Redwood City Adopts Tenant Protection Ordinance

Redwood City, California - The Redwood City Council tonight adopted a new Tenant Protection Ordinance (TPO), updating and consolidating the City's previous relocation assistance and minimum lease term requirements into one clear, modern policy. The ordinance is consistent with state law while providing stronger local protections, especially for lower-income households.

"This ordinance is about protecting stability for residents while ensuring fairness for property owners," said Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos. "We're addressing the real pressures renters face today while maintaining clear, fair expectations for property owners."

Key features of the TPO include:

• Restores Relocation Assistance: Reinstates the City's prior relocation assistance requirements that had become unenforceable under state law. Low-income households, seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, and long-term tenants can qualify for higher relocation assistance payments than are required under state law.
• Adds Just Cause for Eviction Protections: Establishes just cause eviction provisions consistent with state law, making the City's relocation assistance enforceable again.
• Minimum Lease Terms: Requires landlords to offer potential tenants the option of a one-year lease to promote housing stability.
• Right to Return: Provides tenants displaced by substantial remodels that require them to vacate the property the first opportunity to return to their homes once work is complete, at the same rental rate plus any increase allowed by state law.
• Expanded Coverage: Applies protections to most multi-unit residential properties consistent with state law, with exemptions including owner-occupied homes, single-family homes and condominiums that are not corporate-owned, buildings constructed within the past 15 years, and deed-restricted affordable housing.

The ordinance was first introduced on October 13, 2025, and takes effect on January 1, 2026. The City will conduct extensive community outreach to ensure landlords, tenants, and community organizations understand the new protections and requirements. Multilingual informational materials, workshops, and one-on-one assistance will be available to help all stakeholders navigate the transition.

Updates and resources about the Tenant Protection Ordinance will be available at www.RedwoodCity.org/housing as implementation moves forward.

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About the City of Redwood City: The City of Redwood City is a San Francisco Bay Area community located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the technology-rich region extending from the San Francisco Peninsula to the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Redwood City is the third largest city within the County of San Mateo, with 85,992 residents. The city enjoys an average of 255 sunny days a year, which it boasts via the city slogan: "Climate Best by Government Test." Incorporated in 1867, Redwood City is home to the San Mateo County History Museum (located in the county's old courthouse) and the only active deep-water port within the south bay of San Francisco. The city's vibrant downtown, quickly becoming known as the entertainment hub of the San Francisco Peninsula, offers residents, visitors, and businesses a unique retail, entertainment, and restaurant experience.