November 2023 Page 1 of 5
Renter Protection Policy Work Status Update –
November 2023
On November 29, 2021, the City Council adopted a package of rental protection policies. 1 The policies are summarized below. Since that Council meeting, staff have focused primarily on the three policies identified by Council as priorities. Some policies are also identified for incorporation into Housing Element programs.
Policy Brief Description Work Status
1 Rental Registry
Program (RRP)
(CC Motion #E)
HIGH PRIORITY
Establish a program that
gathers information on
rental units in City for
purposes identified by
Council.
In progress.
Council referred the design and
implementation to the Policy & Services
Committee, including proposed fees,
resources, and timeline. P&S
Committee provided feedback in
September 2022.2
RRP Program Development Phase I -
RFP released March 2023. Proposals
received April 2023. Currently in
contract negotiations in Fall/Winter
2023.
Community meeting in March 2023.
Draft Rental Registry Program
ordinance prepared. Public meetings
before the Human Relations
Commission and Planning &
1 City Council Meeting Minutes, 11/29/21: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes- reports/agendas-minutes/city-council-agendas-minutes/2021/11-november/20211129/20211129amccs.pdf City Council City Manager Report ID # 13786, 11/29/21:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/city-council- agendas-minutes/2021/11-november/20211129/20211129pccs.pdf City Renter Protection Policy Development Webpage: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Planning- Development-Services/Long-Range-Planning/Renter-Protection-Policy-Development 2 Policy & Services Committee Meeting City Manager Report ID # 14139, 09/13/22:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/policy-and- services-committee/2022/20220913/20220913ppsr.pdf
November 2023 Page 2 of 5
Policy Brief Description Work Status
Transportation Commission May 2023.3
Housing Ad Hoc meeting August 2023.4
RRP Program Development Phase II –
This future phase will include
community outreach, City budgeting
and staffing, and RRP software
development.
RRP Program Implementation Phase I –
This future phase will include
community outreach, RRP launch, and
rental unit initial registrations.
RRP Program Implementation Phase II –
This future phase will include
community outreach and RRP
reporting.
HRC also discussed the RRP at their
February 2023 meeting as part of their
Motion I Council referral, see Item 8
below.
2 Expand Tenant
Relocation
Assistance
(CC Motion #B)
HIGH PRIORITY
Update existing local
ordinance to extend
tenant relocation
assistance requirements
to properties with ten
units or more
Completed.
Council acted upon an ordinance that
expanded Tenant Relocation Assistance
codified in the Palo Alto Municipal Code
Section 9.68.035.5
HRC also discussed Tenant Relocation
Assistance at their February 2023
3 Human Relations Commission Staff Report, May 24, 2023:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/community-services/human-relations- commission/agendas/5-24-23/05-24-23-hrc-retreat-agenda.pdf.
Planning & Transportation Commission Staff Report, May 31, 2023:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/planning-and- transportation-commission/2023/ptc-5.31-public-agenda.pdf. 4 Housing Ad Hoc Staff Report, August 31, 2023: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/3/planning- amp-development-services/long-range-planning/rrp-housing-ad-hoc-committee-staff-report-08.16.23-for-jl.pdf 5 Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 9.68.035 Relocation assistance for no-fault eviction:
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/latest/paloalto_ca/0-0-0-66806.
November 2023 Page 3 of 5
Policy Brief Description Work Status
meeting as part of their Motion I
Council referral, see Item 8 below.
3 Eviction Reduction
(CC Motion #C)
PRIORITY
Create local ordinance to
expand eviction
protections in AB 1482
to include rental units
receiving occupancy
within the last 15 years.
Completed.
City Council acted upon two ordinances
which updated Palo Alto Municipal
Code Chapter 9.68 Rental Housing
Stabilization to include local just cause
eviction protections, including covering
more rental units than in state law.
HRC discussed Eviction Reduction at
their February 2023 meeting as part of
their Motion I Council referral, see Item
8 below.
4 Anti-Rent-gouging
(CC Motion #D)
Consider preparation of
a local ordinance to
expand the number of
units covered by AB
1482 rent increase
limitations.
Not started.
Council referred the anti-rent gouging
topic to the Policy & Services
Committee, including the review and
discussion of measures to address
loopholes. This work is incorporated
into the Housing Element workplan.
Staff anticipates work on this topic
starting Winter 2023.
HRC discussed Rent Increases at their
February 2023 meeting as part of their
Motion I Council referral, see Item 8
below.
5 Security Deposit
Limit
(CC Motion #F)
Create a local ordinance
that limits the locally
allowable amount of
security deposit charged
for unfurnished rental
units to 1.5 times the
monthly rent.
Completed.
City Council acted upon an ordinance in
which updated Palo Alto Municipal
Code Chapter 9.68 Rental Housing
Stabilization to establish a new security
deposit limit for unfurnished rental
units that is lower than the limit
allowed by state law.
November 2023 Page 4 of 5
Policy Brief Description Work Status
6 Fair Chance
Ordinance
(CC Motion #H)
Consider preparation of
a local ordinance that
supports fair chance
policies.
In process.
Council referred the fair chance policy
topic to the Policy & Services
Committee, including a staff analysis of
consequences and unintended
consequences. This work is
incorporated into the Housing Element
workplan. Staff anticipates continued
work on this topic in Winter
2023/Spring 2024.
HRC discussed Fair Chance at their
February 2023 meeting as part of their
Motion I Council referral, see Item 8
below.
7 Right to Counsel
(CC Motion #G)
Provide tenants with
legal assistance in
housing-related cases.
Ongoing.
Ongoing to identify ways to support
County efforts on right to counsel.
Santa Clara County won a grant in
Spring 2023 to investigate the Right to
Counsel topic. City staff is coordinating
with the County regarding investigation
findings.
City staff met with the Bay Area
Housing Finance Authority in Spring
2023, which is preparing a Bay Area
Eviction Study, the results of which will
likely explore the Right to Counsel
topic. City staff will coordinate with
BAFHA regarding the study findings.
City staff joined the Santa Clara County
Eviction, Tenant/Landlord Disputes, &
Rent Relief Collaborative that meets
monthly and discusses the Right to
Counsel topic.
November 2023 Page 5 of 5
Policy Brief Description Work Status
8 Improving
Implementation of
Existing Renter
Protection Policies
(CC Motion #I)
City review and
assessment of the
implementation of
existing renter
protection policies.
In progress.
Council referred this implementation
review and assessment to the Human
Relations Commission.
HRC discussed many existing and new
Renter Policies at their February 2023
meeting as part of their Motion I
Council referral. 6 HRC
recommendations will be brought to
City Council for direction in Winter
2023/Spring 2024.
6 For more specifics, refer to the Human Relations Commission February 9, 2023 meeting minutes and the April 27, 2023 meeting minutes whereby one February 9, 2023 HRC motion was clarified:
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Community-Services/Other-Services/Commissions/Human- Relations-Commission/HRC-Current-Year-Agendas-and-Minutes.