Concord rent control is real, but it only covers some rentals in this Contra Costa County city. Under concord rent control, covered apartments can go up by no more than 5% a year, the figure in effect as of August 1, 2025, and many more tenants get “just cause” eviction protection.
Is Your Unit Covered by Concord Rent Control?
Concord’s rules are in the Residential Tenant Protection Program, Chapter 19.40 of the Concord Municipal Code. It first took effect on April 19, 2024. The city then amended it, and the current version has been in effect since May 22, 2025. It does three things. It sets a rent cap, adds just-cause eviction rules, and requires landlords to register their rentals.
The key question is when your building was built. Concord rent control caps rent for units in multifamily complexes built before February 1995. Single-family homes, condos, and units that got a certificate of occupancy after February 1, 1995 are not covered by the city’s rent cap. They also can’t use the rent adjustment petition process. In most cases, those units are “partially covered,” which means eviction protection may still apply.
| Rule | What it says | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Rent cap | 5% per year for covered units, in effect as of August 1, 2025 | Concord Municipal Code Section 19.40.040 |
| Which units are capped | Multifamily complexes built before February 1995 | City of Concord Rent Program |
| Not capped by the city | Single-family homes, condos, and units with a certificate of occupancy after February 1, 1995 | City of Concord Covered Units Chart |
| Just cause for houses and condos | Applies if the landlord rents out 3 or more single-family homes or condos in Concord | Ordinance amendments effective May 22, 2025 |
| Rent registry | All Concord rentals must be registered with the city every year | Concord Municipal Code Chapter 19.40 |
You can check your own address. Go to the Concord Rent Registry portal and use the search bar on the right side of the page. Then compare your unit type with the city’s Covered Units Chart. If you are still unsure, the Rent Program staff can tell you how concord rent control applies to your home.
How Much Rent Can Go Up Under Concord Rent Control
For covered units, the Allowable Annual Rent Increase is 5%, in effect as of August 1, 2025. This cap started with the ordinance changes effective May 22, 2025. It replaced the old cap, which was 3% or 60% of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever was lower. The city’s page does not list a new figure or an end date for the 5% cap. As a result, confirm the current figure with the Rent Program before you pay a raise.
Concord rent control sets the cap as a yearly figure. For example, a covered tenant paying $2,000 a month could see a new rent of no more than $2,100 under the 5% cap. Landlords can ask for more only through a “fair return” petition to the city. Details on banking unused increases and pass-through costs are in the city’s Regulations and Procedures. The city page does not summarize them, so ask the Rent Program to walk you through them.
California’s statewide rent cap, the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), is background here. It may still protect a Concord unit that the city does not cover. Typically, you should check which rule gives you more protection. The Concord Rent Program page links to AB 1482 and the California Tenants Guide. The state’s notice rules for rent increases also still apply.
Eviction Protections in This City
The just-cause rules are the second half of concord rent control. In a covered unit, your landlord needs a legal reason to end your tenancy. Some reasons are your fault, such as not paying rent. Others are “no-fault,” such as a substantial renovation, demolition, or taking the building off the market under the Ellis Act. For houses and condos, just cause applies only if the landlord rents out 3 or more of them in Concord.
A no-fault eviction here comes with paperwork. For renovation or demolition, the city has a required “Notice of Tenant’s Rights and Statement” form, with separate versions for fully covered and partially covered units. It also has an Ellis Act forms packet and a Protected Tenant Status postcard. If you think you may qualify as a protected tenant, ask the city. The city page does not list relocation payment amounts. Confirm them with the Rent Program or in Chapter 19.40.
A notice from your landlord is not the same as a court order. In most cases, only a court can order you out. Even so, don’t ignore any notice. Concord rent control can give you defenses, but you have to raise them in time.
What to Do If Your Landlord Breaks the Rule
Your local office is the City of Concord Rent Program, part of the Housing Division. You can call (925) 671-5070 or email [email protected]. Phone and email help runs Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed 12 pm to 1 pm. In-person help is at the Permit Center, 1950 Parkside Drive, Wing D, Concord, CA 94519. It is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed 12 pm to 1 pm.
If you think a raise breaks concord rent control, you can file a Tenant Petition Form. The city also offers Petition Filing Instructions and Checklists. Staff can hold a pre-submittal meeting with you before you file. Appointments run Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., in person or on Zoom. The city says it may take up to 5 business days to reply, so start early.
Bring your lease, every rent increase notice, and proof of what you paid, like receipts or bank records. Also bring any eviction notice and photos of repair problems. For an active eviction, call legal aid right away. The city lists Bay Area Legal Aid, Centro Legal de la Raza, ECHO Housing, and Contra Costa Senior Legal Services as local resources. A legal-aid lawyer may be able to help you use concord rent control in your case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does concord rent control cover my single-family home or condo?
No, the city’s 5% rent cap does not apply to rented single-family homes or condos. However, just-cause eviction rules can apply if your landlord rents out 3 or more homes or condos in Concord. State law (AB 1482) may also protect you, so check with the Rent Program.
What is the allowed rent increase under concord rent control right now?
For covered units, it is 5% per year, in effect as of August 1, 2025. The city has not posted a new figure or end date. Call (925) 671-5070 to confirm it before you pay a raise.
Can I check if my landlord registered my unit?
Yes. Every Concord rental must be registered each year. Tenants can search a property’s registration status on the city’s Rent Registry portal.
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Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
California Renter Guides
- California Eviction Process
- California Tenant Rights
- California Security Deposit Law
- California Rent Increase Laws
- California Repairs and Habitability
- Breaking a Lease in California
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Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.