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Redwood City · Renting & eviction

Eviction and just cause in Redwood City

City law requires a just cause, such as unpaid rent or owner move-in, to end a tenancy after 12 months of continuous, lawful occupancy.

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Key points

  • Just cause: City law requires a just cause, such as unpaid rent or owner move-in, to end a tenancy after 12 months of continuous, lawful occupancy.

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

What Redwood City's code says

Redwood City code What Redwood City's code adds
When protection starts
  • 12 months of continuous, lawful occupancy.
    § 42.5 · code text
    after a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a rental unit for twelve (12) months, the landlord shall not terminate the tenancy without just cause
  • Only once every tenant has 12 months of continuous, lawful occupancy, or at least 1 tenant has 24 months.
    Applies: When adult tenants are added to the lease before an existing tenant reaches 24 months of continuous, lawful occupancy.
    § 42.5 · code text
    All of the tenants have continuously and lawfully occupied the rental unit for twelve (12) months or more.
Allowed at-fault reasons
  • Default in the payment of rent; breach of a material lease term; nuisance; waste; refusal to renew or extend a qualifying written lease; criminal activity by the tenant on the property, or criminal activity or a criminal threat directed at the landlord on or off the property; unlawful assignment or subletting; refusal to allow authorized entry; unlawful use of the rental unit or property; failure of an employee, agent, or licensee to vacate after termination; failure to deliver possession after notice or accepted surrender offer
    § 42.5 · code text
    At-fault just cause, which means any of the following:
Allowed no-fault reasons
  • Owner or qualifying family member intends to occupy the rental unit as a primary residence for a minimum of twelve (12) continuous months
    Applies: for leases entered into on or after July 1, 2020 (July 1, 2022 for mobilehomes), only if the tenant agrees in writing or the lease allows owner/family move-in; not allowed if the intended occupant already lives on the property or a similar unit is vacant; the occupant must move in within 90 days
    § 42.5 · code text
    Intent to occupy the rental unit by the owner or their spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents for a minimum of twelve (12) continuous months as that person's primary residence.

The California rule underneath

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Just cause required: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)). Just-cause eviction in California — the full state rule →

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Redwood City need a reason to evict?

City law requires a just cause, such as unpaid rent or owner move-in, to end a tenancy after 12 months of continuous, lawful occupancy.

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Redwood City property

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Redwood City Municipal Code — full text