Samimi CRE Advisors

    Owner's reference

    LA County rent control, city by city

    Six jurisdictions, six different rulebooks — and the wrong assumption is the most common reason an LA apartment deal falls apart in escrow. Here is what applies where, and what each regime does to value.

    Quick answer

    Jurisdiction determines the rulebook, and construction date determines coverage within it. City of LA uses the Rent Stabilization Ordinance for pre-October-1978 buildings; Santa Monica, Culver City, and Inglewood run their own ordinances; Long Beach relies on statewide AB 1482 plus a local relocation ordinance; unincorporated county areas follow the County ordinance. Confirm the parcel's jurisdiction first — mailing address is not jurisdiction.

    Which rules apply where

    Rent regulation regime by Los Angeles County jurisdiction
    JurisdictionGoverning ordinance
    City of Los AngelesRent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO)
    California statewideAB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act)
    Santa MonicaRent Control Charter Amendment
    Long BeachTenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance + AB 1482
    InglewoodRent Stabilization & Just Cause Ordinance
    Culver CityRent Control & Tenant Protections Ordinance
    Unincorporated Los Angeles CountyCounty Rent Stabilization & Tenant Protections Ordinance

    City of Los Angeles

    Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO)

    Most City of Los Angeles multifamily buildings with a certificate of occupancy issued before October 1, 1978 fall under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which caps annual rent increases and requires a just cause to end a tenancy. Newer buildings are generally governed instead by the statewide AB 1482 cap. Verify coverage for the specific property.

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    California statewide

    AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act)

    AB 1482 is California's statewide rent cap. Where it applies, annual increases are limited to 5% plus the regional CPI change, capped at 10% total, and a just cause is required to end most tenancies after 12 months. It generally covers multifamily buildings older than 15 years that are not already under a stricter local ordinance. Verify for the specific property.

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    Santa Monica

    Rent Control Charter Amendment

    Santa Monica has had a voter-enacted Rent Control Charter Amendment since 1979 and is one of the most tightly regulated apartment markets in California. Most multifamily units built before April 10, 1979 are controlled, with an annual general adjustment set by the Rent Control Board and registration requirements for owners. Verify for the specific property.

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    Long Beach

    Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance + AB 1482

    Long Beach does not have a traditional rent control ordinance capping annual increases. Most Long Beach multifamily is governed by the statewide AB 1482 rent cap, layered with the city's Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance, which can require relocation payments in defined circumstances including certain large rent increases and no-fault terminations. Verify for the specific property.

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    Inglewood

    Rent Stabilization & Just Cause Ordinance

    Inglewood has its own local rent stabilization ordinance with an annual allowable increase and just-cause eviction protections, separate from City of LA RSO rules. Coverage is generally tied to the property's construction date and type. Verify for the specific property with the City of Inglewood.

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    Culver City

    Rent Control & Tenant Protections Ordinance

    Culver City has its own permanent rent control and tenant protection ordinance with a locally set annual allowable increase and just-cause requirements, administered by the city rather than by Los Angeles. Coverage depends on the property's construction date and type. Verify for the specific property.

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    Unincorporated Los Angeles County

    County Rent Stabilization & Tenant Protections Ordinance

    Unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County — including places with Los Angeles mailing addresses that are not inside any city — are governed by the County's own rent stabilization and tenant protections ordinance, not by City of LA RSO. Coverage generally applies to qualifying multifamily built before February 1, 1995. Verify jurisdiction for the specific property first.

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    Verify for the specific property

    This page is a general reference, not legal advice. Rent regulation rules, allowable increase percentages, and exemptions change — and coverage depends on the individual property's construction date, permit history, and tenancy. Always verify for the specific property with the governing agency or qualified counsel before underwriting or noticing an increase.

    Frequently asked

    Which rent control rules apply to my LA County apartment building?

    It depends on jurisdiction first, then construction date. Inside City of Los Angeles, pre-October 1978 buildings generally fall under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Santa Monica, Culver City, and Inglewood each run their own local ordinances. Long Beach has no traditional rent cap and relies on statewide AB 1482 plus a local relocation ordinance. Unincorporated county areas follow the County's own ordinance. Confirm the parcel's jurisdiction before anything else — a Los Angeles mailing address does not mean City of LA jurisdiction.

    How much can I raise rent in Los Angeles County?

    There is no single answer. Locally rent-stabilized units follow the allowable annual increase published by that city or the County. Units governed only by AB 1482 are capped at 5% plus regional CPI, with a 10% ceiling. Confirm the current published figure and the notice requirements for the specific property before serving notice.

    Does rent control lower what my apartment building is worth?

    It changes how buyers underwrite rather than simply discounting the asset. Regulated buildings with real loss-to-lease can price strongly because the upside is genuine — it just arrives through natural turnover instead of immediately. What destroys value is presenting a regulated building as if rents can be marked to market on day one; experienced buyers price that in and retrade in escrow when the story does not hold.

    Does Measure ULA apply everywhere in LA County?

    No. Measure ULA is a City of Los Angeles transfer tax applying to qualifying property sales above its thresholds inside city boundaries. It does not apply in Santa Monica, Culver City, Inglewood, Long Beach, or unincorporated county areas, which have their own transfer tax structures.

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