Union City, CA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must register
- Every rental unit landlord
- Information required
- Owner name and mailing address
- Fee
- Set by City, per unit
- Tied to
- Prerequisite for lawful eviction
- Adopted
- Ord. 839-17, 2017
Summary
Union City requires every landlord to register each rental unit with the City and pay an administrative fee before the landlord may lawfully terminate any tenancy.
A. A landlord shall register each rental unit within the City. The registration shall be on forms provided by the City and shall include the name and mailing address of the owner or owners of the rental unit as well as any other information deemed necessary by the City. B. For the sole purpose of reimbursing the City for the reasonable costs of maintaining property registration records and related administrative systems required by this chapter, the landlord of each rental unit shall pay a fee in an amount to be set by the City for each rental unit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4940544; v16 updated 2026-06-23).
Full Breakdown
Under § 5.50.090 of the Union City Municipal Code, every landlord must register each rental unit with the City on forms disclosing the owner's name and mailing address, plus any other information the City deems necessary, and pay a fee set by the City to cover the cost of maintaining the registration system. Registration is not optional bookkeeping, § 5.50.040 makes valid registration a legal prerequisite before a landlord may serve any notice of termination or recover possession of the unit.
Violations & Fines
Renting an unregistered unit carries no separate fine under this chapter, but an unregistered landlord cannot lawfully terminate a tenancy or recover possession under § 5.50.040 until the unit is registered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Union City landlords have to register rental units?
What happens if a unit isn't registered?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union City
California rules heatmap·Compare Union City to another location·View the California rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Rental Registration in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle rental registration.