Rent Control & Annual General Adjustment

Rent Board Adopts 2025 Annual General Adjustment in the Amount of 1.62%

(Effective 09/01/2025)

At their meeting on June 18, 2025, the Rent Board adopted Regulation 614, establishing the 2025 Annual General Adjustment (AGA) rent increase for Controlled Rental Units in the amount of 1.62%. Rent Increases for the 2025 AGA may not take effect prior to September 1, 2025.

In addition, while keeping in mind the above information, to apply the 2025 Annual General Adjustment rent increase of 1.62%, Landlords must comply with State law requirements and file a notice of rent increase with the Rent Board within ten (10) business days after service on the Tenant in accordance with Regulation 603.

Questions? Call the Richmond Rent Program to speak with a Services Analyst by calling (510) 234-RENT(7368) or request an appointment by submitting an Appointment Request Form on our website at www.richmond.rent.org.

Annual General Adjustment Rent Increases 2016-2025

Year	Allowable Rent Increase	Applies to Tenants Who Moved In BEFORE:
2016	3.0%	September 1, 2015 (does not apply to rent increase notices dated on or before June 21, 2017)
2017	3.4%	September 1, 2016
2018	3.6%	September 1, 2017
2019	3.5%	September 1, 2018
2020	2.9%	September 1, 2019
2021	1.6%	September 1, 2020
2022	3.0%	September 1, 2021
2023	3.0%	September 1, 2022
2024	1.4%	September 1, 2023
2025	1.62%	September 1, 2024

2025 Annual General Adjustment Template Notices of Rent Increase

Access the 2025 AGA Rent Increase Notice packets below:

Document Title and Link	Description
Rent Increase Noticing Checklist/Procedures	Follow the steps on the checklist to ensure compliance with the Richmond Rent Ordinance.
Maximum Allowable Rent & Rent Increase Calculator	Enter the Base Rent into the calculator to calculate the Rental Unit(s) Maximum Allowable Rent.
30- Day Notice of Annual General Adjustment	Access the 2025 AGA 30-Day template example to increase rent on the Rental Unit(s).
90-Day Notice of Annual General Adjustment	Access the 2025 AGA 90-Day template example to increase rent on the Rental Unit(s).
Proof of Service	Landlords are required to file a copy of the Rent Increase Notice with a Proof of Service after ten (10) business days upon service on the Tenant.
Rent Program Brochure	Landlords are required to provide tenants with a copy of the Richmond Rent Program brochure at the commencement of tenancy and with each notice of rent increase (RMC 11.100.060(g)).

File a Notice of Rent Increase with the Richmond Rent Board

Within ten (10) business days after service on the Tenant, a copy of the Notice of Rent Increase and Proof of Service shall be filed with the Richmond Rent Board. Access the link below to file and complete the Notice of Rent Increase Form online. Alternatively, for properties with five (5) units or fewer, a copy of the notice of rent increase and proof of service may be filed by mailing a hard copy to the City of Richmond Rent Program, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 200, Richmond, CA 94804. Other such requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

See Chapter 6 Regulations: Annual General Adjustments of Maximum Allowable Rents

Rent Board Approves New Policy on Excess Rent Refunds

On June 19, 2019, the Rent Board rescinded Subsection (C) of Regulation 605, eliminating the requirement for Landlords to return excess rent via a cashier’s check with 10 days. In lieu of this requirement, and upon agreement of the Tenant, excess rent may be returned to the Tenant through the execution of a repayment agreement between the Tenant and Landlord, a reduction of Tenant’s rent until the amount is satisfied, the Landlord's partial payment of the amount owed combined with a reduction in rent, or other calculable forms of repayment. Under Section 11.100.100 of the Richmond Municipal Code, Tenants may not waive any provisions of the Rent Ordinance, which means that under any repayment plan, Tenants cannot waive or modify the amount of excess rent owed. The Tenant may only agree to modify the method and form of repayment. As is prudent practice, Landlords and Tenants are encouraged to document any agreement in writing and may request mediation through the Rent Program to facilitate an excess rent repayment agreement. Tenants who choose not to agree to a repayment plan, or whose Landlord fails to adhere to a previously agreed upon repayment plan, may file an Excess Rent petition with the Rent Program to compel the Landlord to refund any excess rent owed.