A. It shall be unlawful for any person to evict an existing tenant or terminate an existing lease or month-to-month rental agreement during the emergency declaration period and subsequently rent or lease the same dwelling unit, including a vacation rental unit, in the City of Chico for more than the average retail price, unless such person can prove that the excess is directly attributable to additional costs resulting from the labor or materials necessary to provide the rental. In such instances, only the actual cost increase may be added to the average retail price. This section does not prohibit an owner from evicting a tenant for any lawful reason, including pursuant to Section 1161 of the Code of Civil Procedure. It shall not be a violation of this subdivision for a person, business, or other entity to continue an eviction process that was lawfully begun prior to the proclamation or declaration of emergency.
(Ord. 2522 §2 (part), Ord. 2527 §1 (part))