Concord City Council Meeting - 3rd Reading of Rent Control Amendment

Attention owners with rental property in Concord

PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY SO WE CAN FILL THE COUNCIL CHAMBER BEFORE RENTER ORGANIZERS ARRIVE 

View the meeting agenda HERE

View the staff agenda packet HERE

Agenda Item: 5a

Considering – adoption of Ordinance No. 25-3 amending Concord Municipal Code Chapter 19.40 “Residential Tenant Protection Program” to revise existing provisions thereof, including but not limited to adjusting the Annual Allowable Rent Increase and the applicability of the “just cause for eviction” provisions to rented single-family homes and condominiums. Ordinance No. 25-3 was introduced on March 25, 2025, by reading of the title only and waiving further reading. Recommended by the City Clerk.

Here’s What’s at Stake:

The amendment increases the rent cap from 60% of CPI (currently 2.52%) to a flat 5%.

This change brings Concord in line with cities like San Jose and Hayward and helps rental owners keep up with rising operational costs. Without this amendment, Concord rental housing providers will be forced to accept unsustainable rent increases—leading to reduced reinvestment in properties, decline, and blight. Severe rent caps won’t lower rents—they’ll shrink housing supply. Owners will sell or be unable to reinvest, and new rental housing (like ADUs) won’t be created. The solution to high rents is more housing—not punitive rent control.

Recent Victory—But It’s Not Final:

On March 25, 2025, after hearing from hundreds of rental housing providers and receiving 250+ letters, the Council voted to move forward with this amendment. However, April 22 is the third and FINAL official vote—If the council vote in favor of this amendment, it will become law.

Call to Action:

✅ Attend the Council Meeting on March 25 and speak in support of the amendment.

✅ Send thank-you emails to the Council at citycouncil@cityofconcord.org—especially to Council Member Pablo Benavente for his leadership.

✅ Stay engaged—this fight is not over, and your voice is essential to ensure the Council does not reverse course.

For more information, visit: www.cityofconcord.org/RentProgram

Let’s keep the pressure on and push for fair, balanced housing policies in Concord. Together, we can protect our rental housing community.

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East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA)