Hayward · Renting & eviction
Renting in Hayward: the rules that apply
Hayward limits rent increases on covered units, lists its own eviction reasons and sets its own relocation payments and harassment remedies. Notices, security deposits, repairs and landlord entry follow state law.
Key points
- Rent increases: Hayward limits increases on covered rental units to 5% of the current total monthly rent, once every 12 months; larger increases go to review.
- New tenancies: Hayward sets no limit on the starting rent after a voluntary move-out or lawful eviction; later increases follow the limit.
- Just cause: Hayward's eviction reasons, such as unpaid rent or owner move-in, cover all rental units, including non-covered ones, except listed exempt types.
- Relocation pay: For no-fault evictions, Hayward requires 1 month's rent at notice, paid within 14 calendar days, or a written last-month rent waiver.
- Ending notice: State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
- Harassment: Hayward tenants can sue over harassment or retaliation for actual damages or at least $1,000, whichever is greater, tripled if knowing or reckless.
Each rule below is marked Hayward code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Hayward code Hayward limits increases on covered rental units to 5% of the current total monthly rent, once every 12 months; larger increases go to review. Hayward sets no limit on the starting rent after a voluntary move-out or lawful eviction; later increases follow the limit.
All 11 Hayward rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Eviction and just cause
Hayward code Hayward's eviction reasons, such as unpaid rent or owner move-in, cover all rental units, including non-covered ones, except listed exempt types.
All 13 Hayward rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Relocation payments
Hayward code For no-fault evictions, Hayward requires 1 month's rent at notice, paid within 14 calendar days, or a written last-month rent waiver.
All 11 Hayward rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Notices
We found no Hayward rule on this in the Hayward Municipal Code (checked October 2026). The state rule below applies.
| Notice of a rent increase | At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% Applies: The 10% is measured against the rent charged at any time in the 12 months before the increase, counting all increases in that period together. |
|---|---|
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (landlord) | 60 days' notice; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year Applies: Where the unit is covered by just cause (Civ. Code § 1946.2) or a local ordinance, the notice must also state a qualifying cause. |
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (tenant) | At least as long as the rental period (one month for a month-to-month tenancy) |
| 30-day notice when the unit is sold to an owner-occupant | 30 days' notice when a separately sellable unit is in escrow to a natural person who will live there for at least a year Applies: Notice within 120 days of opening escrow, given once, and all § 1946.1(d) conditions met. |
| Notice to pay rent or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, stating the amount due and how to pay Applies: May be served any time within one year after the rent became due. |
| Notice to cure a lease violation or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, to perform the broken lease term or leave |
| No fee for serving notices | A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice |
Security deposits
CA state law Hayward 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
Hayward code 6 months. Filing a complaint with the City that a code violation may exist.
All 6 Hayward rules on retaliation, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Harassment and lockouts
Hayward code Hayward tenants can sue over harassment or retaliation for actual damages or at least $1,000, whichever is greater, tripled if knowing or reckless.
All 15 Hayward rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Hayward 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 Hayward 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 →
Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Condo conversions
Hayward code $1,000 for moving plus 3 months' rent, based on the highest rent the tenant paid. At least 60 days before the tentative map application; notices in English, Spanish and the original lease language.
All 7 Hayward rules on condo conversions, with the code text →
Rental registration and inspections
Hayward code Exempt: no current violation complaint, at most 2 verified violations in 12 months, none uncorrected, no unpaid fees, no liens. The exemption ends if a confirmed code violation is not corrected by the first progress check.
All 6 Hayward rules on rental registration and inspections, with the code text →
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a Hayward landlord have to give?
State law requires 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
How much can a Hayward landlord charge for a security deposit?
Hayward 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)).
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Hayward?
Hayward's code: The hotel tax is up to 14% of the rent. (The code states only the maximum.) (§ 8-4.20); Each operator collects the tax from every guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 8-4.22).
General information, not legal advice.
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