Merced City Council approves emergency ordinance protecting renters impacted by flood

Merced City Council members voted to approve an urgency ordinance protecting renters impacted by recent flooding in Merced.

The ordinance passed by a vote of 6-1 during the Merced City Council meeting on April 3 and took immediate effect.

Under the urgency ordinance, landlords cannot raise a tenant’s rent for six months following renovations or repairs made to the home to address flood damage.

The vote came after the council heard from numerous residents via both voicemail and public commenters who attended the meeting in person.

According to City of Merced spokesperson Jennifer Flachman, a future vote will take place and requires a majority vote approval in order for the addition of chapter 9.75 “Displaced Tenant Protections” to be added to the City of Merced Municipal Code.

If the urgency ordinance receives a majority vote, the adoption of the ordinance adds a new chapter to municipal code to include temporary tenant protections due to a large number of residents displaced from rental units as a result of the January weather-related state of emergency.