For a rent increase that takes effect between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027, the most you can raise rent on a unit covered by AB 1482 is 8.7% in Los Angeles and Orange counties and 8.1% in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, measured from the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. Those caps come from the AB 1482 formula (5% plus the regional change in the cost of living, never more than 10%) in Civil Code 1947.12, as published on the California Attorney General's rent cap page. You must also give written notice: at least 30 days for increases of 10% or less in a 12-month period, or 90 days for more than 10% (Civil Code 827), plus 5 days if you mail it within California. A stricter local rent ordinance can lower the limit.
Updated October 13, 2026
This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to a California landlord-tenant attorney about your specific property.
How much can I raise rent under AB 1482 from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027?
The Attorney General publishes the maximum allowable increase by area. The figures below are for Bright Path's markets.
| County | CPI area | Increase starts 8/1/25 to 7/31/26 | Increase starts 8/1/26 to 7/31/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | Los Angeles Area | 8% | 8.7% |
| Orange County | Los Angeles Area | 8% | 8.7% |
| Riverside County | Riverside Area | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| San Bernardino County | Riverside Area | 7.5% | 8.1% |
Source: California Attorney General's rent cap page, checked October 13, 2026. The Attorney General notes the chart is informational and the law itself controls. The period is based on when the increase takes effect, not when the notice is served.
Example
If the lowest rent you charged in the last 12 months on a covered Riverside County home was $2,500, the most the rent can be for an increase taking effect between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027 is $2,500 x 1.081 = $2,702.50. For a covered Los Angeles County unit at the same rent, it is $2,500 x 1.087 = $2,717.50.
How the AB 1482 formula works
- The cap: over any 12-month period, rent cannot go up more than 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower (Civil Code 1947.12(a)(1)).
- The starting point: the percentage applies to the lowest gross rent charged for the unit at any time in the 12 months before the increase takes effect. Discounts, incentives, concessions, or credits the tenant accepted are excluded when finding that lowest rent.
- The cost of living figure: for most areas it is the April change in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for the region. Los Angeles and Orange counties use the Los Angeles Area index. Riverside and San Bernardino counties use the Riverside Area index.
- Two increases at most: if the same tenant stays, rent can go up in no more than two increments over any 12-month period, and together they still must fit under the cap (Civil Code 1947.12(a)(2)).
- New tenants: when a tenant moves out and a new tenant moves in, the landlord may set the initial rent. The cap applies to increases after that.
Who is exempt from the AB 1482 rent cap
Civil Code 1947.12(d) lists exemptions. Common ones for owners include:
- Housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years (a rolling window), unless it is a mobilehome.
- A single-family home or condominium that can be sold separately, if the owner is not a real estate investment trust, a corporation, or an LLC with at least one corporate member, and the tenant was given the required written exemption notice. For tenancies that began or renewed on or after July 1, 2020, that notice must be in the lease.
- A duplex where the owner lived in one unit as their principal residence at the start of the tenancy and still does.
- Deed-restricted affordable housing, school dormitories, and housing already covered by a local rent control law that limits increases more strictly.
For the full list and the exact exemption notice, see our guide to AB 1482 rent control exemptions.
Local rent rules can be stricter
Many cities and counties have their own rent stabilization laws. If a local cap results in a lower increase than AB 1482, the local rule applies. In Southern California, examples on the Attorney General's local chart include the City of Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, unincorporated Los Angeles County, Pasadena, Pomona, and Palm Springs. Local caps, exemptions, and effective periods differ and change each year, so check the California Attorney General's rent cap page and the city or county's own rent program before serving a notice.
Determining Notice Requirements: 30-Day vs 90-Day Rules
California Civil Code Section 827 governs the timeline required to serve a change in terms of tenancy, including rent adjustments. The required notice length is calculated based on the cumulative percentage increase over the preceding 12 months, rather than just the single proposed increase amount.
- 30-Day Written Notice: Required if the increase, by itself or combined with any other rent increases in the 12 months before it takes effect, is 10% or less of the rent charged to that tenant at any time during those 12 months.
- 90-Day Written Notice: Required if the proposed increase, combined with all prior increases within the last 12 months, is greater than 10%. Because AB 1482 caps covered units below 10% for this period, the 90-day rule mostly matters for exempt properties.
Factoring in California Mail Service Extensions
If you deliver a rent increase notice by mail, Code of Civil Procedure Section 1013 mandates adding 5 calendar days to the notice period if mailed to an address within California. Consequently, a standard 30-day notice delivered via first-class mail requires a minimum of 35 days before the rent increase can legally take effect. A 90-day notice served by mail requires 95 calendar days.
Proper Methods for Serving a Rent Increase Notice
California courts strictly enforce legal service requirements. Sending an informal text message, a standard email, or leaving a verbal voicemail does not satisfy statutory requirements under state law unless a compliant written electronic service agreement exists under specific statutory parameters.
To ensure valid service under Civil Code Section 827, landlords should utilize one of the following methods:
- Personal Delivery: Handing a physical copy of the notice directly to the tenant in person.
- Substitute Service: Leaving a copy with a person of suitable age and discretion at the tenant's residence or place of business, and mailing a secondary copy via first-class mail on the same day.
- Certified or First-Class Mail: Sending the notice directly to the tenant's residential address. Always remember to add the mandatory 5 calendar days for mailing within California.
Utilizing professional property management services minimizes compliance risks by ensuring every notice is properly drafted, verified against regional CPI indices, and served according to statutory requirements.
Key Operational Steps for Executing a Rent Increase
To execute a legally defensible rent adjustment, property owners should follow a structured operational process:
- Review Active Lease Contracts: Rent cannot be increased during a fixed-term lease unless the written lease agreement explicitly permits mid-term rate adjustments. For standard fixed-term contracts, wait until lease expiration or transition to a month-to-month agreement.
- Verify Exemption Disclosures: Before raising rent above AB 1482 caps on an exempt single-family rental, confirm that your lease contract contains the mandatory exemption statement required under Civil Code § 1946.2.
- Draft Clear Notice Documentation: State the current rent amount, the new proposed rent amount, the net dollar increase, the total percentage change, and the exact calendar date the change becomes effective.
- Complete Proof of Service: Maintain a detailed Proof of Service document recording the date, time, location, and method of delivery. Keep this documentation in the tenant's file to support accurate Lease Execution and eliminate ambiguity.
Common Landlord Mistakes to Avoid
Self-managing landlords often run into trouble because of small procedural errors:
- Retaliatory Rent Adjustments: Under California Civil Code Section 1942.5, issuing a rent increase within 180 days of a tenant exercising legal rights (such as reporting habitability concerns or requesting repairs) is presumed retaliatory and unlawful.
- Incorrect Effective Dates: Setting an effective date on the 1st of the month without providing the full 30, 35, 90, or 95 days of notice invalidates the notice for that billing cycle.
- Math and Rounding Errors: Exceeding the cap by even a fraction of a percent violates AB 1482. Start from the lowest rent in the prior 12 months, use the rate for the period when the increase takes effect, and count any earlier increase in the same 12 months.
Want help setting a compliant rent increase? Talk to our team or see our flat-fee pricing.
Sources
- California Attorney General's rent cap page (statewide caps and local chart)
- California Attorney General, Landlord-Tenant Issues (written notice rules)
- Civil Code 1947.12
- Civil Code 827
This is general information, not legal advice. California landlord-tenant laws change frequently. Talk to a California landlord-tenant attorney about your specific property.
