Oakland Mun. Code Chapter 8.22 § 8.22.810
Definitions (Oakland Rent Adjustment Program and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinances)
Operative Text
"Disabled" means a person with a disability, as defined in Section 12955.3 of the Government Code. "Elderly" means a person sixty-two (62) years old or older. "Lower-Income Tenant Household" means Tenant Households whose income is not more than that permitted for lower income households, as defined by California Health and Safety Code Section 50079.5. "Minor Child(ren)" means a person(s) who is eighteen (18) years or younger at the time the notice is served. "Owner" or "Property Owner" means a person, persons, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or any other entity holding fee title to the subject real property. In the case of multiple ownership of the subject real property, "Owner" or "Property Owner" refers to each entity holding any portion of the fee interest in the property, and the property owner's obligations in this Chapter shall be joint and several as to each property owner. "Qualifying Relocation Event" means any event or vacancy that triggers a Tenant's right to relocation payments under the Oakland Municipal Code. "Rental Unit" means a dwelling space in the City containing a separate bathroom, kitchen, and living area, including a single-family dwelling or unit in a multifamily or multipurpose dwelling, or a unit in a condominium or cooperative housing project, or a unit in a structure that is being used for residential uses whether or not the residential use is a conforming use permitted under the Oakland Municipal Code or Oakland Planning Code, which is hired, rented, or leased to a household within the meaning of California Civil Code Section 1940. This definition applies to any dwelling space that is actually used for residential purposes, including live-work spaces, whether or not the residential use is legally permitted. "Room" means an unsubdivided portion of the interior of a residential building in the City which is used for the purpose of sleeping, and is occupied by a Tenant Household for at least thirty (30) consecutive days. This includes, but is not limited to, a rooming unit or efficiency unit located in a residential hotel, as that term is defined in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 50519. This definition applies to any space that is actually used for residential purposes whether or not the residential use is legally permitted. For purposes of determining the amount of relocation payments, a room is the equivalent of a studio apartment. "Tenant" means a Tenant as that term is defined in O.M.C. 8.22.340 . "Tenant Household" means one (1) or more individual Tenants who rent or lease a Rental Unit or Room as their primary residence and who share living accommodations. In the case where an individual Room is rented to multiple Tenants under separate agreements, each individual Tenant of such Room shall constitute a "Tenant Household" for purposes of this article.
Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 8.22 § 8.22.810 establishes the core vocabulary used throughout Oakland's relocation-payment rules, setting precise meanings for terms like 'Rental Unit,' 'Room,' 'Tenant Household,' and protected categories such as 'Disabled,' 'Elderly,' and 'Minor Child(ren).' Notably, the definitions of 'Rental Unit' and 'Room' extend to spaces actually used for residential purposes—including live-work spaces—regardless of whether that use is legally permitted under zoning rules. These definitions determine who qualifies for protections and what spaces fall within the chapter's scope.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8.22.810, property owners should recognize that the chapter's definitions are intentionally broad—covering not just traditional apartments but also rooms in residential hotels, live-work spaces, and units with unpermitted residential use. When multiple parties hold ownership interests, the provision treats each co-owner's obligations as joint and several, meaning each owner bears full responsibility for compliance. Operators generally review these definitions carefully when assessing whether a unit or occupant triggers relocation-payment obligations elsewhere in Chapter 8.22.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8.22.810 defines who counts as a 'Tenant,' 'Tenant Household,' and 'Rental Unit' for purposes of Oakland's relocation rules, and the definitions are written broadly enough to cover many non-traditional living arrangements, including rooms in residential hotels and live-work spaces. Tenants in spaces that may not be formally permitted for residential use are not automatically excluded from the chapter's protections. Those who want to understand whether their household or unit qualifies under these definitions can consult Oakland's Rent Adjustment Program 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 4, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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