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San Jose · Renting & eviction

Condo conversions in San Jose

City law: after a conversion notice, tenants may stay until 180 days past the final public report or lease end, whichever is longer.

Key points

  • Condo conversions: City law: after a conversion notice, tenants may stay until 180 days past the final public report or lease end, whichever is longer.

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

What San Jose's code says

San Jose code What San Jose's code adds
Relocation help
  • Active help finding comparable replacement housing, and a payment to each household for displacement costs.
    Applies: Applies to tenants who will be displaced. It may be required as a condition of the conditional use permit.
    § 20.170.430 · code text
    Relocation assistance including, but not limited to, active assistance in securing comparable replacement housing for tenants who will be displaced, and a payment to each household for displacement costs.
  • A payment equal to the rent difference between the old unit and a comparable replacement, for up to 24 months.
    Applies: Applies to displaced tenants when the city requires a relocation plan as a condition of the conversion permit.
    § 20.170.430 · code text
    A rental assistance payment to displaced tenants of a project equal to the difference between the pre-conversion rent and that of a comparable replacement unit for up to twenty-four (24) months to mitigate any rent increase due to relocation.
Notice to tenants
  • Written notice of intention to convert at least 60 days before the application is filed.
    Applies: Applies to existing tenants of the proposed project.
    § 20.170.220 · code text
    Satisfactory evidence that, at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of filing such application, each of the tenants of the proposed project received, pursuant to Section 20.170.400 of this chapter, written notification of intention to convert;
  • Tenants may stay until 180 days after the final public report or lease end, whichever is longer.
    Applies: Applies after a notice of intention to convert. After that period, tenants get 30 days notice to vacate.
    § 20.170.420 · code text
    The right of continued tenancy until 180 days after issuance of the final public report or expiration of the tenant's lease or rental agreement, whichever is longer, and then only upon thirty (30) days' notice to vacate.
Tenants' right to buy
  • First right to buy the unit at no more than the public price, until 90 days after final public report.
    Applies: Applies if the tenant is not in default under the lease or rental agreement.
    § 20.170.420 · code text
    An irrevocable, nontransferable preemptive right (i.e., "right of first refusal") to purchase the unit at a price no greater than the price offered to the general public for such unit or comparable unit, if such tenant is not in default under the terms of his or her lease or rental agreement, until 90 days after issuance of the final public report.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

What happens to tenants when a San Jose building converts to condos?

City law: after a conversion notice, tenants may stay until 180 days past the final public report or lease end, whichever is longer.

General information, not legal advice.

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