California AB 1482 Rent Cap Calculator

Under AB 1482, the maximum annual rent increase is 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), capped at 10% total. For 2026, most California regions have CPI between 3.2% and 4.1%, making the typical maximum increase between 8.2% and 9.1%. This applies to most residential properties built before 2011 (the 15-year rolling window).

AB 1482 applies to most residential properties in California that are at least 15 years old. Key exemptions include: single-family homes (if proper written notice is given and the owner is not a corporation), condos not owned by corporate entities, properties built within the last 15 years, owner-occupied duplexes, and housing with existing deed restrictions. A written exemption notice must be provided to tenants using specific statutory language.

Find your property’s CPI region using the Bureau of Labor Statistics data for your metro area. California has multiple CPI regions (SF-Oakland-Hayward, LA-Long Beach-Anaheim, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Diego-Carlsbad). The AB 1482 rent increase formula is: lower of (5% + CPI) or 10%. LeaseBase calculates this automatically for each property based on its address.

AB 1482 was originally set to expire on January 1, 2030, but AB 1157 (2024) extended it through January 1, 2035. However, many local rent control ordinances (Los Angeles RSO, San Francisco Rent Board, Oakland Just Cause, etc.) have no expiration date and will continue regardless. Legislative proposals to further extend or make AB 1482 permanent are expected before the sunset date.

If a landlord imposes a rent increase above the allowable cap, the tenant can dispute it. The tenant may file a complaint with the local housing authority, withhold the excess amount, or pursue legal action. The landlord could be required to refund the excess rent collected, and may face additional penalties. It is critical to calculate and document the correct maximum increase before issuing any rent increase notice.

Under California Civil Code §827, landlords must provide 30 days’ written notice for rent increases of 10% or less within a 12-month period. For increases greater than 10% (on exempt properties), 90 days’ written notice is required. Since AB 1482 caps increases at 10%, the 30-day notice period typically applies for covered properties.

AB 1482 does not restrict the initial rent a landlord can charge a new tenant. Vacancy decontrol applies — when a tenant voluntarily vacates, the landlord may set any new rent amount for the next tenancy. The cap only applies to increases during an existing tenancy. However, some local rent ordinances (such as those in Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Oakland) may impose vacancy control or limit initial rents — always check local rules.

The CPI rate used for AB 1482 is based on the April-to-April percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for the applicable region. The BLS typically publishes April CPI data in May. The new rate takes effect for rent increases with effective dates on or after August 1 of each year (the next adjustment cycle). This calculator uses the most recently published April CPI data.