Is there rent control in California?
Yes. In California, the Tenant Protection Act caps rent increases on most residential units at 5% plus the change in the regional Consumer Price Index, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12-month period, and requires a just cause to end most tenancies after 12 months. Units built within the last 15 years, and single-family homes and condominiums not owned by a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member (where the owner gives the required notice), are exempt. Cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco apply stricter local rent control to the units they cover. This is Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1947.12, 1946.2.
| What | California |
|---|---|
| Rent control | Statewide: 5% plus regional CPI, never more than 10% |
| What the law does | Caps rent increases statewide |
Source
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1947.12, 1946.2
Read the statute in the California Codes (California Legislative Information): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
This page states whether the state lets its cities control rent, and any statewide limit on an increase, so a renewal can be checked before it is offered. In New York City, Seayora’s rent-increase advisor goes further: it computes the highest increase the Rent Guidelines Board order and the Good Cause standard allow for each apartment, with the law cited, and gives no number where the law is not verified.
Guides on this rule
- Statewide Rent Caps in California, Oregon and Washington (2026) — How the three statewide rent caps work in 2026: the formulas, this year’s maximum increases, notice periods, first-year limits and who is exempt.
Compare this rule in every state
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