By Julia Barajas for LAist
Originally published July 28, 2026
Topline:
Allowable rent increases in the Greater Los Angeles area will tick upward on Aug. 1 under a state law that covers many local tenants.
The details: Starting Saturday, the ceiling on annual rent hikes under the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 will go from 8.0% to 8.7% in L.A. and Orange counties. In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the ceiling will rise from 7.5% to 8.1%.
How the limits work: The state law, AB 1482, applies to renters living in mobile homes or in apartments that were constructed more than 15 years ago. Newer properties are not covered. Neither are single-family homes and condos, unless they’re owned by a corporate entity.
The context: The law is also superseded by local rent control laws, which tend to impose tougher limits. For example, the current rent control cap in the city of L.A. is 3%. Other cities in the region with limits below the state law’s cap include: Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Culver City, Huntington Park, Pomona, Santa Ana and West Hollywood.
Why now? The statewide caps reset in August each year, and they’re determined by recent regional inflation data. April’s consumer price index for the L.A. area rose by 3.7%, driven by surging grocery and gasoline prices. The California law allows landlords to tack on an extra 5% to the inflation figure, bringing the new limit to 8.7%. That’s a slight jump from last year, when an inflation reading of 3% kept the limit in L.A. and Orange counties at 8.0%.
Did you get a bigger rent hike? Renters who believe their landlord has violated their tenant rights may qualify for free or low-cost legal aid. To find a legal aid office near you, visit lawhelpca.org and click on the “Find Legal Help” tab.
Go deeper: As Inflation Soars, LA Tenants Are Getting Hit With Large Rent Hikes Despite Rent Control
