increase above the limit is void. A tenant who receives a notice that exceeds these caps can challenge it through local legal aid or small claims court.
Cities With Stricter Local Caps
Three cities in Contra Costa County restrict annual rent increases below what state law allows. Because the local rules are tighter, they govern covered units in those cities instead of the state cap.1California Legislative Information. California Code CIV 1947.12
- Richmond limits increases to 60% of the change in CPI, up to a maximum of 3%. Landlords may bank unused increases for later use but cannot impose more than 5% in any single year.
- Antioch allows one increase per twelve-month period of 60% of the CPI change, capped at 3%.
- Concord caps annual increases at 5%.
These figures come from the California Attorney General’s summary of local rent stabilization laws.2California Department of Justice. Local Rent Stabilization Laws: Permissible Rent Increases Each city runs its own program with separate registration and complaint procedures, so tenants in those jurisdictions should contact their city rent stabilization office directly for current percentages and filing instructions.
Just Cause Eviction Rules
The Tenant Protection Act does more than cap rent. Civil Code Section 1946.2 also requires landlords to have a legally recognized reason to evict a covered tenant. These protections apply once a tenant has lived in the unit for at least twelve months, or after all tenants collectively reach that mark.
At-fault reasons include nonpayment of rent, a material breach of the lease, criminal activity on the property, or refusing lawful landlord access after proper notice. In most at-fault situations, the landlord must give written notice and a chance to fix the problem before filing an eviction case.
No-fault reasons include the owner or an immediate family member moving in, a substantial renovation that requires the unit to be empty, or permanent withdrawal of the property from the rental market under the Ellis Act. Because the tenant did nothing wrong, different procedures apply, including mandatory relocation payments.
Relocation Pay for No-Fault Evictions
When a landlord ends a tenancy for any no-fault reason under the Tenant Protection Act, the landlord must pay the tenant an amount equal to one month’s rent as relocation assistance. The landlord can either make a direct payment or waive the tenant’s final month of rent.3California Department of Justice. The Tenant Protection Act – Your Obligations As a Landlord or Property Manager The payment must be made before or at the time the tenant moves out. Skipping this step can invalidate the eviction in court.
Ellis Act withdrawals carry an added notice requirement: at least 120 days to all tenants, extended to one year for tenants who are 62 or older or who have a disability and have lived in the unit for at least a year. Richmond, Antioch, and Concord may require additional relocation assistance beyond the state minimum, so tenants in those cities should check with the local rent board.
Units That Are Exempt
Not every rental in Contra Costa County is covered. Several categories fall outside the state rent cap, the just cause eviction rules, or both:
- Units that received a certificate of occupancy within the last fifteen years are exempt from the statewide rent cap. The window is rolling, so buildings age into coverage over time.
- Single-family homes and individually owned condos are exempt from the rent cap under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, as long as the owner is not a corporation or real estate investment trust and has given the tenant proper written notice of the exemption. The just cause eviction rules still apply.
- Owner-occupied duplexes, where the landlord lives in one of the two units, are generally exempt from both the rent cap and the just cause rules.
- Deed-restricted affordable housing is exempt because its rents are already controlled through a government program or recorded agreement.
Even on an exempt unit, basic notice rules still apply. A rent increase of more than 10% requires at least 90 days’ written notice under California law, rather than the standard 30 days.
What to Do Next
If you are in unincorporated Contra Costa County, the statewide cap and just cause rules are your protection, and a notice that violates them is unenforceable. If you are in Richmond, Antioch, or Concord, your city’s rent board sets the actual allowable increase for the year and handles complaints. Confirm your jurisdiction first, then compare any notice you receive against the correct rule set before you pay or move.