Oakland Mun. Code Chapter 8.22 § 8.22.020

As used in this Chapter, Article I:
"1946 Notice" means any notice of termination of tenancy served pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1946. This notice is commonly referred to as a thirty (30) or sixty (60) day notice of termination of tenancy, but the notice period may actually be for a longer or shorter period, depending on the circumstances.
"1946 Termination of Tenancy" means any termination of tenancy pursuant to California Civil Code § 1946.
"Additional occupant" means an occupant whose addition to the unit has increased the total number of occupants above the base occupancy level. The owner may petition to increase the rent by an amount up to five percent (5%) for each additional occupant above the base occupancy level. A rent increase shall not be based on an additional occupant who is the spouse, registered domestic partner, parent, grandparent, child, adopted child, foster child, or grandchild of an existing tenant, or the legal guardian of an existing tenant's child or grandchild who resides in the unit, or a caretaker/attendant as required for a reasonable accommodation for an occupant with a disability. A rent increase granted under this Section shall be reversed if the number of occupants decreases.
"Anniversary Date" is the date falling one (1) year after the day the tenant was provided with possession of the covered unit or one (1) year after the day the most recent rent adjustment took effect, whichever is later. Following certain vacancies, a subsequent tenant will assume the anniversary date of the previous tenant (Section 8.22.080 ).
"Appeal Panel" means a three-member panel of Board members authorized to hear appeals of Hearing Officer decisions. Appeal panels must be comprised of one (1) residential rental property owner, one (1) tenant, and one (1) person who is neither a tenant nor a residential rental property owner. Appeal panels may be made up of all regular Board members, all alternates, or a combination of regular Board members and alternates.
"Banking" means any CPI Rent Adjustment (or any rent adjustment formerly known as the Annual Permissible Rent Increase) the owner chooses to delay imposing in part or in full, and which may be imposed at a later date, subject to the restrictions in the ordinance.
"Base occupancy level" means the number of tenants occupying the covered unit as principal residence as of June 16, 2020, with the owner's knowledge, or allowed by the lease or rental agreement effective as of June 16, 2020, whichever is greater, except that, for units that had an initial rent established on or after June 17, 2020, "base occupancy level" means the number of tenants allowed by the lease or rental agreement entered into at the beginning of the current tenancy.
"Board" and "Residential Rent Adjustment Board" means the Housing, Residential Rent and Relocation Board.
"Capital Improvements" means those improvements to a covered unit or common areas that materially add to the value of the property and appreciably prolong its useful life or adapt it to new building codes. Those improvements must primarily benefit the tenant rather than the owner. Capital improvement costs that may be passed through to tenants include seventy percent (70%) of actual costs, plus imputed financing. Capital improvement costs shall be amortized over the useful life of the improvement as set forth in an amortization schedule developed by the Rent Board. Capital improvements do not include the following as set forth in current and future regulations: correction of serious code violations not created by the tenant; improvements or repairs required because of deferred maintenance; improvements that are greater in character or quality than existing improvements ("gold-plating," "over-improving"), excluding: improvements approved in writing by the tenant, improvements that bring the unit up to current building or housing codes, or the cost of a substantially equivalent replacement; or costs for which a landlord is reimbursed (e.g., insurance, court awarded damages, subsidies, tax credits, and grants).
"Costa-Hawkins" means the California state law known as the Costa-Hawkins Rental Hawkins Act codified at California Civil Code § 1954.50, et seq. (Appendix A to this Chapter contains the text of Costa-Hawkins).
"Covered Unit" means any dwelling unit, including joint living and work quarters, and all housing services located in Oakland and used or occupied in consideration of payment of rent with the exception of those units designated in Section 8.22.030 A. as exempt. "Covered Unit" includes a vehicular residential facility, as defined in Oakland Planning Code Section 17.10.700, rented or offered for rent for living or dwelling purposes, whether rent is paid for the recreational vehicle and the lot upon which it is located, or rent is paid for the lot alone.
"CPI--All items" means the Consumer Price Index--All items for all urban consumers for the San Francisco--Oakland Hayward area as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"CPI--Less Shelter" means the Consumer Price Index--All items less shelter for all urban consumers for the San Francisco--Oakland Hayward area as published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"CPI Rent Adjustment" means the maximum rent adjustment (calculated annually according to a formula pursuant to Section 8.22.070 B.3) that an owner may impose within a twelve-month period without the tenant being allowed to contest the rent increase, except as provided in Section 8.22.070 B.2. (failure of the owner to give proper notices, decreased housing services, and uncured code violations).
"Current Business Tax Certificate" means a business tax certificate ("Certificate" under O.M.C. Section 5.04.110 ) that covers the property in which the unit is located: i.
For the current calendar year if the notice or petition is served on or after April 30 of a calendar year;
ii. For either the current calendar year or the prior calendar year if the notice or petition is served before April 30 of a calendar year.
"Ellis Act Ordinance" means the ordinance codified at O.M.C. 8.22.400 ( Chapter 8.22 , Article III) setting out requirements for withdrawal of residential rental units from the market pursuant to California Government Code § 7060 et seq. (the Ellis Act).
"Fee" means the rent program service fee as set out in O.M.C. 8.22.500 ( Chapter 8.22 , Article IV).
"Housing services" means all services provided by the owner related to the use or occupancy of a covered unit, including, but not limited to, insurance, repairs, maintenance, painting, utilities, heat, water, elevator service, laundry facilities, janitorial service, refuse removal, furnishings, parking, security service, employee services, and any other benefits or privileges permitted the tenant by agreement, whether express or implied, including the right to have a specific number of occupants and the right to one-for-one replacement of roommates, regardless of any prohibition against subletting and/or assignment.
"Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance" means the ordinance adopted by the voters on November 5, 2002 (also known as Measure EE) and codified at O.M.C. 8.22.300 (O.M.C. Chapter 8.22 , Article II).
"Mandatory Seismic Capital Improvement" means capital improvements that consist of mandatory seismic retrofitting as required in O.M.C. Chapter 15.27 . Allowable adjustments of rents for work required by O.M.C. Chapter 15.27 shall be governed by Article 1, Chapter 8.22 .
"Owner" means any owner, lessor or landlord, as defined by state law, of a covered unit that is leased or rented to another, and the representative, agent, or successor of such owner, lessor or landlord.
"Owner of Record" means a natural person, who is an owner of record holding an interest equal to or greater than thirty-three percent (33%) in the property, but not including any lessor, sublessor, or agent of the owner of record.
"Regulations" means the Regulations adopted by the Board and approved by the City Council for implementation of this Chapter, Article I (formerly known as "Rules and Procedures") (after regulations are approved, they will be attached to this Chapter as Appendix B).
"Rent" means the total consideration charged or received by an owner in exchange for the use or occupancy of a covered unit including all housing services provided to the tenant.
"Rent Adjustment Program" means the department in the City that administers this Chapter and also includes the Board.
"Security Deposit" means any payment, fee, deposit, or charge, including, but not limited to, an advance payment of rent, used or to be used for any purpose, including, but not limited to, the compensation of an owner for a tenant's default in payment of rent, the repair of damages to the premises caused by the tenant, or the cleaning of the premises upon termination of the tenancy exclusive of normal wear and tear.
"Tenant" means a person entitled, by written or oral agreement to the use or occupancy of any covered unit.
"Uninsured Repairs" means that work done by an owner or tenant to a covered unit or to the common area of the property or structure containing a covered unit which is performed to secure compliance with any state or local law as to repair damage resulting from fire, earthquake, or other casualty or natural disaster, to the extent such repair is not reimbursed by insurance proceeds.
"Voluntary Seismic Capital Improvement" means capital improvements that consist of "seismic strengthening" as defined in O.M.C. Section 15.30.100 , but is not required for compliance under Chapter 15.27 .