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    California Rent Increase Law

    California requires at least 30 days' notice before a rent increase takes effect, and longer notice in some cases. California also limits rent increases for covered units statewide.

    Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed

    California rent increase rules at a glance

    Notice of a rent increase30 days (90 days if the increase, alone or combined with other increases in the prior 12 months, exceeds 10% of the lowest rent charged in that period; add 5 days if served by mail (CCP § 1013))Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b)
    Rent controlStatewide limitCal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 (Tenant Protection Act rent cap), Cal. Civ. Code § 1954.52 (Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act)
    Ending a month-to-month tenancy30 days (either side)Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)–(d), Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)

    Rent control

    • In effect since .

    What California law says

    How much notice is required for a rent increase in California?

    For a month-to-month tenancy, give at least 30 days' written notice of a rent increase of 10% or less and 90 days' notice if the increase (combined with other increases in the past 12 months) exceeds 10% (Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b)).

    Does California have rent control?

    Most California rentals more than 15 years old are subject to a statewide cap of 5% plus inflation (never more than 10%) in rent increases over any 12 months, and stricter local rent control may also apply (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1947.12, 1954.52) (Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 (Tenant Protection Act rent cap)).

    How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in California?

    To end a month-to-month tenancy a landlord must give 60 days' written notice if the tenant has lived there a year or more (30 days if less), must state a just cause when the Tenant Protection Act applies, and the tenant must give 30 days' notice (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946.1, 1946.2) (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)–(d)).

    How California compares

    12 of 51 verified jurisdictions require more than 30 days.

    None of California's 3 neighbors follows the same rule.

    Rent-increase noticeStates
    30 days (more in some cases)California
    No statewide periodArizona
    60 days (more in some cases)Nevada
    90 days (more in some cases)Oregon

    Local rules in California

    Many California cities and counties add stricter rules: local rent control/stabilization and just-cause ordinances (e.g., Los Angeles RSO, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, unincorporated Los Angeles County), extra notice content and filing requirements, relocation payments, caps on late fees under some rent ordinances, and security-deposit interest (e.g., San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Monica). The statewide Tenant Protection Act (Civ. Code §§ 1946.2, 1947.12) yields to qualifying stricter local ordinances. Check local law before using statewide numbers.

    Other California rules

    Security deposit limit1 month's rent (with exceptions)Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(b), (c)
    Deposit return deadline21 days after move-outCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1), (h)(3)
    Late-fee capNo fixed statutory cap. A pre-set residential late fee is liquidated damages and is void unless actual damages would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix and the amount is a reasonable estimate of the landlord's actual damages from late payment (Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th Supp. 7).Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(c)(2), (d)
    Entry notice24 hours' noticeCal. Civ. Code § 1954
    Notice for unpaid rent3 business days (3-day notice to pay rent or quit)Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)

    Read the California law

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