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Rent Control Laws in California

California caps most yearly rent increases at 5% plus inflation, up to 10%, under Civ. Code 1947.12, and cities may adopt stricter rent control within limits set by the Costa-Hawkins Act.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

California at a glance

Statewide rent cap
Yes, 5% plus CPI, max 10%
Applies over any 12-month period; exempts housing built in the last 15 years and some single-family homes and condos. Section is set to be repealed Jan. 1, 2030.
Local rent control banned
No, but state law limits local laws
Costa-Hawkins (Civ. Code 1954.50 and following) lets owners set rents on units with a certificate of occupancy after Feb. 1, 1995, and on most single-family homes and condos.
Local rent control
30+ cities and counties, incl. LA, SF, Oakland, San Jose
AG chart lists Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward, Alameda, Antioch, Concord, Richmond, Los Angeles, LA County, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Sacramento, Mountain View, Santa Ana and others.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in California

Does California have a statewide rent cap?

Yes, 5% plus CPI, max 10%. Statewide rent cap in California: yes, 5% plus cpi, max 10%. Applies over any 12-month period; exempts housing built in the last 15 years and some single-family homes and condos. Section is set to be repealed Jan. 1, 2030.

Does California law ban cities from adopting rent control?

No, but state law limits local laws. Local rent control banned in California: no, but state law limits local laws. Costa-Hawkins (Civ. Code 1954.50 and following) lets owners set rents on units with a certificate of occupancy after Feb. 1, 1995, and on most single-family homes and condos.

Which cities in California have rent control?

Local rent control in California: 30+ cities and counties, incl. LA, SF, Oakland, San Jose. AG chart lists Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward, Alameda, Antioch, Concord, Richmond, Los Angeles, LA County, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Pasadena, Sacramento, Mountain View, Santa Ana and others.

Where do the California rent control laws come from?

The rules above come from Cal. Civ. Code 1947.12 and Cal. Civ. Code 1954.52. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Where a local rent stabilization law is stricter than the statewide cap, the local law applies; otherwise the statewide cap applies unless the unit is exempt.

The California Attorney General's chart of local rent stabilization laws was last updated August 1, 2025 and notes it may not be comprehensive.

What this means in practice

Even where there is no rent control, a landlord usually cannot raise the rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease allows it. Increases normally take effect at renewal or after written notice for a month-to-month tenancy, and notice periods are set by state law.

Rent caps and rent stabilization rules commonly have exemptions, such as buildings built in recent years, owner-occupied duplexes, or units owned by individuals rather than companies. A unit can sit in a covered city and still be exempt, so read the coverage section of the law closely.

Local rent control ordinances change through ballot measures and council votes more often than state law does. If you rent or own property in a city that regulates rent, check the city or county housing department for the current allowable increase and any registration requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.