San Leandro City Council weighs final approval of rent control ordinance

The San Leandro City Council on Monday is scheduled to consider final approval of a rent control ordinance that would impose new limits on rent increases for rental housing in the city.

The second reading, set for 7 p.m. Feb. 2, follows the council's earlier vote this month to advance the ordinance on first reading. If adopted, the measure would cap annual rent increases at 65% of the Consumer Price Index or 3%, whichever is lower, bringing San Leandro's rent regulations more in line with those adopted in cities such as Oakland, Antioch and Richmond.

The council's initial vote came after nearly three hours of public testimony, much of it from housing providers and residents who urged elected officials to reconsider rent control and shared concerns about its potential impact on the local rental housing market.

During deliberations, several council members expressed interest in revisiting elements of the proposed rent cap. Despite those comments, the council voted to move the ordinance forward rather than continue discussions on alternative approaches.

The ordinance is not yet adopted. Local law requires two readings before an ordinance can take effect, with the second reading typically serving as a procedural step following the initial vote.

Until the ordinance is fully implemented on Jan. 1, 2027, rental housing in San Leandro remains subject to the state's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482). The California Apartment Association has prepared a white paper outlining the current state rent control framework.