Maximum Rent Increase in California 2026: AB 1482 Explained

California’s Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) limits how much most residential landlords can raise rent in any 12-month period. The formula is simple. Understanding who it applies to is where most landlords stumble.

The cap: 5% plus local CPI, maximum 10%

AB 1482 caps rent increases at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) for that year. The combined total cannot exceed 10%, regardless of what CPI does.

The “local CPI” is the April CPI figure published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for your metropolitan area:

• Bay Area rentals: SF-Oakland-Hayward CPI
• Southern California rentals: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI
• Other areas: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI or US City Average, whichever is lower

In practice, the ceiling has been around 8-10% in high-inflation years and closer to 6-7% in normal years. The actual current cap for your area is worth confirming before you send a notice, since CPI changes annually.

You can raise rent at most twice in any 12-month period, and the combined total of both increases cannot exceed the annual cap.

The 2026 numbers

The formula has not changed. What changes every year is the number behind it.

For the period running through July 31, 2026 (based on the April 2025 CPI figure), the Bay Area cap (SF-Oakland-Hayward) sits at 6.3%. The new period beginning August 1, 2026 is expected to run higher: early reporting on the April 2026 CPI figures points to caps in the range of 8.2% to 8.8% depending on region (for example, Los Angeles and Orange County near 8.7%, San Diego near 8.2%, Marin near 8.8%). Confirm the exact figure for your metro area against the California Apartment Association’s published CPI lookup before you rely on it for a specific notice.

Which properties are covered

AB 1482 applies to most California residential rentals, but with significant exemptions. Before assuming you are covered, check whether an exemption applies to your property.

Properties subject to AB 1482:

• Multifamily buildings 15 or more years old
• Properties not exempted by a local ordinance or the conditions below

Which properties are exempt

The following are generally exempt from AB 1482’s rent cap:

Single-family homes and condos. A detached single-family home or condominium is exempt IF you have provided the tenant with a written notice of the exemption. The statute specifies the exact language required:

“This property is not subject to the rent limits imposed by Section 1947.12 of the Civil Code and lawful eviction protections of Section 1946.2 of the Civil Code.”

If you own a single-family home or condo and have not provided this notice in your lease or as a separate written disclosure, your property is not exempt. This is one of the most commonly missed requirements among SFR landlords.

New construction. Any residential property built within the past 15 years is exempt. This exemption is rolling: it moves forward each calendar year. A building completed in 2010 was exempt through 2025 and became subject to AB 1482 in 2026.

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs). ADUs that were newly constructed and offered for rent for the first time after January 1, 2020 are exempt.

Government-subsidized and affordable housing. Units subject to rent restrictions under a government program are exempt.

College dormitories. Residential units owned and operated by an institution of higher education are exempt.

How to calculate your maximum allowed increase

1. Find the April CPI figure for your metropolitan area at bls.gov
2. Add 5% to that figure
3. If the result exceeds 10%, your cap is 10%

Example: The April CPI for the Los Angeles area is 3.8%. Your cap is 5% + 3.8% = 8.8%. On a unit renting at $2,000/month, the maximum new rent is $2,000 × 1.088 = $2,176.

Run the math before you send any notice. Raising rent above the cap is not just a compliance issue. It is grounds for a tenant to challenge the increase and potentially recover the overage.

Notice requirements

California law requires written notice before any rent increase:

• 30 days notice for increases under 10%
• 90 days notice for increases of 10% or more

Since AB 1482 caps increases at 10%, in practice you will always be giving at least 30 days notice. If your increase is right at the maximum, give 90 days to be safe.

The notice must be in writing and specify the amount of the new rent and the date it takes effect. Verbal notice does not count.

Local ordinances can be stricter

AB 1482 is a statewide floor, not a ceiling. Cities with their own rent control ordinances often impose lower caps. If your property is in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, or another city with local rent control, you follow the stricter local ordinance, not AB 1482.

See the city-specific guides:

• Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO)
• San Francisco Rent Control: Landlord’s Guide
• Oakland Just-Cause Eviction Rules

Just cause for eviction (AB 1482 also covers this)

AB 1482 does more than cap rent increases. For covered properties, once a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months, the landlord must have a legally recognized reason to end the tenancy. The full list of just-cause grounds is in Civil Code § 1946.2³. This protection applies independently of whether the local ordinance has its own just-cause requirements.

Sunset watch: is AB 1482 going away?

AB 1482 is still scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2030. A 2025-2026 bill, AB 1157, would have removed that sunset date, tightened the cap to 2% plus CPI with a 5% maximum, and extended coverage to single-family homes, condos, and ADUs. That bill failed in the Assembly Judiciary Committee in January 2026, the second year in a row it stalled.

As of this update, AB 1482 remains on track to expire in 2030 unless new legislation passes. Watch for another attempt in a future session, and do not assume the current cap and just-cause rules are permanent just because this year’s repeal attempt failed.

General information, not legal advice

CPI figures change annually and the list of covered/exempt properties has edge cases. If you are uncertain whether your property is subject to AB 1482, or before raising rent on a long-term tenancy, confirm with a California attorney.

1. Civil Code § 1947.12 Annual rent increase cap: 5% + local CPI, maximum 10% View official source ↗
2. Civil Code § 1947.12(d) Exemptions: single-family homes and condos (with notice), new construction, ADUs, subsidized housing View official source ↗
3. Civil Code § 1946.2 Just cause for eviction for AB 1482-covered properties after 12 months of tenancy View official source ↗
4. Civil Code § 827 Notice requirements: 30 days (under 10% increase), 90 days (10% or more)

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum rent increase in California in 2025?

The cap is 5% plus the local April CPI figure, with a maximum of 10%. The exact cap varies by metropolitan area and changes each year when BLS publishes new CPI figures. Check bls.gov for the current April CPI for your region.

Is my single-family home subject to AB 1482?

Not if you provide the required written exemption notice to the tenant. The lease or a separate written disclosure must state that the property is not subject to the rent limits of Civil Code § 1947.12. Without that notice, the property is subject to the cap even if it would otherwise qualify for the exemption.

How do I calculate my allowable rent increase under AB 1482?

Find the April CPI for your metropolitan area at bls.gov, add 5%, and cap the result at 10%. Multiply your current rent by that percentage to get the new maximum rent. You can raise rent at most twice in any 12-month period, with the combined total not exceeding the annual cap.

How much notice do I need to give for a rent increase in California?

At least 30 days written notice for increases under 10%, and at least 90 days for increases of 10% or more. Since AB 1482 caps increases at 10%, you will almost always give 30 days notice. Verbal notice does not satisfy the requirement.

Does AB 1482 apply if my city has its own rent control ordinance?

Both may apply, but you follow whichever is stricter. Cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland have ordinances with lower caps than AB 1482. Check your city's specific rules before raising rent.

Is AB 1482 still set to expire in 2030?

Yes. A 2025-2026 bill (AB 1157) that would have removed the sunset date and tightened the cap failed in the Assembly Judiciary Committee in January 2026. As of this update, AB 1482 remains on track to sunset January 1, 2030 unless new legislation passes.