San Jose Mun. Code Chapter 17.23 § 17.23.350

A. Tenant Petitions. There is hereby established a Tenant Petition process, which process and procedures shall be set forth in the Regulations. A member of a Tenant Household may submit a Petition to the Director on any one (1) or more of the following grounds: to allege a Rent increase in violation of the Ordinance; to request a reduction in Rent based on decreased Housing Services; to contest a fee or charge as an unauthorized or excessive pass through; to allege other violations of the Ordinance or Regulations; or other specific grounds that may be provided by the Regulations.
B. Landlord Petitions. There is hereby established a Landlord Petition process, which process and procedures shall be set forth in the Regulations. A Landlord may submit a Petition to the Director on any one (1) or more of the following grounds: to request a Rent increase in excess of the Annual General Increase in order to obtain a fair return as described in Part 8; to request the ability to pass through a charge for Specified Capital Improvements; or other specific grounds that may be provided by the Regulations.
C. Joint (Unopposed) Petitions. There is hereby established a Joint Petition process, which process and procedures shall be set forth in the Regulations. A Tenant may file a Petition to request approval of a one-time payment or Security Deposit increase pursuant to Section 17.23.320.C, if the Landlord has signed the Petition. Subject to the conditions in the Regulations, a Tenant may file a Petition for an increase in the Rent of up to five percent (5%) for an additional Tenant if additional occupants are prohibited in the written rental agreement or an increase in the Rent of up to fifty dollars ($50) for a second parking space if only one (1) parking space is reserved for the Tenant in a written rental agreement, provided that no increase in the Rent is allowed for a Tenant's dependent child, foster child, spouse, domestic partner, parent or minor in the Tenant's care, which terms may be further defined in the Regulations.
D. Petitions Affecting Rental Voucher Units. A Tenant or Landlord filing a Petition that applies to a Rental Voucher Unit must indicate that on the Petition and provide a copy of the Petition to the government agency or nonprofit administering government agency's funds within the time period specified in the Regulations for notice to the other party. The government agency or nonprofit administering government agency's funds shall be entitled to participate in the Petition process, and to file a Petition or response within the time period specified in the Regulations.