California Rent Control by City
21 cities and unincorporated Los Angeles County cap yearly rent increases, from 1% to 5%.
A local rent cap covers only the units its ordinance reaches, mostly apartments in buildings older than the city's cutoff. Other rentals more than 15 years old usually fall under the statewide AB 1482 cap (8.7%, 8.1%, 8.2% and 8.8% by region, Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027). Pick a city for its covered buildings, eviction and relocation rules, and a rent increase calculator.
Local rent control ordinances
| City | Allowable increase | Rate period | Covers buildings from before |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 2.7% | Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Antioch | 2.04% | Sep 14, 2026 to Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Baldwin Park | 3.7% | From Aug 1, 2026 | Jan 1, 1995 |
| Bell Gardens | 1.5% | Nov 1, 2025 to Oct 31, 2026 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Berkeley | 1% | Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 | Jun 30, 1980 |
| Beverly Hills | 3.6% | No end date published | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Culver City | 3.25% | Jun 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| East Palo Alto | 2% | Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 | Jan 1, 1988 |
| Hayward | 5% | No end date published | Jul 1, 1979 |
| Inglewood | 3.7% | No end date published | Rolling: 15 years old |
| Los Angeles | 3% | Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 | Oct 1, 1978 |
| Unincorporated Los Angeles County | 1.919% | Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2027 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Mountain View | 2.5% | Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Oakland | 2.3% | Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 | Jan 1, 1983 |
| Pasadena | 2.5% | Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Pomona | 5% | From Jan 1, 2026 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Richmond | 1.5% | Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| San Francisco | 1.6% | Mar 1, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027 | Jun 13, 1979 |
| San Jose | 5% | No end date published | Sep 7, 1979 |
| Santa Ana | 2.87% | Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 | Feb 1, 1995 |
| Santa Monica | 2.6% | Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 | Apr 10, 1979 |
| West Hollywood | 2.75% | Sep 1, 2026 to Aug 31, 2027 | Jul 1, 1979 |
Every one of these also has its own just-cause eviction rules. "Check with the city" means the current figure could not be confirmed on an official page, or the last published period has ended.
AB 1482 statewide cap by region
| Region | Maximum increase, Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Orange County | 8.7% |
| Riverside / San Bernardino | 8.1% |
| San Diego | 8.2% |
| San Francisco / Bay Area | 8.8% |
For other parts of the state the cap is 5% plus the local inflation figure, never more than 10%. The AB 1482 calculator works it out.
Cities without a general rent cap
These cities have a rent ordinance of some kind but no cap on most apartments, so the statewide AB 1482 rules are the ones that usually matter there.
- Los Gatos: Rental dispute mediation only; no general rent cap.
- Union City: Rent review ordinance with no rent cap.
- Thousand Oaks: No operative general rent cap for apartments.
- Palm Springs: Rent control applies mainly to mobile home parks and a small set of older units; not modelled here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which California cities have rent control?
21 cities and unincorporated Los Angeles County have a local rent stabilization ordinance with a cap on yearly increases: Alameda, Antioch, Baldwin Park, Bell Gardens, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Culver City, East Palo Alto, Hayward, Inglewood, Los Angeles, unincorporated Los Angeles County, Mountain View, Oakland, Pasadena, Pomona, Richmond, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Ana, Santa Monica and West Hollywood. Everywhere else, most older apartments fall under the statewide AB 1482 cap.
Which city has the lowest allowable rent increase?
Berkeley, at 1%. The highest local cap is 5% (Hayward, Pomona and San Jose). These apply only to units the ordinance covers, mostly apartments in older buildings.
What is the AB 1482 rent cap in 2026?
From Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027, the statewide cap is 8.7% in Los Angeles / Orange County, 8.1% in Riverside / San Bernardino, 8.2% in San Diego and 8.8% in San Francisco / Bay Area: 5% plus regional inflation, never more than 10%.
Educational information only, not legal advice. Rent ordinances have exemptions, banking rules and petition processes not shown here. Confirm a unit's status with the city's rent program.