Can my landlord raise my rent in California?
Yes — in California your landlord can raise your rent, but not by more than about 10% per year, and only after giving you 30 days' written notice.
Step-by-step answer
- Step 1
When can your landlord raise the rent?
In California, a landlord can raise rent when your lease ends or, on a month-to-month tenancy, whenever they give you the required 30 days' written notice. They cannot raise it in the middle of a fixed-term lease unless your lease specifically says so.
- Step 2
How much can they raise it?
The state cap is roughly 10% per year for covered rentals. Newer buildings and single-family homes are sometimes exempt. Some cities have stricter local rent-stabilization ordinances, so check your city too.
- Step 3
What if the increase looks wrong?
If the notice is short, the amount is above the cap, or the letter isn't in writing, you generally don't owe the unlawful portion. Use the calculator on this site, save every notice you receive, and reach out to a local tenant-rights or legal-aid organization.
Yes — in California your landlord can raise your rent, but not by more than about 10% per year, and only after giving you 30 days' written notice.
The numbers that decide it
- Statewide formula
- 5% + regional CPI
- Cal. Civ. Code §1947.12
- Hard ceiling
- 10%
- The total can never exceed 10% in any 12-month period for covered units
- Typical 2026 cap in most metros
- ≈8–10%
- Depends on your regional CPI figure — check yours before relying on it
- Notice
- 30 or 90 days
- 90 days when the 12-month increase is more than 10%
Figures change — verify against the official source before relying on them.
Worked example
Worked example: $2,000 rent in Los Angeles
- Start with the current rent: $2,000 per month.
- Check coverage. AB 1482 generally covers units at least 15 years old; many new builds, some single-family homes, and owner-occupied duplexes are exempt, and your notice should state which applies.
- Look up your regional CPI figure. If it is 3.5%, the cap is 5% + 3.5% = 8.5%.
- Apply it: $2,000 × 0.085 = $170, so the highest covered rent would be about $2,170.
- Compare the ceiling: 10% of $2,000 is $200, so even a high CPI year would stop around $2,200.
- If the notice says $2,400, that is 20%. On a covered unit that appears to exceed the statutory cap, and because the increase is over 10% it would also generally require 90 days' notice rather than 30.
- If your city has its own stabilization ordinance (Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley), the local cap is often lower and controls instead.
Two numbers decide most California cases: your regional CPI and whether the unit is covered at all. Get both before responding in writing.
Where these rules come from
- Cal. Civ. Code §1947.12 (AB 1482)
The statewide cap: 5% plus regional CPI, never more than 10% total, for most covered units at least 15 years old.
- Cal. Civ. Code §827(b)
Notice rules on month-to-month tenancies: generally 30 days, or 90 days when the increase over 12 months is more than 10%.
- California CPI figures used for the cap
The regional CPI series landlords must use when calculating the 5% + CPI figure for your area.
Check your specific situation
Where do you rent?
Free legal help in California
Walk through three quick steps to find the right tenant-rights program for your situation.
State listings sourced from the federal Legal Services Corporation (LSC) grantee directory. Educational information, not legal advice or endorsement.
Other common questions about California
State source
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