Merced, Cal., Code of Ordinances ch. 9.75 § 9.75.050
Temporary moratorium on rent increases
Operative Text
A landlord may not increase rent on a property subject to Section 9.75.040 above, for six (6) months from the date that the tenant returns to the respective unit following completion of repair or rehabilitation. A. A property that is exempt from rent limits imposed by Civil Code Section 1947.12 or Civil Code Section 1954.50 et seq. is exempt from this section. B. This section does not apply when a unit becomes vacant following a tenant's decision to decline their right to return and the landlord sets the initial rent for a new tenancy. C. This section does not apply to a property where one or more scheduled rent increases occur pursuant to a written rental agreement that was entered into before January 8, 2023.
Merced Code of Ordinances ch. 9.75 § 9.75.050 establishes a temporary freeze on rent increases for certain rental properties after a tenant returns to their unit following required repairs or rehabilitation. Specifically, landlords are prohibited from raising rent for six months after the tenant moves back in. This moratorium does not apply to properties already exempt from California's statewide rent-cap laws, units where the tenant chose not to return and a new tenancy begins, or properties covered by a written rental agreement predating January 8, 2023 that already scheduled rent increases.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Merced Code of Ordinances ch. 9.75 § 9.75.050, compliant property owners generally refrain from issuing any rent increase notice during the six-month window that begins when a displaced tenant returns to their unit after repairs or rehabilitation are complete. Operators typically document the tenant's return date carefully, as that date triggers the moratorium period. Landlords managing properties exempt under Civil Code Section 1947.12 or Civil Code Section 1954.50, or those operating under pre-January 8, 2023 written agreements with scheduled increases, should confirm whether those exemptions apply to their specific property before taking any action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Merced Code of Ordinances ch. 9.75 § 9.75.050 gives tenants who return to their unit after repairs or rehabilitation a six-month period during which their landlord is not permitted to raise the rent. If a tenant believes a rent increase has been imposed in violation of this moratorium, general enforcement paths include raising the violation as a defense in any related proceeding, contacting the City of Merced for guidance, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for information about available options. Tenants should be aware that certain properties—such as those exempt from statewide rent caps or covered by pre-January 8, 2023 rental agreements with scheduled increases—may fall outside the protection of this section.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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