The Tenant Protection Act of 2019, usually called AB 1482, sets a statewide cap on rent increases (Civil Code 1947.12) and requires just cause to end many tenancies (Civil Code 1946.2). It runs through the end of 2029 unless the Legislature extends it. If your city has its own rent control, the stricter rule usually applies.
The cap
Over any 12-month period, rent can go up by no more than 5% plus the change in the regional cost of living (CPI), or 10%, whichever is lower. The increase is measured from the lowest rent charged during the previous 12 months, and you can raise rent at most twice in that period.
The CPI figure comes from the consumer price index for your region, using the change from April of the prior year to April of the current year. Look up the current number for your area before you set an increase; it changes every year.
Example: if regional CPI rose 3%, the cap is 5% + 3% = 8%. On $2,000 rent, the most you could raise it is $160, to $2,160. If CPI rose 6%, 5% + 6% = 11%, but the 10% ceiling applies, so the most is $200.
Is your property exempt?
Common exemptions include:
- Newer buildings: housing first issued a certificate of occupancy within the last 15 years. This is a rolling window, so a building eventually ages into the cap.
- Single-family homes and condos owned by individuals (not a REIT, a corporation, or an LLC with a corporate member), but only if the tenant was given the specific written exemption notice the law requires, usually in the lease.
- Owner-occupied duplexes where the owner lives in one unit as their main home since the start of the tenancy.
- Deed-restricted affordable housing, dorms, and some other categories.
The single-family exemption is the one landlords most often lose by mistake: without the notice in writing, the home is covered by the cap.
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- 30 days' written notice for an increase of 10% or less.
- 90 days' written notice for an increase of more than 10% (possible only on exempt properties). This comes from Civil Code 827.
Just cause
Once a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months, you generally need a just cause to end the tenancy: either an at-fault reason (like nonpayment or a lease violation) or a no-fault reason (like the owner moving in or substantial remodeling). No-fault terminations require relocation help, usually one month's rent. The same exemptions apply in many cases.
Setting the right rent for a new tenant
AB 1482 limits increases on a current tenant. When a unit turns over, you can generally set the new rent at market. Pricing it right matters more than squeezing the last dollar, because every empty month costs about 8% of a year's rent. Our pricing guide shows a simple method.
Last checked October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can be stricter, so check the current law or ask a California landlord-tenant attorney before acting.