Montebello, CA Rental Property Rules: Rent Increase Notice (2026)

The City of Montebello runs its rent-dispute process through the Housing Mediation Board created in Chapter 2.28 of the Montebello Municipal Code, with the assistant city manager for community services and development serving as the board's secretary. Under Section 2.28.180(A), once a tenant of a dwelling unit files a petition for mediation within ten working days of receiving a rent increase notice, the city serves the petition and sets a hearing before the increase's effective date whenever reasonably possible. The increase cannot become effective until the property owner, manager, or a duly authorized agent actually meets the tenant at that hearing.

Mediation itself runs in two steps under Section 2.28.110: an initial hearing before one or more board members, and, if no agreement results, a second-step hearing before at least two members. Section 2.28.130 ties the right to request mediation to the anti-retaliation protections of California Civil Code Section 1942.5. Section 2.28.180(E) carves out one exception: increases set by a written lease that take effect without any separate notice being served are not covered. The city council may also adopt a fee schedule under Section 2.28.230 to cover the board's administrative costs, charged to owners and tenants alike.