Hayward, CA Rental Property Rules: Rent Increase Notice (2026)
Key Facts
- Petition filing window
- 30 days of notice
- Notice must state
- 5%/10% threshold basis
- Copy to city required within
- 30 days of service
- First infraction fine
- up to $100
- Repeat-violation misdemeanor
- up to $1,000 or 6 months
Summary
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.
(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 filed with the Rent Review Officer within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the Rent increase;(2)The address, telephone number, and website of the Rent Review Officer and the fact that the Tenant is encouraged to contact the Officer for an explanation of the provisions of this Ordinance;(3)The amount of the current Rent and the Rent Increase both in dollars and as a percentage of existing Rent and a statement of the following:(i)That the Landlord considers the Rent Increase consistent with the five percent (5%) Rent Increase Threshold set forth in Section 12-1.05(a) of this Ordinance; or...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 28 Update 1 | Charter: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
07 is available from the Rent Review Officer and must be filed within 30 days of receiving the increase notice; the Rent Review Officer's address, phone number and website; the current rent and the increase in both dollars and percentage terms; and a statement of whether the landlord considers the increase consistent with the 5% Rent Increase Threshold, consistent with a banked or capital-improvement increase up to 10%, or justified above those thresholds with supporting documentation. The notice must also give the name, address and phone number of the person the tenant must attempt to contact within ten days of filing a petition.
15(c) requires landlords to post and individually notify tenants of the ordinance's applicability within 30 days of the ordinance taking effect and again before any new tenancy begins. 16(c). 15(i)).
Violations & Fines
Failing to give a required notice is an infraction: a first conviction within 12 months draws a fine up to $100, a second up to $200, and a third up to $500. A landlord convicted of three or more such infractions in a 12-month span faces a misdemeanor for each further violation, punishable by up to $1,000 or six months in jail, or both (Section 12-1.18(b)). Failing to copy the city on notices under Section 12-1.16(c) can draw an immediate citation without a prior warning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a Hayward rent increase notice include?
What if a Hayward landlord skips the required notice?
Are there fines for failing to give notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hayward
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Rent Increase Notice in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle rent increase notice.