San Pablo · Renting & eviction
Renting in San Pablo: the rules that apply
San Pablo adds its own just-cause eviction reasons, relocation pay for no-fault evictions and anti-harassment protections to state law. For rent increases, the city has the San Pablo Rent Review Program (adopted 2026, effective January 2027); state law covers deposits, repairs and entry.
Key points
- Rent increases: The city has the San Pablo Rent Review Program (adopted 2026, effective January 2027); state law caps covered units at 8.8%.
- Eviction reasons: City rule: allowed eviction reasons include unpaid rent, a material lease breach, nuisance, waste and criminal activity on the property.
- Relocation pay: City rule: a no-fault eviction requires 2 months' rent paid directly or, for tenants not behind on rent, the final 2 months free.
- Notices: City rule: every termination notice must state the just-cause reason; a no-fault notice must also explain relocation payments and their amount.
- Harassment: City rule: harassment such as threats or lockouts without a court order is banned when meant to make tenants leave or give up rights.
- Condo conversions: City rule: tenants moving after a condo conversion notice get 1½ times monthly rent plus the deposit difference, unless they already gave move-out notice.
Each rule below is marked San Pablo code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
San Pablo has a related local rule: San Pablo Rent Review Program: Adopted 2026, Effective January 2027 (city guidance). This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Rent cap right now | 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.8% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the BLS consumer price index for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area, April to April, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. |
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| Statewide rent increase cap (AB 1482) | 5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months Applies: Covered units only; measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. |
| Number of rent increases | No more than two increases in any 12-month period |
| Rent cap — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| Rent cap — single-family home or condo exemption | A home or condo that can be sold on its own is exempt when the owner is not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant was given the written exemption notice Applies: The same exemption applies to the just-cause rule (§ 1946.2(e)(8)). |
| Rent cap — owner-occupied duplex exemption | A duplex in one building is exempt when the owner lived in the other unit at the start of the tenancy and still does, unless either unit is an ADU or JADU |
| New tenancy resets the rent | When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases |
| Rent cap sunset | § 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Eviction and just cause
San Pablo code City rule: allowed eviction reasons include unpaid rent, a material lease breach, nuisance, waste and criminal activity on the property.
All 11 San Pablo rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Relocation payments
San Pablo code City rule: a no-fault eviction requires 2 months' rent paid directly or, for tenants not behind on rent, the final 2 months free.
All 8 San Pablo rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Notices
San Pablo code City rule: every termination notice must state the just-cause reason; a no-fault notice must also explain relocation payments and their amount.
All 6 San Pablo rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Security deposits
CA state law San Pablo 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
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Also in San Pablo's code: Housing Stability and Anti-Harassment Protections (§ 9.80.050). This page does not summarize it yet.
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 →
Harassment and lockouts
San Pablo code City rule: harassment such as threats or lockouts without a court order is banned when meant to make tenants leave or give up rights.
All 16 San Pablo rules on harassment and lockouts, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Repairs and habitability
CA state law San Pablo 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 San Pablo 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
San Pablo code City rule: tenants moving after a condo conversion notice get 1½ times monthly rent plus the deposit difference, unless they already gave move-out notice.
All 9 San Pablo rules on condo conversions, with the code text →
Other San Pablo rules on this
San Pablo's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in San Pablo?
The city has the San Pablo Rent Review Program (adopted 2026, effective January 2027); state law caps covered units at 8.8%. San Pablo also has a related rule: San Pablo Rent Review Program: Adopted 2026, Effective January 2027 (city guidance).
How much can a San Pablo landlord charge for a security deposit?
San Pablo 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 San Pablo?
San Pablo's code: 12% of the rent charged by the operator. (Applies to hotel stays.) (§ 3.28.060); The hotel operator collects the tax from the guest when the rent is paid. (§ 3.28.060).
General information, not legal advice.
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