Tenant reviewing documents to calculate a legal California rent increase

Calculate Legal Rent Increase California

AB 1482 sets a statewide cap on rent hikes—5 % plus the local Consumer Price Index, never more than 10 %. With our free calculator you can find the exact dollar limit in under 30 seconds, check exemptions, and learn how to respond if the notice in your mailbox is higher than the law allows. Accurate 2025 figures keep you protected.

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5 % + CPI

Standard statewide cap under AB 1482—never exceed 10 % in any 12-month period.

10 % Ceiling

Hard stop when inflation spikes. A 12 % CPI still caps lawful increases at 10 %.

15-Year Rule

Buildings first occupied in the last 15 years are exempt until their birthday.

1 / 12 Months

Landlords may raise rent only once per year—even if prior increases were below the cap.

Written Notice

30-day notice if hike <10 %, 90-day if it were legal to exceed 10 %. Service rules apply.

Free California Rent-Increase Calculator 2025

Legal Maximum New Rent

$0.00

Allowed Dollar Increase

$0.00

Tool provides an educational estimate and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Understanding the California Rent Increase Cap (AB 1482)

Statewide formula: 5 % + the local CPI, capped at 10 %. Landlords may apply the lower of the calculated figure or the hard ceiling. The CPI figure must reflect the most recent 12-month percent change published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the relevant metro area or the “All Urban Consumers West Region” if no city-specific data exists.

The cap applies to most multi-family rentals erected before 2010. Owners cannot “bank” unused percentages—each year resets the calculation. If CPI dips negative, the increase may be less than 5 %, but never below 0 %. Costa-Hawkins still permits vacancy decontrol: once all occupants move out voluntarily, the new lease may be set to market, after which AB 1482 limits resume. During high-inflation years the 10 % lid prevents double-digit rent shocks, giving tenants a predictable ceiling even when CPI exceeds 5 %.

Pro tip: CPI numbers change every two months. Use the most recent release when your notice is served, not when you prepare it. A stale CPI can invalidate the notice and reset the clock.

2025 City-Specific Rent Caps in California

Local ordinances supersede AB 1482 when stricter. Figures valid through 2025.
CityAnnual Cap 2025Notes / Expiration
Los Angeles*3 %RSO covers pre-1979 units; cap resets 1 July 2025.
San Francisco*1.9 %60 % of CPI; effective 1 March 2025 – 28 Feb 2026.
Oakland*3.5 %CPI only; rent registrant filing required.
San Jose4 %ARS regulates buildings pre-9/7/1979.
Berkeley*2 %65 % of CPI; extra limitations after Measure MM.
Santa Monica*2.1 %75 % of CPI with 0–3 % floor/ceiling band.
West Hollywood*3.2 %100 % of CPI; landlord must send confirmation letter.

* Footnote markers link to ordinances in the Legal References section below.

Which Properties Are Exempt from the Rent Cap?

Not every residence is covered. The following categories fall outside AB 1482, though local rules may still apply:

  • Single-family homes & condominiums if the owner provided the statutory exemption disclosure in the lease.
  • New construction first occupied within the last 15 years—rolling window; a 2013 building joins the cap after 2028.
  • Deed-restricted affordable housing and government-subsidised units (e.g., project-based Section 8).
  • College dormitories operated by educational institutions.
  • Mobile-home spaces leased longer than 12 months—governed by Mobile-home Residency Law.

Example: You rent a single-family home built in 2005. If the lease didn’t include the exemption disclosure, the owner cannot invoke the carve-out and must comply with the statewide cap. Always request a copy of the signed lease page that contains AB 1482 exemption language; absence of that sentence often wins rent-rollback cases at local boards.

Required Notice Periods & Delivery Rules

Size of IncreaseMinimum NoticeDelivery Options
Any lawful increase < 10 %30 daysPersonal, substitute, “nail & mail,” or USPS certified.
Were an increase to exceed 10 % (mostly exempt units)90 daysSame as above; add 5 days if mailed only.

Notices must state: the dollar change, the new total rent, the percentage, and the effective date. Failure to include any element voids the notice and forces the landlord to re-serve the clock. For automated timing, use our Rent Increase Notice Calculator.

Checklist before sending a notice:
Verify build date & exemptions; calculate CPI; ensure full 30- or 90-day lead time; attach rent-registry certificate if your city requires one.

Sample Math Scenarios

Scenario 1 — Standard apartment: Current rent $1,800. LA CPI = 4 %. 5 % + 4 % = 9 %. $1,800 × 1.09 = $1,962. Legal dollar increase: $162.

Scenario 2 — High CPI but hard cap: Current rent $2,950. SF CPI = 8 %. Formula yields 13 %, but AB 1482 cuts to 10 %. $2,950 × 1.10 = $3,245. Allowed increase: $295.

Scenario 3 — Exempt single-family: Current rent $1,250. Built 2010 with exemption notice. Statute does not cap—owner may raise to any rent supported by market, but must still give a 30-day written notice.

Rounding guidance: Round to the nearest cent but keep the printed notice to two decimals. Over-rounding can accumulate hundreds over a year and trigger tenant challenges.

How to Dispute an Illegal Rent Increase

Start with a polite but firm Rent Increase Objection Letter. Cite AB 1482 or your local ordinance, attach CPI math, and request rollback within five business days. If ignored, file a petition at your city’s rent board—hearings usually occur within 30–60 days. During the dispute, tenants typically pay the lawful amount and save the excess in a separate account. Overpayments may be recovered via small-claims court ($12,500 cap) or used as an affirmative defense if the landlord files eviction.

Retaliation is illegal. A sudden notice to terminate within 180 days of your complaint may violate Civil Code §1942.5. Learn more in our retaliation guide.

Eight-Step Tenant Action Guide

  • Pull Your Lease  – Confirm sign-date, owner name, and any exemption notice.
  • Look Up CPI  – Use BLS table matching your county.
  • Use This Calculator  – Find the percent and dollar cap.
  • Check Build Date  – County assessor website lists year built.
  • Review Owner Notice  – Verify elements and service date.
  • Gather Proof  – Keep the envelope, stamped notice, and CPI screenshot.
  • Send Dispute Letter  – Provide math, ask rollback, cite statute.
  • Pay Old Amount  – Continue paying lawful rent in writing until resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Generally no—but only if the owner served the exemption notice before you signed the lease or renewed after 1 July 2020. The disclosure must state: “This property is not subject to the rent limits imposed by section 1947.12.” If that sentence is missing, courts often rule the exemption waived. Local rent caps may still apply even when AB 1482 does not. Always request a copy of the signed page if the landlord claims exemption.

AB 1482 instructs landlords to use the “West Region CPI — All Urban Consumers” when a specific metropolitan index is unavailable. That figure is published every second month on BLS.gov. Take the 12-month percent change column, not the monthly figure, compare the most recent release to the same month the previous year, and round to the nearest tenth. Enter the percentage in the manual field of our calculator.

No. AB 1482 allows only one increase every 12 months on covered units. Splitting an 8 % hike into two 4 % notices violates the statute and resets the cap calculation. If you receive a second notice, send a written objection and pay only the lawful rent. Include the timeline and prior notice as attachments.

Yes, if they are mandatory and listed as part of “rent” in your lease. Optional services—like a storage locker or reserved space—may be priced separately. However, landlords cannot re-label base rent into multiple add-on fees to bypass the cap. California courts treat the economic reality: if you must pay to live there, it counts.

Yes. Civil Code § 1947.12 entitles tenants to a refund of amounts above the cap, plus potential penalties if the violation was intentional. File a written demand first. If unpaid after 30 days, bring a small-claims action (limit $12,500) or petition your local rent board for rent-rollback and damages. Keep bank statements and a copy of the unlawful notice as evidence.

Only when the tenancy is month-to-month. Mobile-home spaces leased for 12 months or longer are exempt, but many cities have separate mobile-home rent-stabilization ordinances. Check your park rules and local municipal code. Even when exempt, a 90-day notice is required for increases of 10 % or more.

More Tenant Resources

Legal References

ReferenceTopicLink
AB 1482 (2019)Statewide Rent Cap & Just-CauseBill Text
Civil Code § 1947.12Rent Cap Statute LanguageRead Statute
Los Angeles RSO*Local Rent CapLA Housing Dept.
San Francisco Rent Ord.*Local Cap & PetitionsSF Rent Board
Oakland RAP*Local CPI-Based CapPDF

Tenant Support Organizations

Tenants Together – Statewide Hotline

California’s largest renter coalition helps tenants decode AB 1482 math, draft dispute letters, and file rent-rollback petitions. Volunteers return calls within 48 hours and offer multilingual support. Hotline: (888) 495-8020 — tenantstogether.org

Housing Rights Committee – San Francisco

HRCSF counselors specialize in challenging illegal rent hikes, guiding residents through board petitions and mediation. Walk-in clinics operate weekdays on Mission Street. Phone: (415) 703-8644 — hrcsf.org

LA Tenants Union

Grass-roots chapters across Los Angeles help renters form “rent strike” committees, gather evidence, and confront predatory hikes. Weekly meetings and Know-Your-Rights workshops are free. latenantsunion.org

Fair Housing Foundation

Serving Orange and Los Angeles counties, FHF investigates discrimination tied to rent increases and provides mediation between tenants and housing providers. Hotline: (800) 446-3247 — fhfca.org

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