California Rent Control by City Checker
Find out whether your rental is covered by your city's rent control, the statewide AB 1482 cap, or neither, and how much the rent can go up.
22 California jurisdictions in this checker have their own rent caps, mostly for apartments in older buildings. Everywhere else, and for newer units in those cities, the statewide AB 1482 cap usually applies: 5% plus regional inflation, never more than 10% a year (8.1%–8.8% for the current period, depending on region). Buildings less than 15 years old, and single-family homes or condos owned by individuals who gave the required notice, are exempt from both.
Answer a few questions about your rental. The check uses the year your building was built, not the exact certificate of occupancy date.
California cities with rent control
Local caps apply only to covered units, usually apartments in buildings older than the city's cutoff. Rates change on each city's own cycle.
| City | Allowable increase | Period | Covers buildings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 3% | Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027 | Built before Oct 1, 1978 |
| Los Angeles County (unincorporated) | 1.919% | Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Santa Monica | 2.6% | Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 | Built before Apr 10, 1979 |
| West Hollywood | Check with the city | Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 | Built before Jul 1, 1979 |
| Beverly Hills | 3.6% | Current published rate | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Culver City | 3.25% | Jun 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Pasadena | 2.5% | Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Inglewood | 3.7% | Current published rate | Units 15+ years old |
| Bell Gardens | 1.5% | Nov 1, 2025 – Oct 31, 2026 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Baldwin Park | 3.7% | Current published rate | Built before Jan 1, 1995 |
| Pomona | 5% | Current published rate | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Santa Ana | 2.87% | Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| San Francisco | 1.6% | Mar 1, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 | Built before Jun 13, 1979 |
| Oakland | 2.3% | Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027 | Built before Jan 1, 1983 |
| Berkeley | 1% | Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026 | Built before Jun 30, 1980 |
| San Jose | 5% | Current published rate | Built before Sep 7, 1979 |
| East Palo Alto | 2% | Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027 | Built before Jan 1, 1988 |
| Hayward | 5% | Current published rate | Built before Jul 1, 1979 |
| Richmond | 1.5% | Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Alameda | 2.7% | Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Mountain View | 2.5% | Sep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
| Antioch | 2.04% | Sep 14, 2026 – Nov 10, 2026 | Built before Feb 1, 1995 |
Local rules without a general rent cap: 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.
How this is calculated
Exemptions first. Deed-restricted affordable housing and a duplex where the owner lives in the other unit are exempt from AB 1482 (Civil Code 1947.12(d)). So is housing that got its certificate of occupancy within the last 15 years. The checker uses the year only, so a building from exactly 15 years ago is treated as covered.
Local ordinance. If your city is listed and your building is older than the city's cutoff (or, in Inglewood, at least 15 years old), the city's own cap applies. Local caps can't cover single-family homes or condos, or units with a certificate of occupancy issued after February 1, 1995 (Costa-Hawkins). If a city's rate period has ended or the rate couldn't be confirmed, the checker says so instead of showing an old number.
AB 1482. Otherwise the statewide cap applies: the lower of 5% plus the regional change in the cost of living, or 10%, over any 12 months. A single-family home or condo owned by an individual is exempt only if the lease includes the required written notice. Just-cause eviction rules start after 12 months of tenancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my California city have rent control?
22 cities and unincorporated Los Angeles County are covered here with their own rent caps: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County (unincorporated), Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Pasadena, Inglewood, Bell Gardens, Baldwin Park, Pomona, Santa Ana, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, East Palo Alto, Hayward, Richmond, Alameda, Mountain View, Antioch. Everywhere else, most apartments built more than 15 years ago fall under the statewide AB 1482 cap instead.
What is Costa-Hawkins?
The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act is a state law that limits what local rent control can cover. Cities can't cap rents on single-family homes and condos, or on units whose certificate of occupancy was issued after February 1, 1995, and landlords can reset the rent to market when a tenant moves out. Many cities set an even earlier cutoff for their own caps.
How do AB 1482 and local rent control work together?
A unit covered by a stricter local ordinance follows the local cap, and AB 1482's cap doesn't apply to it. Units a city doesn't cover, such as newer buildings or buildings in cities without rent control, usually fall under AB 1482: 5% plus regional inflation, never more than 10%, unless an exemption applies.
How do I find out what year my building was built?
Check the county assessor's property records, which list the year built for each parcel, or the original rental listing. You can also ask your landlord or the city's rent program. Local coverage depends on the certificate of occupancy date, so a building from a city's cutoff year needs the exact date.
What if my landlord raised the rent more than the cap?
An increase above the allowed amount isn't valid. If your unit is covered by a local ordinance, contact the city's rent program, which can explain the process for challenging it. For AB 1482 units, talk to a tenant rights organization, legal aid or your county court's self-help center. Also check the notice: AB 1482 increases need 30 days' written notice, or 90 days for increases of more than 10%.
This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Coverage depends on exact dates, unit details and exemptions it doesn't check. Confirm with your city's rent program or a tenant rights organization before acting.