How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in California?

One of the most common questions we hear from both tenants and landlords in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley is how much rent can legally go up in a year. The answer depends on which law covers the unit: the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), a local ordinance like the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), or neither. This article is general legal information, not legal advice about your specific situation.

What is the maximum rent increase under AB 1482?

For units covered by AB 1482, codified at Civil Code section 1947.12, annual rent increases are capped at 5% plus the regional change in the Consumer Price Index, with an absolute ceiling of 10% in any 12-month period. A landlord may not raise rent more than twice in a 12-month span, and the combined total still cannot exceed the cap. Increases above the cap are unenforceable, and tenants may be entitled to recover the overcharge.

Does Los Angeles have a stricter cap?

Yes. Units in the City of Los Angeles covered by the RSO, generally buildings built on or before October 1, 1978, follow the RSO cap instead, which is currently 3% (effective July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027). Other cities in the region, including West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and unincorporated Los Angeles County, have their own rent stabilization rules. When a unit is covered by both a local ordinance and AB 1482, the stricter local rule controls.

How much notice is required for a rent increase?

Under Civil Code section 827, a rent increase of 10% or less requires at least 30 days of advance written notice. An increase above 10% requires at least 90 days of written notice under AB 1110. A text message or phone call is not proper notice. If the notice is served by mail, additional days are added. An increase served with defective notice does not take effect on the date the landlord claims.

Which units are exempt from the rent cap?

AB 1482 does not cover housing built within the last 15 years (a rolling window), most single-family homes and condos owned by individuals when the required exemption language appears in the lease, and certain other categories such as some duplexes where the owner lives in the other unit. Exempt does not mean unregulated: notice requirements, anti-retaliation rules, and habitability obligations still apply to every rental.

What if my landlord raised rent illegally?

Start by comparing the increase against the applicable cap and checking the notice you received. Keep copies of the notice, your lease, and payment records. Tenants faced with an unlawful increase may have defenses to a later eviction for nonpayment and may be able to recover overpaid rent. Landlords who discover a compliance problem are usually better off correcting it before serving further notices. Baghikian Law advises both landlords and tenants across Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley on rent-increase compliance and disputes.