California rent cap compliance: AB 1482 made simple

Most compliance losses don't come from the law itself. They come from small mistakes: a wrong CPI number, a missing exemption notice, an ignored local rule. Here's how I keep rent-cap compliance simple and defensible.

Know whether AB 1482 covers your unit

The Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) caps rent increases on most California rentals. Some units are exempt. Single-family homes and condos can be exempt, but only if the owner is not a corporation, REIT, or corporate LLC, and only if you gave the required written exemption notice. Newer construction is exempt on a rolling 15-year basis.

Here's my rule: if you think you're exempt but you don't have it in writing, assume the law applies. Document the exemption or follow the cap.

Calculate the cap correctly

The AB 1482 cap is 5% plus regional inflation, with a hard maximum of 10%. The inflation figure comes from the April CPI for your region. The cap resets every August 1 and runs through the following July 31.

Two limits trip people up:

• You get one increase per 12-month period.

• You never exceed 10%, no matter how high inflation runs.

When in doubt, set the increase a point or two below the maximum. A small buffer protects you from a miscalculation that could cost far more than the extra dollars.

Layer in your local ordinance

State law is the floor. Oakland and Berkeley have their own rent programs with lower caps and stricter rules. If your city has a program, you follow the stricter number. Check the local rate before you draft any increase.

Serve a compliant notice

A correct increase still fails if the notice is wrong. Match the notice to current state and local rules, and complete the proof of service with the information AB 747 now requires. Our notice generator keeps the document and the service details aligned.

Document everything in a ledger

This is the part most landlords skip, and it's the part that wins disputes. A clean rent ledger shows the increase history, the CPI basis, and every payment. If a tenant challenges an increase, your ledger answers the question.

Download our free rent ledger and log:

• The date and amount of each increase.

• The CPI figure you used.

• Every payment and balance.

The cap stays through 2030

One myth to retire: AB 1482 does not sunset in 2026. Under Civil Code § 1947.12, the rent cap and just-cause rules remain in effect through January 1, 2030. Plan your strategy around the full window, not a deadline that doesn't exist.

Make it a system

Compliance works best as a repeatable workflow: confirm coverage, calculate the cap, check the local rule, serve the right notice, log it in the ledger. Run that sequence every time, and rent increases stop being a risk.

This article is general information, not legal advice. California housing law is complex and changes often. For your specific property or situation, consult a qualified California attorney.