[DrScump]

Rent control is city-specific. San Francisco confuses this a bit because it's a one-city county; city and county are the same.

County ordinances only have effect outside incorporated land (cities). So, for example, you could have a Berkeley mailing address but actually live in unincorporated territory, in which case an Alameda County ordinance, if any, would apply, but not a Berkeley ordinance. Years ago, I lived in an unincorporated parcel with a San Jose mailing address.