California rent cap updates for 2026–2027: What tenants need to know
California’s statewide rent caps under AB 1482 have reset for August 2026–July 2027. Here are the new limits for Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Riverside, and every other county, based on April 2026 CPI data.
Most California renters have had a legal limit on rent increases since January 1, 2020, when the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) took effect. The law caps how much a landlord can raise the rent over any 12-month period, and the cap resets every year to keep pace with inflation.
The calculation is simple: 5% plus the change in your region’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), up to a maximum of 10%. Each year’s cap is based on how much CPI rose in the 12 months through April. It applies to rent increases that take effect from August 1 through the following July 31.
This year’s figures cover increases taking effect between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027. Below are the new limits for each region, along with what you can do if an increase goes over them.
New Rent Caps: August 2026 – July 2027
The maximum increase allowed under state law depends on where in California you live:
| Region | CPI (Apr 2026) | Max Increase (Aug ’26 – Jul ’27) | Last Year’s Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles & Orange Counties | 3.7% | 8.7% | 8.0% |
| San Diego County | 3.2%* | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| Riverside & San Bernardino Counties | 3.1%* | 8.1% | 7.5% |
| San Francisco Bay Area (SF, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo) |
3.8% | 8.8% | 6.3% |
| All Other Counties | 3.6% | 8.6% | 7.7% |
*April figures aren’t published for San Diego or Riverside–San Bernardino, so the law uses March CPI for those regions.
The cap went up everywhere except San Diego County, where it fell from 8.8% to 8.2%. The Bay Area saw the biggest swing, going from the lowest cap in the state last year to the highest. In dollar terms, a tenant paying $2,500 a month in Los Angeles or Orange County can now face an increase of up to $217.50.
What These Numbers Mean for Tenants
- Timing matters: The new caps apply to increases that take effect on or after August 1, 2026. An increase that took effect before then was held to last year’s limit.
- The cap is measured from your lowest rent: The limit is based on the lowest rent you were charged in the 12 months before the increase. Your landlord can raise the rent no more than twice in that period.
- Notice is required: You’re entitled to at least 30 days’ written notice before an increase of up to 10% takes effect, or 90 days’ if it’s more than that.
- Most rentals are covered: Older apartments, mobile homes rented from park management, units rented with Section 8 vouchers, and single-family homes and condos owned by corporations generally fall under the cap.
- Some units are exempt: The cap doesn’t apply to housing built in the past 15 years, deed-restricted affordable housing, school and college dorms, or a duplex where the owner lives in the other unit. Single-family homes and condos owned by individuals are exempt only if the tenant received a specific written notice saying so.
- Local limits can be lower: Many cities have their own rent control laws, and where those set a lower limit, the local limit applies. For rent-stabilized units, the Attorney General lists 3% in the City of Los Angeles, 1.6% in San Francisco and 2.3% in Oakland. Our master list of California rent caps covers more cities.
Pat Sharyon | Editor
How to Protect Yourself
- Check the math: Compare any increase with the cap for your region, starting from the lowest rent you paid in the past year. Anything above it may be unlawful.
- Keep a paper trail: Ask for every rent change in writing, and hold on to notices, your lease and your payment records.
- Know your eviction rights: Once you’ve lived in your unit for a year, a landlord generally needs a “just cause” under AB 1482 to end your tenancy, and an eviction can only happen through the courts. If you’re served with court papers, you have 10 days to respond.
- Overcharging can cost landlords: A landlord who collects more than the law allows can be ordered to pay back the difference. If the overcharge was willful, they can owe up to three times that amount.
- Get help early: LawHelpCA can connect you with free or low-cost legal aid, or you can contact your county’s legal aid office.
Resources
- California Attorney General: Limits on Rent Increases – official statewide and local rent caps
- California DOJ Housing Page – the state’s guide to tenant rights and protections
- California Courts – Eviction Help – step-by-step guidance and forms for tenants facing eviction
Bottom Line
Until July 31, 2027, rent increases on most California rentals are capped between 8.1% and 8.8%, depending on where you live, and no region can go above 10%. An increase above your region’s cap may be unlawful, and you have every right to challenge it.
