This new rule could pay Pomona renters thousands to move

For years, Pomona renters facing eviction had little recourse other than a non-binding mediation session. But, beginning in 2026, a new city ordinance has flipped the script, turning "no-fault" displacements from a crisis into a potential financial payout.

Under Ordinance No. 4359's "Rent Stabilization Program," Pomona has introduced a mandatory relocation assistance program. If your landlord wants you out for reasons unrelated to your behavior—like a renovation or an owner move-in—they now have to pay for the privilege.

Combined with a strict new 5% cap on rent increases, Pomona has transformed overnight from a "mediation" city into one of the most protective jurisdictions for tenants in California. Here is how the new rules could put money in your pocket if you are forced to move.

The Payout: Mandatory Relocation Assistance

The most aggressive change in the 2026 law is the financial safety net for "No-Fault" evictions. Previously, a landlord could ask a tenant to leave for renovations or personal use with relatively few financial strings attached. Now, that flexibility comes with a price tag.

Do You Qualify?

To be eligible for a relocation payout, you generally must meet two criteria:

1. You are being evicted for a "No-Fault" reason: This means you didn't break the lease, didn't fail to pay rent, and didn't cause a nuisance.
2. The landlord is recovering the unit for specific purposes:
   • Owner Move-In: The landlord (or their immediate family) wants to live in your unit.
   • Substantial Remodel: The landlord plans renovations so extensive that you cannot live there for at least 30 days.
   • Withdrawal: The landlord is taking the property off the rental market entirely.

If you fall into these categories, the landlord is legally required to provide financial relocation assistance to help cover the costs of finding new housing.

The specific amounts vary based on unit size and tenant circumstances (such as age or disability), these fees are designed to bridge the gap to your next apartment—potentially totaling thousands of dollars in value. Here's how it breaks down:

Relocation Assistance Amounts

Under the default rules established in the ordinance, the relocation payments are as follows:

• Determining the Highest Amount: If a tenant qualifies for multiple categories, the landlord must pay the highest applicable amount.
• Qualified Tenant Definition: To receive the higher "Qualified" rate, a tenant must be 62 years of age or older, disabled/handicapped, or have one or more minor dependent children.

Circumstances for Payment

These payments are triggered specifically by "No-fault Just Cause" evictions. These occur when a tenant has done nothing wrong, but the landlord seeks to recover the unit for the following reasons:

• Building Upgrades or Removal: Demolishing the unit, permanently removing it from the rental market, or performing substantial remodels that render the unit uninhabitable for at least 30 days.+2
• Owner/Relative Move-In: The landlord (or a specific close relative, such as a spouse, child, or parent) intends to use the unit as their primary residence for at least 12 months.
• Government Orders: Complying with a government agency's order to vacate the building due to code violations.

Reduced Rates for Small Landlords

A landlord may pay a reduced rate of $11,960.00 for Qualified Tenants and $5,926.00 for others if they meet strict "small-scale" criteria:

• The building contains four or fewer units.
• The landlord owns no more than four residential units and one single-family home within the City of Pomona.
• The landlord has not paid relocation assistance in the previous three years.

The Protection: A Strict 5% Rent Cap

If you aren't being paid to move, the new law ensures you can afford to stay.

For years, Pomona relied on a "soft" cap where landlords could propose higher increases subject to mediation. That system is gone. Effective January 1, residential rent increases in Pomona are strictly limited to 5% per year.

• No Inflation Math: Unlike state law (which uses a complex "5% + CPI" formula), Pomona’s cap is a simple, fixed percentage.
• No Gray Area: Any rent increase notice issued on or after January 1, 2026, that exceeds this 5% limit is legally void.

Why the "Hybrid" Model Is Making Headlines

Pomona’s new status is unique because it effectively combines two different types of tenant protection that usually exist separately.

Most California cities fall into one of two buckets: "Rent Control Cities" (which cap the price) or "Protection Cities" (which offer relocation fees). Pomona has adopted both. By stacking a strict 5% price cap on top of mandatory relocation payouts, the city has created a "belt and suspenders" approach.

The Bottom Line: As of 2026, it is significantly harder for a landlord to price you out—and significantly more expensive for them to kick you out.

What Tenants Should Do Now

If you are a renter in Pomona, the rules of your tenancy changed the moment the calendar turned to 2026.

1. Check Your Notices: If you received a rent increase notice this year that exceeds 5%, it may be invalid under Ordinance No. 4359.
2. Know Your Eviction Rights: If your landlord asks you to leave so they can renovate or move in, do not just pack your bags. Verify that you are being offered the mandatory relocation assistance required by the new law.

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California TodayPat Sharyon | Editor