Union City Rent Increase 2026–27: 8.8% Cap

§ 1 · The formula

How the Union City cap is calculated

5% + regional CPI, max 10% (statewide)

Union City has no local rent cap, and it isn't listed among the local rent laws on the Attorney General's chart. The statewide Tenant Protection Act applies: 5% plus the regional CPI change, up to 10%. For the San Francisco Area it is 8.8% for increases starting August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 (up from 6.3%).

Law: California Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482); Union City Rent Review Ordinance (Mun. Code ch. 5.55, non-binding mediation).

§ 2 · Coverage

Who it covers, and who's exempt

Covered

Most rental housing more than 15 years old not otherwise exempt under Civil Code § 1947.12

Main exemptions & conditions

Housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years (mobilehomes excepted)
A single-family home or condo whose owner isn't a corporation, a REIT or an LLC with a corporate member, if the tenant got the written exemption notice
An owner-occupied duplex where the owner lived in one unit at the start of the tenancy
Deed-restricted affordable housing, dorms, and housing shared with the owner (kitchen or bathroom)

§ 3 · Timing

Notice, and when it changes next

Notice: At least 30 days' written notice for an increase of 10% or less over 12 months (Civil Code § 827).

Next change: The statewide figure resets for increases starting August 1, 2027.

§ 2a · Local rules

Union City's Rent Review Ordinance

Mediation, not a cap
Union City's Rent Review Ordinance offers non-binding mediation when an increase tops 7%, or several increases total more than 7% in 12 months. It doesn't cap rents; the statewide cap does.
Source: “A renter receives a rent increases over 7%”
Notice of rent review
Landlords must give tenants a Notice of Availability of Rent Review with any rent increase.
Source: “Landlords are required to provide tenants with a Notice of Availability of Rent Review Ordinance when issuing any rent increase.”

Cost of living here

Rents and prices around Union City

Official figures only, each for the area named. Prices are for the wider metro area; rents and incomes are for the city itself.

Price level

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area · BEA 2024

All items115.6

Housing194.7

Regional Price Parities: an index where the US average price level for all items = 100. Housing is BEA’s “Services: Housing” line (US = 100.6).

Fair Market Rents

Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area · HUD FY2027

HUD Fair Market Rent per month by unit size, Oakland-Fremont, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
Studio	$2,088
1 bedroom	$2,290
2 bedrooms	$2,805
3 bedrooms	$3,592
4 bedrooms	$4,250

Monthly gross rent (rent plus utilities). HUD: FMRs are “estimates of 40th percentile gross rents for standard quality units”.

Rents and incomes

Union City city, California · ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Median gross rent: $2,713/mo US $1,413/mo
Median household income: $133,715 US $80,734
Median rent as % of household income: 28.8% US 30.6%

Gross rent includes utilities. The rent-to-income figure is for renter households (Census table B25071).

Sources

BEA Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area (MARPP) ↗ · 2024 (released February 19, 2026) · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
OMB metropolitan area delineations (Census list 1, July 2023) ↗ · July 2023 (OMB Bulletin 23-01) · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 (county-level data file) ↗ · FY2027 · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (tables B25064, B19013, B25071) ↗ · 2020–2024 · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026

Compare Union City with another city → All places ranked → Can I afford my rent? →

§ 4 · Sources

Official sources

State of California, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General · headline figure Limits on Rent Increases ↗
“San Mateo County 6.3% 8.8%”
Last checked October 17, 2026 · oag.ca.gov
California Legislative Information · notice Civil Code § 827 (notice of rent increase) ↗
“the notice shall be delivered at least 30 days before the effective date of the increase”
Last checked October 18, 2026 · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislative Information · exemptions Civil Code § 1947.12 (Tenant Protection Act rent cap) ↗
“Housing that has been issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years, unless the housing is a mobilehome.”
Last checked October 18, 2026 · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
City of Union City · local rent review (non-binding) Rent Review Ordinance ↗
“Landlord participation in the mediation process is mandatory; however, all recommendations are non-binding.”
Last checked October 18, 2026 · unioncityca.gov

See something out of date? The methodology page explains how we check figures.

§ 5 · Questions

Frequently asked

What is the maximum rent increase in Union City for 2026–27?

Union City has no local rent control; the statewide AB 1482 cap for the San Francisco Area is 8.8% for increases starting August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. Union City's Rent Review Ordinance offers non-binding mediation when an increase tops 7%, or several increases total more than 7% in 12 months. It doesn't cap rents; the statewide cap does.

How is the Union City rent cap calculated?

Union City has no local rent cap, and it isn't listed among the local rent laws on the Attorney General's chart. The statewide Tenant Protection Act applies: 5% plus the regional CPI change, up to 10%. For the San Francisco Area it is 8.8% for increases starting August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 (up from 6.3%).

Which rentals are exempt from the Union City cap?

Housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years (mobilehomes excepted). A single-family home or condo whose owner isn't a corporation, a REIT or an LLC with a corporate member, if the tenant got the written exemption notice. An owner-occupied duplex where the owner lived in one unit at the start of the tenancy.

When does the Union City rent cap change next?

The statewide figure resets for increases starting August 1, 2027.

Where does this Union City figure come from?

From State of California, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General: “Limits on Rent Increases”, which we last checked on October 17, 2026. Always confirm with the agency before relying on it.

Same state

Other caps in California

Elsewhere

What's the maximum rent increase in Union City for 2026–27?

Where 8.8% sits