Housing · Rent control
Does California Have Rent Control?
Whether California caps how much rent can rise, whether cities can set their own limits or are barred from it, and the exemptions. Rent control is separate from the notice a landlord must give before an increase. Cited to the statute.
What the rent control law says in California
Whether rent increases are capped, who sets the limit, and the housing the rule does not reach.
The 10 percent ceiling is fixed, but the 5 percent plus cost-of-living figure moves every year with regional inflation, so the exact allowed increase for your area changes annually. Check the current cost-of-living figure for your county before you calculate a lawful increase.
| What the law says | What it means |
|---|---|
| Statewide cap of 5 percent plus inflation, to 10 percent | Civil Code section 1947.12 limits a rent increase to 5 percent plus the regional change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, over any 12-month period. The percentage is measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months, and a landlord may use at most two increases in a year to reach that limit. |
| Local rent control allowed on top | Cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland may keep or pass their own rent-control ordinances, which are often stricter than the state cap. Those local rules operate within the limits set by the Costa-Hawkins Act. |
| What is exempt | What it means |
|---|---|
| New construction | A unit with a certificate of occupancy issued within the last 15 years is exempt from the state cap. Under Costa-Hawkins, units first occupied after February 1, 1995 are also exempt from local rent control. |
| Single-family homes and condos | A single-family home or condominium is exempt from the state cap when it is not owned by a corporation, a real estate investment trust, or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant received written notice of the exemption. Costa-Hawkins likewise keeps single-family homes and condos out of local rent control. |
| Owner-occupied duplex | A duplex where the owner lives in one of the two units as a primary residence is exempt from the statewide cap. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you are facing a rent increase in California. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Find your lowest rent from the past year
The cap is measured against the lowest rent you were charged in the prior 12 months. Write that figure down first, since it is the base the percentage applies to.
- Calculate the allowed increase
Add 5 percent to the regional cost-of-living change for your county, then compare that total to 10 percent and use the lower of the two. That is the most your rent can rise over the 12-month period under state law.
- Check for a local ordinance
If you live in a city with its own rent control, such as Los Angeles or San Francisco, the local limit may be stricter than the state cap. Contact your local rent board to confirm which figure applies to your unit.
- Confirm your unit is covered
New construction under 15 years old, many single-family homes, and owner-occupied duplexes are exempt. If your notice claims an exemption, check it against the rules before assuming the cap does not apply.
If you think an increase breaks a cap or a local ordinance, a legal aid office or the state consumer-protection unit can tell you whether a limit applies to your unit.
→ California Courts Self-Help (Housing)This is general legal information, not legal advice. Caps, local ordinances, and exemptions turn on the specific unit and city, so confirm your situation against the statute.
What renters in California get wrong about rent control
California is one of a small group of states that caps rent statewide. Under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, written into Civil Code section 1947.12, a landlord cannot raise the rent by more than 5 percent plus the regional change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever comes out lower, over any 12-month period. The percentage is figured from the lowest rent you paid in the prior year, and a landlord can use at most two increases in that year to reach the limit. The cap sits on top of local rent control, so cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland can and do impose stricter rules, all within the bounds of the Costa-Hawkins Act. Not every unit is covered. New buildings under 15 years old, many single-family homes and condos, and owner-occupied duplexes are exempt. Because the cost-of-living piece is recalculated each year, the exact figure you are owed moves annually, so always check the current number for your county.
Common questions
Does California have rent control?
Yes. California has a statewide rent cap under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (Civil Code section 1947.12), and several cities layer their own stricter rent-control ordinances on top of it.
How much can my rent go up in California?
For a covered unit, no more than 5 percent plus the regional change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, over a 12-month period. The figure is measured from the lowest rent you paid in the prior year, and a landlord can use at most two increases to reach it.
Can my rent be raised any amount in California?
No, not for a covered unit. The statewide cap sets a ceiling on the increase, and a local rent-control ordinance may hold it even lower. Some units are exempt, such as newer construction and many single-family homes.
What units are exempt from the California rent cap?
Buildings with a certificate of occupancy issued within the last 15 years, single-family homes and condos not owned by a corporation or real estate investment trust, and owner-occupied duplexes are exempt from the statewide cap. A landlord claiming an exemption must give the tenant written notice for single-family homes.
Does the California rent cap change each year?
The 10 percent ceiling stays fixed, but the 5 percent plus cost-of-living portion is recalculated every year using regional inflation. So the exact allowed increase for your county can differ from one year to the next.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.