Rental Property Rules in Hayward, CA (2026)
5 verified rental property rules for Hayward, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Hayward caps most annual rent increases on covered apartments at 5% under its Residential Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protection Ordinance. Increases above that trigger a petition to the city's Rent Review Officer, and landlords who collect unauthorized rent face civil penalties.
Hayward Rent Control Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsHayward, CA Municipal Code § 12-1.05(a)
From and after July 25, 2019 (the effective date of this Ordinance), a Rent Increase, including any increase of Housing Services, for use or occupancy of a Covered Rental Unit may be imposed once every twelve (12) months for an amount equal to or less than five percent (5%) of the existing total monthly Rent. Such an increase shall be known as the, "Rent Increase Threshold" and shall not be sub...
Just Cause Eviction
Hayward's Residential Rent Stabilization Ordinance and California AB 1482 require landlords to state an approved just cause to terminate most residential tenancies after 12 months.
Just Cause Eviction Rules in Hayward
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code sec. 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act - just cause for termination)
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, after a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a residential real property for 12 months, the owner of the residential real property shall not terminate a tenancy without just cause, which shall be stated in the written notice to terminate tenancy. If any additional adult tenants are added to the lease before an existing tenant has continuously and lawf...
Rental Registration
Hayward requires owners of covered residential rentals to register units annually with the Rent Review Program and pay a per-unit fee that funds administration of the RRSO.
Rental Property Registration in Hayward
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code sec. 1947.12 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019 - statewide rent cap)
(a) (1) Subject to subdivision (b), an owner of residential real property shall not, over the course of any 12-month period, increase the gross rental rate for a dwelling or a unit more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for that dwelling or unit at any time during the 12 months prior to the...
Rent Increase Notice
Any Hayward landlord raising rent on a covered unit must serve a detailed notice alongside the increase, spelling out the tenant's 30-day petition right, the Rent Review Officer's contact information, and whether the increase falls within the 5% or 10% thresholds.
Hayward Rent Increase Notice Rules
Significant RestrictionsHayward, CA Municipal Code § 12-1.15(d)
(d)Notice of a Rent Increase to Tenants—Covered Rental Units Only. Whenever the Landlord serves a notice of Rent Increase, the Landlord shall at the same time and in the same manner serve the Tenant with a notice that sets forth all of the following information:(1)That a petition to review the Rent increase pursuant to Section 12-1.07 may be obtained from the Rent Review Officer and must be fil...
Repairs & Habitability
Hayward's Residential Rental Inspection Ordinance requires every rental unit, hotel and motel room to be kept decent, safe and sanitary. The City Manager's Enforcement Official checks compliance against state and local housing, building and health codes and can order fixes with a hard deadline.
Hayward Rental Housing Habitability Rules
Some RestrictionsHayward, CA, Municipal Code § 9-5.102
The purpose of this code is to safeguard the stock of decent, safe, and sanitary rental housing units within the City and to protect persons entering or residing in them by providing for inspection of rental housing units and the common areas when certain indicators show that violations of State or local codes may exist in a unit or pursuant to a systematic area-wide inspection program.
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hayward city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Alameda County →