How Does AB 1482 Statewide Rent Control Work, and Which LA County Properties Are Exempt?

AB 1482, the California Tenant Protection Act, caps most residential rent increases at 5% plus the regional Consumer Price Index, never exceeding 10% in any 12-month period, and requires a valid reason for eviction once a tenant has lived in a unit for a year. For Los Angeles County, the cap resets every August 1 using that spring's CPI figure—for August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, it's 8.7%. Not every property is covered, though: new construction, many single-family homes and condos, and several other categories fall outside the law, and knowing which ones matters whether you're a landlord setting a renewal rent or a buyer evaluating a rental property's income potential.

What Is AB 1482 and How Does the Rent Cap Formula Work?

AB 1482 is a statewide law, part of the Civil Code, that limits annual rent increases on covered units to 5% plus the change in the regional Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a hard ceiling of 10% total, whichever is lower. The cap applies to increases over any 12-month period, and landlords can't get around it by raising rent in smaller increments more frequently. The CPI component resets each year on August 1, based on the CPI figure published that spring: Los Angeles County's figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' regional data, typically released in mid-May, while most other California counties use a state-calculated figure released in June. For rent increases of 10% or less, landlords must give at least 30 days' written notice; increases above 10% (where allowed by a separate, non-AB-1482 calculation) require 90 days.

What Is the Current Rent Increase Cap for Los Angeles County?

For the period running August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, the cap for Los Angeles County is 8.7%—a 5% base plus a 3.7% regional CPI adjustment. That's up slightly from the prior year's cap. On a $2,800 monthly rent, an 8.7% increase works out to roughly $244 more per month. This cap applies to units covered by AB 1482 that aren't already subject to a stricter local rent control ordinance; where a city or the county has its own rent stabilization program with a lower cap, that local limit controls instead of the state formula.

Which Properties Are Exempt From AB 1482's Rent Cap?

Several categories of housing fall outside AB 1482's rent cap and just-cause eviction rules entirely. New construction is exempt on a rolling 15-year basis, measured from the certificate of occupancy—a building that received its certificate of occupancy in 2012, for example, becomes covered in 2027. Deed-restricted affordable housing, where a recorded regulatory agreement limits the unit to low- or moderate-income households, is exempt, as are certain dormitories. Two-unit properties are exempt if the owner occupied the second unit for the entire tenancy. Single-family homes and condos are exempt only if the owner is not a real estate investment trust, a corporation, or an LLC with a corporate member, and the landlord gave the tenant the specific written exemption notice required by law—miss that notice, and the property defaults to being covered.

What Other Exemptions Apply to Just-Cause Eviction Protections?

A few categories are exempt from the just-cause eviction requirement even though they aren't exempt from the rent cap, and vice versa. Units already covered by a local just-cause ordinance that's more protective than state law follow that local rule instead. Owner-occupied single-family homes where the owner rents out no more than two bedrooms or units—including ADUs and JADUs—are exempt from just-cause rules, as are units where the tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with an owner who lives there as a principal residence. Housing provided by a nonprofit hospital, church, extended care facility, or adult residential facility is exempt, along with transient and tourist hotel occupancy as defined under Civil Code Section 1940(b).

What Should Buyers of Rental Property Know About AB 1482?

If you're buying a property with existing tenants, ask the seller directly whether the unit is covered by AB 1482 and request copies of any exemption notices given to current tenants, since an improperly documented single-family-home or condo exemption can mean the rent cap applies even if the owner assumed otherwise. Check whether an existing lease already reflects an increase near the current cap, since that limits how much room you'll have to raise rent after closing. If the property is new construction, confirm the certificate of occupancy date so you know exactly when the 15-year exemption window closes. And because the CPI-based cap changes every August 1, factor a conservative, below-cap rent growth assumption into your underwriting rather than assuming you can always raise rents the full allowed amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can a landlord raise rent in Los Angeles County under AB 1482 in 2026?
Up to 8.7%—a 5% base plus a 3.7% regional CPI adjustment—for increases taking effect between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027, unless a stricter local rent control ordinance applies instead.

Are all single-family homes and condos exempt from AB 1482?
No. They're exempt only if the owner isn't a REIT, corporation, or LLC with a corporate member, and the landlord gave the tenant the specific written exemption notice required by law. Without that notice, the property is covered.

Is new construction exempt from AB 1482 forever?
No. New construction is exempt for 15 years from the certificate of occupancy date, on a rolling basis. Once a building passes that 15-year mark, it becomes subject to AB 1482's rent cap and just-cause rules.

Does AB 1482 apply if a property is already covered by a local rent control ordinance?
Generally no. Where a city or county has its own rent stabilization ordinance with a cap lower than AB 1482's formula, the local ordinance controls instead of the state cap.

Updated for October 2026.