| Date, time & location |
Details |
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March 2, 2026, at 6pm
Tenant Protection Ordinance
(Property Owner, Landlord, and Property Representative Meeting)
Zoom Teleconference Meeting
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City staff will host an informational meeting and make a presentation intended for property owners, landlords, and property managers. All are welcome to attend and participate in the meeting. This meeting will be virtual (remote), and the meeting can be accessed via the Zoom meeting link in the column to the left.
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March 3, 2026, at 3pm
Tenant Protection Ordinance
(Tenants and Tenant Advocates Meeting)
Zoom Teleconference Meeting
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City staff will host an informational meeting and make a presentation intended for tenants and tenant advocates. All are welcome to attend and participate in the meeting. This meeting will be virtual (remote), and the meeting can be accessed via the Zoom meeting link in the column to the left.
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TENTATIVE - March 3, 2026, at 6pm
Tenant Protection Ordinance
(Tenants and Tenant Advocates Meeting with
Spanish language translation presentation)
In Person:
TENTATIVE - Lu Sutton Elementary Multipurpose Room
1800 Center Rd. Novato, CA 94947
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March 3, 2026, at 6pm
Ordenanza de Proteccion al Inquilino (Reunion de Inquilinos y Defensores)
Presentacion con traduccion al espanol
En persona:
TENTATIVO Lu Sutton Elementary Multipurpose Room
1800 Center Rd. Novato, CA 94947
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City staff will host an in-person informational meeting intended for tenants and tenant advocates. A presentation will be in English and Spanish. All are welcome to attend and participate in the meeting.
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El personal de la Ciudad organizará una reunión informativa en persona dirigida a los inquilinos y defensores de los inquilinos. La presentación será en inglés y español. Todos son bienvenidos a asistir y participar en la reunión.
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TENTATIVE - March 10, 2026, at 10am
Tenant Protection Ordinance
(League of Women Voters Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting)
Zoom Teleconference Meeting
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City staff will be making a presentation to the League of Women Voter’s Land Use and Housing Committee. More information regarding this virtual (remote) meeting is available at the webpage linked in this column.
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March 11, 2026, at 5pm
Tenant Protection Ordinance
(Novato Housing and Homeless Committee)
In Person:
Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue
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City staff will be making a presentation to the Novato Housing and Homeless Committee. The meeting agenda will be posted at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting time at the Novato Housing and Homeless Committee webpage.
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March 24, 2026, at 6pm
Tenant Protection Ordinance
(Novato City Council Meeting - Public Hearing)
In Person:
Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue
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The Novato City Council will hold a study session to discuss key policy provisions for inclusion in a Tenant Protection Ordinance. The meeting agenda will be posted at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting time at the City Council Agendas and Minutes webpage.
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Housing Element Implementation in Action
The City’s revised General Plan Housing Element (6th Cycle, 2023-2031) was adopted by the City Council on May 7, 2024. The Housing Element includes policies and programs intended to facilitate the production, protection, and preservation of housing in the City of Novato. In many instances, it is necessary to amend the City’s Municipal Code with new local ordinances to implement programs and/or to respond to policy direction set forth by the Novato City Council.
Accordingly, staff is processing a Draft Tenant Protections Ordinance to implement Housing Element Program 5.I and respond to the Council’s policy direction provided to staff at a May 20, 2025, Study Session on anti-displacement and a August 26, 2025 Study Session on a draft framework for a local “just cause” and tenant protections ordinance.
Program 5.I: Expand “just cause” eviction protections to all tenants
AB 1482, also known as the California Tenant Protections Act of 2019, is a statewide law that limits rent increases and requires "just cause" for eviction in many residential rental properties in California. It caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living (local Consumer Price Index), up to a maximum of 10%. Landlords must also have a valid "just cause" reason to terminate a tenancy for tenants who have occupied a unit for more than one year. Housing Element Program 5.I directs the City to consider a local just cause ordinance that expands tenant protections to include all rental units in Novato (with some exceptions), require tenant notifications, and provide clarifications regarding “just cause” and “no-fault” eviction procedures and requirements.
Novato City Council Anti-Displacement Study Session (May 20, 2025)
On May 20, 2025, the Council held a study session in response to the Rooted in Marin Anti-Displacement Strategies Report that had been presented at their May 13th meeting, to lessons learned from a red tag and tenant displacement event that transpired in the Northwest Quad of the City, and a status update on the Housing Element’s implementation plan and its anti-displacement program elements. Following the staff presentation and Council discussion, the Council directed staff to return by August 2025 with a Tenant Protections Ordinance. The Council expressed interest in adopting an ordinance to comply state law, implement Housing Element Program 5.I, and expand tenant protection requirements to include no-fault evictions due to red-tag, repair, rehab, and demolitions; and provisions for relocation assistance and right of return.
Novato City Council “Just Cause” Tenant Protections Ordinance Study Session (August 26, 2025)
On August 26, 2025, following a series of public outreach meetings, the Council held a Study Session to consider whether or not to pursue a local tenant protections ordinance. Following the staff presentation, public comments and Council discussion, the Council directed staff to return in early 2026 with a Draft Tenant Protections Ordinance that would balance the interests of both landlords and tenants. The Council expressed interest in keeping current protections landlords enjoy for at fault evictions in compliance with current state law, but to expand tenant protections for no-fault evictions, such as when temporary or permanent displacements occur due to substantial remodels and/or a government order to vacate (aka “Red-Tag”) due to substandard habitability conditions. Council also requested that the ordinance include provisions for temporary relocation financial assistance and a right of return, particularly for displaced tenants in those specific circumstances.
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