Oakland Mun. Code Chapter 8.22 § 8.22.620
Definitions (Oakland Rent Adjustment Program and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinances)
Operative Text
As used in this Chapter, Article V: "Affordable housing provider" means an owner that provides housing in a building in which at least eighty percent (80%) of the units are restricted to occupancy at an affordable rent or an affordable housing cost for persons and families of low and moderate income as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 50093. The terms "affordable rent" and "affordable housing cost" shall be as defined in California Health and Safety Code Sections 50053 and 50052.5 and their implementing regulations. Such housing shall have terms of affordability equivalent to those prescribed in California Health and Safety Code Sections 33334.3(f)(1)(A) for rental housing and 33334.3(f)(1)(B) for owner occupied housing. "Catastrophically III" means Disabled and suffering from a life-threatening illness, as certified by the Tenant's primary care physician. "City Administrator" means the Oakland City Administrator or his or her designee. "City Attorney" means the Oakland City Attorney or his or her designee. "Elderly" means elderly as that term is defined in O.M.C. 8.22.410. "Disabled" means disabled as that term is defined in O.M.C. 8.22.410 . "Health Facility" has the same meaning as in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ). "Owner" has the same meaning as "Landlord" in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ). "Owner of Record" has the same meaning as in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ). "Rent" has the same meaning as in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ). "Rent Board" has the same meaning as in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ). "Rental Agreement" has the same meaning as in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ). "Rental Unit" has the same meaning as in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ). "Tenant" means any renter, tenant, subtenant, lessee, or sublessee of a rental unit, or any group of renters, tenants, subtenants, lessees, sublessees of a rental unit, or any other person entitled to the use or occupancy of such rental unit. This includes occupants of residential hotels against whom violations of California Civil Code Section 1940.1 have occurred. "Skilled Nursing Facility" has the same meaning as in the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340 ).
Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 8.22 § 8.22.620 establishes the specific meanings of key terms used throughout Article V of Chapter 8.22, ensuring consistent interpretation across the chapter. For example, it sets out who qualifies as an 'affordable housing provider' based on California Health and Safety Code thresholds, defines 'catastrophically ill' as a disability combined with a life-threatening illness certified by a primary care physician, and anchors many other terms—such as 'Rent,' 'Rental Unit,' and 'Owner'—to the definitions already established in Oakland's Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340). The definition of 'Tenant' is notably broad, covering renters, subtenants, lessees, and others entitled to occupancy, including residential hotel occupants affected by Civil Code Section 1940.1 violations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 8.22 § 8.22.620 should be aware that the term 'Owner' carries the same meaning as 'Landlord' under the Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (O.M.C. 8.22.340), so obligations and protections tied to that definition apply here as well. Operators who believe they qualify as an 'affordable housing provider' under § 8.22.620 generally document that at least 80% of their units meet the affordability restrictions and income limits set by the referenced California Health and Safety Code sections, along with the required terms of affordability. Understanding how these defined terms interact with the rest of Article V helps operators apply the chapter's rules consistently across their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 8.22 § 8.22.620, the definition of 'Tenant' is intentionally broad, extending protections to subtenants, sublessees, and residential hotel occupants—not just primary leaseholders—which can be relevant when determining who is covered by Article V's provisions. Tenants who believe a particular term, such as 'catastrophically ill' or 'disabled,' applies to their household may find it useful to understand how those definitions connect to the broader protections in Chapter 8.22. Those seeking to understand how these definitions affect their rights can consult Oakland's Rent Adjustment Program, the Rent Board referenced in § 8.22.620, or a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.