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Riverside, CA Employment Preemption: Minimum Wage Preemption (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

State rate
16.50 per hour
Local rate
None higher
Fast-food floor
Higher under AB 1228
Tipped workers
Full minimum applies

Summary

Riverside has not enacted a local minimum wage, so the California statewide rate of 16.50 dollars per hour applies to almost all employees, with separate higher rates for fast-food and healthcare workers.

1182.12. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, on and after July 1, 2014, the minimum wage for all industries shall be not less than nine dollars ($9) per hour, and on and after January 1, 2016, the minimum wage for all industries shall be not less than ten dollars ($10) per hour. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the minimum wage for all industries shall not be less than the amounts set forth in this subdivision, except when the scheduled increases in paragraphs (1) and (2) are temporarily suspended under subdivision (d). (1) For any employer who employs 26 or more employees, the minimum wage shall be as follows: (A) From January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, inclusive,—ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per hour.

Source: California Labor CommissionerView official code

Full Breakdown

California Labor Code 1182.12 sets the statewide minimum at 16.50 dollars per hour as of 2026, indexed annually for inflation. Riverside has not exercised its home-rule authority to set a higher local floor. Industry-specific laws raise the floor for fast-food workers under AB 1228 and certain healthcare workers under SB 525. Tipped employees are not exempt from the full minimum wage in California. Many UCR-area employers also follow university-related living-wage standards on campus.

Violations & Fines

Paying below 16.50 dollars per hour, misclassifying workers as exempt, or violating fast-food or healthcare-specific floors exposes employers to back wages, penalties, and Labor Commissioner enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Riverside employer pay tipped workers less?
No. California prohibits a tip credit, so all employees must receive at least the full state minimum wage before tips, regardless of how much they earn in gratuities.
Do small businesses get a lower rate?
No. California eliminated the small-employer differential. All employers, regardless of size, must pay at least 16.50 dollars per hour as of 2026 unless an industry-specific higher floor applies.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Riverside

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Riverside rules

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