antioch rent control is real, and it covers many older apartments, duplexes, and triplexes in the city. Under antioch rent control, the most your landlord can raise the rent is 2.04% for increases that take effect from September 14, 2026 to November 10, 2026. Antioch also has just-cause eviction and anti-harassment rules. As a result, many renters here have more protection than state law alone gives them.
Is Your Unit Covered by Antioch Rent Control?
The law behind antioch rent control is the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, or RSO. It took effect on November 11, 2022. You can find it in Chapter 1 of Title 11 of the Antioch Municipal Code, starting at Section 11-1.01. It covers any place rented as a home, even a unit that is not a legal rental.
In most cases, two questions decide coverage. First, when did the unit first get its certificate of occupancy? If that was after February 1, 1995, it is exempt. Second, can the unit be sold on its own? For example, most single-family homes and condos are exempt. However, a pre-1995 house that shares its lot with a granny unit is typically covered.
| Rule | What it says | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Age of building | Units first approved for occupancy after February 1, 1995 are exempt | Antioch Municipal Code § 11-1.08 |
| Duplexes and triplexes | Covered if approved on or before February 1, 1995, even if the owner lives in the other unit | Antioch Rent Program FAQ |
| Single-family homes and condos | Exempt, unless a pre-1995 house shares its lot with another unit, like an ADU | Antioch Municipal Code § 11-1.08 |
| Other exempt units | Public housing, mobile homes in parks, stays of 30 days or less, hospitals and dorms, and units where you share a kitchen or bath with the owner | Antioch Municipal Code § 11-1.08 |
| How often rent can rise | Only once in any 12-month period | Antioch Rent Stabilization Ordinance |
Not sure about your address? Email the Rent Program. Staff can explain the rules. However, they cannot give legal advice or make a final ruling on one specific unit. If your unit is exempt from antioch rent control, the state rent cap may still protect you.
How Much Rent Can Go Up Under Antioch Rent Control
Under antioch rent control, an increase can be no more than 3% or 60% of the local inflation rate, whichever is less. The inflation number is the 12-month change in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward consumer price index. The city updates the cap about every two months. For example, inflation was 3.4% for the current period. Sixty percent of 3.4% is 2.04%.
So for increases taking effect from September 14, 2026 to November 10, 2026, the cap is 2.04%. For increases from July 15, 2026 to September 11, 2026, the cap was 2.28%. The city is expected to post a new figure after November 10, 2026. Check the City of Antioch Rent Program page for the latest number.
Your landlord must also give you a city-provided notice with any rent increase. If they skip it, the increase does not take effect. A landlord can ask the city for more, but only through a formal petition. However, the starting rent on a brand-new lease is not limited. California’s state cap is only background here. Antioch rent control is usually stricter for covered units.
Eviction Protections in This City
Antioch’s Tenant Eviction Protection Ordinance, No. 2240-C-S, is in Chapter 6 of Title 11. It works alongside antioch rent control. A landlord needs “just cause” to end your tenancy. At-fault reasons include not paying rent, breaking the lease, nuisance, and refusing lawful access. No-fault reasons include an owner or family move-in. They also include taking the unit off the market under the Ellis Act.
No-fault evictions come with relocation help. The city’s pamphlet describes permanent relocation help as “two times” the rent at the time of termination. Confirm the exact amount with the Rent Program. An Ellis Act withdrawal requires 120 days’ notice. However, some tenants can get a one-year notice instead. This applies if you are 62 or older or disabled and have lived there at least one year. Landlords must also file every termination notice with the city within five days.
Antioch also bans landlord harassment and retaliation under Ordinance No. 2232-C-S. That rule covers all rentals, even units outside antioch rent control. For example, cutting off services may be illegal. So may raising rent to punish you for using your rights.
What to Do If Your Landlord Breaks the Antioch Rent Control Rules
Start with the Rent Program, which the City Attorney’s Office runs. Call (925) 779-7017 or email [email protected]. City Hall is at 200 H Street, Antioch, CA 94509. Staff there speak Spanish. If your rent went over the antioch rent control limit, you can file a Rent Reduction Petition under Section 11-1.06.
Get the form from the Petition Forms and Regulations page. Send it to the city and give a copy to your landlord. Bring your lease, rent receipts, and every rent increase notice. Also list your move-in date and the dates and amounts of each increase. A hearing officer reviews the case. As a result, you may be able to get your rent lowered and overcharges refunded.
Facing an eviction notice? Do not wait. Call Bay Area Legal Aid at (888) 551-0068. Contra Costa Senior Legal Services is at (925) 609-7900. The city also lists a Tuesday tenant legal clinic. Check with your court or a local legal-aid office about your deadlines.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does antioch rent control limit the rent on a new lease?
No. State law bars the city from limiting the starting rent on most new tenancies. Antioch rent control only limits increases after you move in.
My landlord raised my rent by more than the cap. Can I get money back?
You may be able to. The city says rent charged above the antioch rent control limit on or after November 11, 2022 should be refunded. File a Rent Reduction Petition to ask for it.
Do I have to register my unit?
No. Registration is the landlord’s job, and it is not in effect yet. The city says a future regulation will set the start date.
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Find Your State’s Exact Rules
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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.