Rent Control

A new study shows Chico has one of the highest rates of severely rent-burdened residents in California — and the problem is getting worse.

A state bill that would have given renters a two-week grace period before eviction has failed. In Chico, where wildfires have driven up housing pressure and prices, a local leader says tenants remain vulnerable and she thinks the city could help.

The latest North State and California news on our airwaves for Monday, June 30, 2025.

An exhibit at UC Davis argues the future isn’t pre-determined when it comes to wildfires. Also, a new study by Harvard University shows the Chico area has the second highest share of rent-burned residents in the state, and the California Public Utilities Commission has fined PG&E $45 million for its involvement in the 2021 Dixie Fire as part of a settlement between the company and utility regulator.

Chico City Council voted to continue discussion about rent stabilization for senior mobile home parks. Residents at a senior mobile home park in town are facing unaffordable rent hikes by the park’s current Florida-based owner, Legacy Communities.

A federal disaster recovery grant led to approvals this year to build affordable, multifamily rentals in Paradise. In 2023, the town approved three times as many affordable units as it had before the fire.

Chico has seen increasing revenue from short-term and vacation rentals over the years. There are currently around 300 of these rentals in the city.

Regardless of income level, Californians across the board have been avoiding medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey from the…