Significant Ordinances

Minimum Wage Ordinance The Emeryville City Council adopted an ordinance on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 that provides for a higher citywide minimum wage and additional paid sick leave provisions than required by the State of California. The new law went into effect July 2, 2015.

  1. Annual Minimum Wage
    The minimum wage rate will be $14.00 per hour for Small Businesses and $15.20 per hour for Large Businesses, effective July 1, 2017.
  2. Paid Sick Leave
    On July 1, 2015, AB 1522 went into effect requiring that all Employers in the State of California provide Paid Sick Leave to both full-time and part-time Employees, accrued at the rate of one hour Paid Sick Leave for every 30 hours worked. The City’s ordinance includes additional Paid Sick Leave benefits beyond the State requirements. Emeryville’s ordinance requires Paid Sick Leave for full-time, part-time and temporary Employees.
  3. Hospitality Service Charges
    Emeryville’s new ordinance also requires that Hospitality Employers who collect service charges from customers must pay the entirety of those charges to the Hospitality Workers who performed those services for which the charge was collected.
Fair Workweek Ordinance The Fair Workweek Ordinance becomes effective July 1, 2017.

From July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017 the City will implement a “soft launch” of the ordinance. The City will used this initial six month period to focus on education of employers by accepting and investigating complaints of violations of the Fair Workweek Ordinance, however penalties and fines will not be assessed. Full enforcement of the Fair Workweek Ordinance, including all penalties and fines for violations, will begin on January 1, 2018. Beginning July 1, 2017, and throughout the soft launch period, employees may still pursue a private right of action as provided in the Fair Workweek Ordinance.
Eviction Harassment Ordinance The City of Emeryville's Residential Landlord and Tenant Relations Ordinance will take effect on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

The ordinance broadly regulates most residential rental units in the City, limits the reasons why landlords may terminate a tenancy in accordance with state laws, prohibits harassment of residential tenants, requires tenants be provided with notices of tenant rights under the ordinance, as well as a mandate that landlords use a form notice of termination of tenancy and provide a copy of the completed notice and applicable rental agreement to the City.
Cannabis Regulations Ordinances February 7, 2017, City Council Special Study Session
  1. Staff Report
 March 21, 2017, City Council Regular Meeting
  1. Staff Report
  2. An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Amending The Planning Regulations In Title 9 Of The Emeryville Municipal Code To Add Article 22 To Chapter 5 Concerning Standards For Cannabis-Related Activities And To Make Other Related Modifications To The Planning Regulations; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant To CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
  3. An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Repealing, Replacing, And Retitling Chapter 28 Of Title 5 Of The Emeryville Municipal Code, "Cannabis"; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant To CEQA Guideline Section 15061(b)(3).
April 4, 2017, City Council Regular Meeting
  1. Staff Report
  2. An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Amending The Planning Regulations In Title 9 Of The Emeryville Municipal Code To Add Article 22 To Chapter 5 Concerning Standards For Cannabis-Related Activities And To Make Other Related Modifications To The Planning Regulations; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant To CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
  3. An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Repealing, Replacing, And Retitling Chapter 28 Of Title 5 Of The Emeryville Municipal Code, "Cannabis"; CEQA Determination: Exempt Pursuant To CEQA Guideline Section 15061(b)(3).
 Lead-safe Renovation, Repair and Painting Ordinance For construction projects requiring Building Permits, EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule) requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities and pre-schools built before 1978 have their firm certified by EPA (or an EPA authorized state), use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers and follow lead-safe work practices.

On May 16, 2017, the Emeryville City Council adopt an ordinance relating to “Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting” (RRP), to the Emeryville Municipal Code. This ordinance is in effect May 1, 2018. The ordinance requires that the applicant, contractor for any renovation work that is regulated under 40 CFR §745.82 submit a sworn statement that individuals performing the renovation are properly trained, renovators and firms performing the renovation are certified, and required work practices will be followed during the renovation. The applicant would also be required to submit copies of certifications issued to renovators and firms performing renovations as a condition for obtaining appropriate Building Permits.