AB 1482: California Rent Cap and Just Cause Rules
The Tenant Protection Act of 2019, known as AB 1482, limits how much rent can rise each year and requires a lawful reason to end most tenancies. Here is how the rent cap works, which homes are exempt, and how RPM Ventura County keeps your increases and notices compliant.
Tenant Protection Act of 2019 · California Assembly Bill 1482 · Civil Code 1947.12 and 1946.2
The Rent Cap
For covered homes, rent can rise by no more than 5% plus the change in the Consumer Price Index, with a hard ceiling of 10%, over any 12-month period. The increase can be split into no more than two increases in those 12 months, and the total still has to stay within the cap.
The cap applies to the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. When a tenant moves out, the owner can set the rent for the next tenancy at market, and the cap applies again from there.
Key Facts
Law
AB 1482
Tenant Protection Act of 2019
Annual Cap
5% + CPI
Never more than 10% in 12 months
Increases
2 Max
In any 12-month period
Rolling Exemption
15 Years
Homes built in the last 15 years are exempt
Which Homes Are Exempt
- Newer homes. A home that received its certificate of occupancy within the last 15 years is exempt. This is a rolling window, so each year another group of homes becomes covered.
- Single-family homes and condos owned by individuals. These can be exempt if the owner is not a real estate investment trust, a corporation, or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant receives the required written exemption notice in the lease. Without that notice, the exemption does not apply.
- Owner-occupied duplexes. A duplex where the owner lives in one unit is exempt.
- Deed-restricted affordable housing and some other specific housing types are also exempt.
Some cities add their own rules on top of state law. In Ventura County, Oxnard and Ojai have their own rent stabilization ordinances with a 4% cap for older multifamily units. Where a city cap is lower, it applies instead of AB 1482, and the city’s just cause rules replace the state rules.
Just Cause for Ending a Tenancy
Once a tenant has lived in a covered home for 12 months, the owner needs a lawful reason to end the tenancy. At-fault reasons include nonpayment of rent and serious lease violations. No-fault reasons include the owner or a close family member moving in, or a substantial remodel, and they come with relocation assistance equal to one month’s rent, paid directly or as a waiver of the final month’s rent. Oxnard and Ojai require more: two months’ rent or $5,000, whichever is greater. Rules on no-fault reasons were tightened in 2024, so notices have to be prepared carefully.
How RPM Ventura County Handles AB 1482
We review each property’s status when we take it on, then manage every increase and notice within the rules that apply to it.
- Exemption review for every property we onboard
- Exemption notice included in leases where it applies
- Rent increases timed and calculated within the cap
- Just-cause documentation kept with every tenancy
- Notices prepared under current California law
- City rules checked on top of state law, including Oxnard
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from property owners about AB 1482
Is my single-family rental covered by AB 1482?
It depends on who owns it and whether the tenant received the exemption notice. A home owned by an individual can be exempt with the notice in the lease. A home owned by a corporation, a REIT, or an LLC with a corporate member is covered. We check this for every property.
Which CPI figure applies in Ventura County?
The federal government does not publish a metro index for Ventura County, so the law uses the California CPI published by the state Department of Industrial Relations, measured April to April. We apply the current figure when we calculate each increase.
Can I raise the rent to market when a tenant moves out?
Yes. AB 1482 allows the rent to be reset when a new tenancy begins. The cap then applies to increases during the new tenancy.
Does AB 1482 apply in Oxnard?
For older apartments under Oxnard’s 4% cap, the city cap applies instead of AB 1482, and Oxnard’s just cause rules apply after 30 days. Newer units and exempt homes may still fall under AB 1482. See our Oxnard guide for how they fit together.
Disclaimer: General information about California Assembly Bill 1482 for Ventura County rental owners, not legal advice. Laws and their interpretation can change. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a licensed California attorney. RPM Ventura County is not a law firm.
Questions About Your Property?
Every property is different. Talk with our Ventura County team about which rules apply to your rental and how we keep it compliant.
Real Property Management Ventura County · 2655 First St #250, Simi Valley, CA 93065 · (805) 387-3682
