Silicon Valley Landlord Guide
Mountain View CSFRA Rent Stabilization 2026:
Landlord Complete Guide
Everything a Mountain View landlord needs to know about the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act — coverage, rent ceilings, just-cause eviction, and how to stay compliant in a high-stakes rental market.
Mountain View's Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act (CSFRA) limits annual rent increases to a CPI-based ceiling set by the Rental Housing Committee, typically 2-5%. Covered units are in multi-family buildings constructed on or before February 1, 1995. Single-family homes and condos are exempt from rent caps under Costa-Hawkins, but CSFRA just-cause eviction rules apply broadly. Verify the current annual percentage at mountainview.gov/CSFRA before issuing any rent notice.
What's in This Guide
- What the CSFRA is and why Mountain View passed it
- Coverage: which units are protected
- Annual rent ceiling and how to calculate increases
- Petition process: above-guideline and tenant challenges
- Just-cause eviction under CSFRA
- CSFRA vs AB 1482: which applies to your unit
- CSFRA landlord cheatsheet
- Frequently asked questions
What Is the CSFRA and Why Does Mountain View Have It?
Mountain View is one of Silicon Valley's most expensive rental markets, driven by proximity to Google's headquarters, LinkedIn, and dozens of other major tech employers. Rapidly rising rents in the early 2010s created significant displacement pressure, and in November 2016 Mountain View voters passed Measure V — the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act.
The CSFRA has two main components: rent stabilization (capping annual increases for covered units) and just-cause eviction (requiring landlords to have a lawful reason to terminate a tenancy). Both components are administered by the Mountain View Rental Housing Committee, an elected five-member body with full rule-making authority over the program.
Unlike some California cities that have rent ordinances administered by city staff, Mountain View's Rental Housing Committee operates with a degree of independence and has issued its own regulations that sometimes go beyond the bare minimum of the CSFRA text. Landlords need to track both the statute and the Committee's current regulations.
Mountain View's rental market is heavily influenced by tech employment cycles. Rental demand from Google, LinkedIn, and the broader tech ecosystem creates persistent pressure on rents — which is exactly why the CSFRA's income ceiling matters so much for long-term landlord underwriting. A building that cash flows at today's controlled rents needs to be modeled at the CPI ceiling, not at market.
Buying a Mountain View Rental? Run the Numbers First.
I'll calculate your CSFRA-adjusted income ceiling before you make an offer — not after closing.
Coverage: Which Units Are Protected Under CSFRA
The CSFRA's rent stabilization provisions apply to a defined subset of Mountain View's rental housing. Understanding coverage is the first compliance step for any landlord.
| Unit Type | Rent Stabilization? | Just-Cause Eviction? |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-family unit, built on or before Feb 1, 1995 | Yes — CSFRA rent ceiling applies | Yes — CSFRA just-cause applies |
| Multi-family unit, built after Feb 1, 1995 | No — Costa-Hawkins exempt; AB 1482 may apply | Yes — CSFRA just-cause applies in most cases |
| Single-family home | No — Costa-Hawkins exempt | Yes — CSFRA just-cause applies unless properly exempt |
| Condominium (sold separately) | No — Costa-Hawkins exempt | Depends on specifics — verify with Rental Housing Committee |
| Subsidized/affordable housing | Separate program governs | Separate rules apply |
| Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | Generally exempt if attached to SFR | Verify with Rental Housing Committee |
Many Mountain View landlords are surprised to learn that CSFRA just-cause eviction rules apply to buildings and unit types that are NOT subject to rent stabilization caps. You may be exempt from the rent ceiling but still need a lawful just-cause ground to terminate a tenancy. Always check both layers.
Annual Rent Ceiling: How CSFRA Increases Work
The CSFRA's annual rent stabilization increase is set by the Mountain View Rental Housing Committee based on the change in the local Consumer Price Index. The Committee announces the allowable increase percentage each year before it takes effect. Unlike some Bay Area cities that cap increases at a fixed CPI multiplier, Mountain View's CSFRA allows 100% of CPI (with a floor of 2% and a ceiling of 5%).
Key mechanics of the CSFRA rent ceiling:
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual increase formula | 100% of local CPI, with a floor of 2% and a ceiling of 5% |
| Applies to | The current lawful base rent, not market rent |
| Increases per year | One per unit per 12-month period |
| Notice: under 10% | 30-day written notice required |
| Notice: 10% or more | 90-day written notice required |
| Vacancy decontrol | Costa-Hawkins: rent resets to market on voluntary departure |
| New tenant base rent | Market-rate rent at lease start becomes the new base for future CSFRA calculations |
| Effective date of current year's increase | Verify at mountainview.gov/CSFRA — announced annually by Committee |
Mountain View's 2% minimum floor is higher than Oakland RAP and Berkeley's formulas in low-inflation years. In near-zero CPI environments, Mountain View landlords can still raise rents by 2% while Oakland and Berkeley landlords may be limited to less than 1%. This makes CSFRA-covered units slightly more favorable for landlords on the rent ceiling dimension than comparable East Bay ordinances.
Selling a Mountain View Rental? Let's Price It Right.
CSFRA-covered buildings trade at a discount to free-market comparables. I'll help you price the tenancy correctly and position for the right buyer pool.
Petition Process: Above-Guideline and Tenant Challenges
Landlord Petitions for Above-Guideline Increases
When CPI-based increases don't cover actual cost increases, Mountain View CSFRA allows landlords to petition the Rental Housing Committee for an above-guideline increase. Qualifying grounds include capital improvements (permanent improvements benefiting tenants), utility cost increases, and certain operating cost increases. The process requires documentation and a potential hearing, and typically takes several months.
Tenant Petitions
Tenants in CSFRA-covered units can petition the Rental Housing Committee to challenge rent overcharges, report decreased housing services, or raise habitability issues. A rent overcharge petition results in the unlawful overcharge being refunded with interest. A decreased services petition can result in a rent reduction. These proceedings are administrative — not court-based — but can still be time-consuming and costly for landlords who are not compliant.
Mountain View requires landlords of CSFRA-covered units to register annually with the Rental Housing Committee and pay a per-unit fee. Failure to register freezes your ability to collect rent increases and can result in penalties. Register at mountainview.gov/CSFRA each year — do not let this slip.
Just-Cause Eviction Under CSFRA
CSFRA requires just-cause for terminating a tenancy in covered units. At-fault grounds allow eviction based on tenant behavior. No-fault grounds allow eviction for legitimate landlord needs — but require relocation assistance.
| Ground | Type | Relocation Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Non-payment of rent | At-fault | No |
| Material lease violation (after notice to cure) | At-fault | No |
| Nuisance / illegal use | At-fault | No |
| Refusal to sign new lease of substantially same terms | At-fault | No |
| Owner or qualifying relative move-in | No-fault | Yes — formula applies |
| Substantial rehabilitation | No-fault | Yes — formula applies |
| Demolition (with permits) | No-fault | Yes — formula applies |
| Ellis Act withdrawal | No-fault | Yes — California Ellis Act amounts apply |
Relocation amounts for no-fault CSFRA evictions are updated periodically by the Rental Housing Committee. Current amounts are published at mountainview.gov/CSFRA. Do not rely on figures from prior years — verify the current schedule before serving any no-fault notice.
CSFRA vs AB 1482: Which Applies to Your Unit?
AB 1482 (the Tenant Protection Act of 2019) is California's statewide rent cap and just-cause eviction law. It applies to many units that local ordinances like CSFRA do not cover. Understanding which law governs your unit is essential.
| Unit Type | Governing Law | Annual Rent Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-family, built on/before Feb 1, 1995 | CSFRA (more protective — applies instead of AB 1482) | CPI (2% floor, 5% ceiling) |
| Multi-family, built after Feb 1, 1995 and 15+ years old | AB 1482 (CSFRA rent cap does not apply) | 5% + CPI (max 10%) |
| Multi-family, built after Feb 1, 1995 and under 15 years old | Neither CSFRA nor AB 1482 rent cap applies | No cap (market rate) |
| Single-family home or condo | AB 1482 may apply if not exempt; CSFRA rent cap does not apply | 5% + CPI (max 10%) if AB 1482 applies |
AB 1482 does not apply where a more protective local ordinance exists. For Mountain View units covered by CSFRA, CSFRA governs. For units exempt from CSFRA's rent cap but covered by AB 1482, the statewide 5%+CPI (max 10%) ceiling applies.
Mountain View CSFRA Landlord Cheatsheet
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mountain View's CSFRA?
The Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act is Mountain View's local rent stabilization and just-cause eviction ordinance, passed by voters in November 2016. It limits annual rent increases for covered units to a CPI-based ceiling (2-5%) and requires landlords to have a lawful just-cause reason to terminate a tenancy.
Which Mountain View units are covered by the CSFRA?
Rent stabilization applies to multi-family rental units in buildings constructed on or before February 1, 1995. Single-family homes and condos are exempt from rent stabilization under Costa-Hawkins, but CSFRA just-cause eviction provisions apply to a broader set of units.
What is the Mountain View CSFRA annual rent increase for 2026?
The CSFRA annual allowable increase is set by the Rental Housing Committee based on local CPI (with a 2% floor and 5% ceiling). Verify the exact current figure at mountainview.gov/CSFRA before issuing any rent increase notice — it changes annually.
Does CSFRA cover new construction built after 1995?
No rent stabilization cap applies to units first occupied after February 1, 1995 — Costa-Hawkins exempts these from local rent control. However, CSFRA's just-cause eviction rules may still apply, and AB 1482's statewide cap may apply to buildings 15+ years old.
What are the just-cause eviction grounds under Mountain View CSFRA?
At-fault grounds: non-payment, lease violation, nuisance, illegal use, refusal to sign new lease. No-fault grounds (with relocation): owner/relative move-in, substantial rehabilitation, demolition, Ellis Act withdrawal. Verify current relocation amounts at mountainview.gov/CSFRA.
Mountain View Rental Questions? I'm One Text Away.
Whether you're buying, selling, or navigating a tenant transition — I help Silicon Valley landlords get it right the first time.
