Unincorporated Alameda County Just (Got) Cause for Eviction!

Effective March 6, 2025, landlords in unincorporated areas of Alameda County may find their properties subject to eviction control (A.C.O. Chapter 3.70); specifically, some tenants can now only be evicted through one (1) of eleven (11) just causes listed in AB 1482 / Civil Code §1946.2(b) (the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 – “TPA”).  The exemptions also mostly track the TPA, and can be found in Civil Code §1946.2(e).

Single-family homes, which normally can be exempted from eviction control under the TPA, are not exempt from the Alameda County Ordinance (“ACO”) if the landlord owns a total of five (5) or more units in the unincorporated areas of Alameda County. Relocation assistance payments under the ACO are higher than under the TPA – two (2) months’ rent, not to exceed $10,000 per tenant household (unless $10,000 is less than one (1) month’s rent). The payment must be provided within fifteen (15) calendar days of service of the notice.

The applicable exemption (if any) and reason for termination must be listed in the termination notice. “No-fault” termination notices must include information about relocation assistance, and if the termination is based on substantial remodel, a statement that the landlord must offer the tenant to re-rent the unit.

Except for nonpayment of rent cases, or when the tenant is posing a risk of imminent harm, a 90-day termination notice is required if there are minor children or elderly / disabled tenants in the unit. A copy of the termination notice must be delivered to the Housing and Community Development Department within three (3) days of the notice being served.

The ACO provides for treble (x3) damages if the landlord is shown to have acted willfully or with oppression, fraud, or malice in trying to evict the tenant in violation of the ACO.

An overview of the ACO can be found here: Just Cause For Eviction Ordinance Passed – Housing & Community Development Department. Please find the text of the ACO here.