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    AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act)

    California statewide rent control: what apartment owners need to know

    How California's AB 1482 Tenant Protection Act rent cap works, which buildings it covers, how it interacts with local rent control, and what it means when you sell an apartment building. Verify for your specific property.

    Quick answer

    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.

    What is covered

    • Most multifamily rental properties in California more than 15 years old, measured on a rolling basis
    • Tenancies where the tenant has occupied the unit for 12 months or more, for the just-cause provisions
    • Properties in cities without a stricter local rent stabilization ordinance

    Common exemptions

    • Housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years
    • Most single-family homes and condominiums when the owner is not a corporation or REIT and required notice was given
    • Owner-occupied duplexes, in defined circumstances
    • Deed-restricted affordable housing under a separate regulatory agreement

    How rent increases work in California statewide

    The cap is 5% plus the percentage change in the regional consumer price index, with a hard ceiling of 10% in any 12-month period. Because the CPI component changes annually and by region, the effective cap in Los Angeles County is not the same every year — confirm the current figure before noticing an increase.

    Ending a tenancy

    After a tenant has occupied a unit for 12 months, ending the tenancy requires a just cause under the statute. No-fault causes carry relocation assistance or a rent waiver equal to one month's rent.

    What it means when you buy or sell

    AB 1482 is the default for post-1978 LA County product that escapes the RSO, and for buildings in cities with no local ordinance. It is a far lighter constraint than RSO or Santa Monica-style control, which is exactly why 1980s-and-newer product in the same neighborhood often trades at a lower cap rate than the rent-controlled building across the street. When a portfolio mixes both, each asset should be underwritten under its own regime rather than blended.

    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.

    Official source: California Department of Real Estate / Civil Code §1946.2 and §1947.12

    California statewide rent control FAQ

    Does AB 1482 apply if my city already has rent control?

    Where a local ordinance is stricter, the local ordinance governs the rent cap. AB 1482 functions as a statewide floor for properties that local rent stabilization does not reach. Some properties sit under local just-cause rules and the state cap simultaneously, so both need to be checked for the specific property.

    What is the AB 1482 cap in Los Angeles County right now?

    The formula is 5% plus the regional CPI change, capped at 10%. Because the CPI component is republished annually, the effective ceiling moves year to year. Confirm the current published figure for the region before serving a notice.

    Does the 15-year exemption move over time?

    Yes — the exemption is rolling, so a building constructed 14 years ago becomes subject to the statute once it passes the 15-year mark. Buyers underwriting newer product should model the year that transition occurs.

    Not sure how the rules price your building?

    Cameron underwrites regulated California statewide product every week and will tell you what a real buyer pays for it — including the realistic turnover timeline, not a same-day mark-to-market fantasy.

    Get a free valuation

    Cameron Samimi · +1-310-259-7556

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