San Diego Rent Increase Rules: A General Look at the AB 1482 Cap

California limits how much rent can go up each year on many homes. At the time this article was written (October 2026), the California Attorney General said the cap is 5% plus the change in the cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 month period. For San Diego County, the Attorney General's table listed 8.2% for increases that start between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027. This guide is a general overview for learning. It is not legal advice, and I am a REALTOR, not an attorney.

What the rent cap says

The state law is called the Tenant Protection Act. It is also known by its bill number, AB 1482. The Attorney General's page says it took effect January 1, 2020, and that amendments took effect April 1, 2024.

The Attorney General explains the cap in one sentence: 5% plus the change in the cost of living, with a ceiling of 10%. The cost of living part comes from the Consumer Price Index. For most areas the page says it uses April national data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It also says separate data exists for the San Diego area.

The Attorney General publishes a table of the allowed increase for each county. The page says the chart is for information only. The law itself is Civil Code section 1947.12(a). That is why a lawyer should read the law for any real dispute.

The San Diego County numbers

At the time this article was written, the Attorney General's table listed these numbers for San Diego County.

Increase starts between	Allowed increase listed for San Diego County
August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026	8.8%
August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027	8.2%

The table changes with the cost of living data, so a new row may be posted each year. The Attorney General's page is the place to check the current figure.

Here is a made-up example, using my math. It applies the 8.2% figure to three invented rents. It is not a prediction, and it does not tell any landlord or tenant what to do. A real increase may be lower, and local rules may be stricter.

Made-up current rent	Highest rent at 8.2%	Difference per month	Difference per year
$2,000	$2,164	$164	$1,968
$2,500	$2,705	$205	$2,460
$3,000	$3,246	$246	$2,952

Which homes are covered

The Attorney General says the cap applies to most rental housing that is more than 15 years old. The 15 years is figured on a rolling basis, so a building can move from exempt to covered as it ages.

The Attorney General's landlord guide lists these exemptions, among others.

• Housing built in the last 15 years.
• Certain deed-restricted affordable housing.
• University and school dormitories.
• Two-unit properties where the owner lives in one unit for the entire tenancy.
• Single family homes and condos that meet two conditions, described next.

Local rules can be stricter. The Attorney General says a local cap that is lower than the state cap applies instead.

Single family homes and condos

This is the exemption people ask about most. According to the Attorney General's guide, a single family home or condo is exempt only if both of these are true.

1. The owner is not a real estate investment trust, a corporation, an LLC with at least one corporate member, or a mobilehome park management company.
2. The landlord gave the tenant a written notice that the tenancy is not subject to the Tenant Protection Act's rent limits or just cause rules.

If either condition is missing, the exemption may not apply. The guide has more details on the notice. An attorney is the right person to say whether a certain home qualifies and whether a notice was valid.

Just cause rules in plain words

The law also limits when a landlord can end a tenancy. The Attorney General says the tenant must have lived in the unit for at least one year for these rules to apply. Reasons for ending a tenancy fall into two groups.

• At-fault reasons, such as not paying rent or a serious lease violation.
• No-fault reasons, such as taking the unit off the rental market, owner or family move-in, a major remodel or demolition, or a government order to vacate.

For no-fault reasons, the Attorney General says the owner must pay one month of rent in relocation help. Some cities and counties require more. The guide also lists notice rules. For example, an owner move-in notice must name the person moving in and their relationship to the owner. It also says that person must move in within 90 days and live there at least one year.

These rules are detailed, and courts decide disputes. This guide only points to the Attorney General's summary.

What the cap does not cover

The Attorney General says the rent cap does not limit the starting rent when a new tenant moves in after a tenant leaves. Rules for a new lease are different from rules for raising rent on a current tenant.

The cap is also only one part of the picture for a rental. Taxes, insurance, repairs and vacancy all change what a rental earns. My overview of cash flow, cap rate and cash-on-cash return shows how investors compare those costs with rent. If a rental is a short-term rental, a different set of City rules applies, which I cover in my overview of short-term rental rules in San Diego.

Why buyers and sellers of rentals bring this up

People who buy or sell a home with a tenant often ask about the rent cap. A buyer may want to know the current rent, the date of the last increase and whether the home is covered. A seller may want to know how the rules apply to the lease.

I can help with the real estate side, such as market information and negotiating a purchase. The legal side is different. Whether the cap or the just cause rules apply to a specific tenancy is a question for an attorney.

Please talk with a professional

The Tenant Protection Act has been amended, and cities and counties can add their own rules. The Attorney General pages I used are summaries. They do not replace the law or a lawyer.

I am a REALTOR, not an attorney. For any question about a specific lease, notice or increase, please talk with a California landlord-tenant attorney, and check with the Attorney General and your city for current rules.

Questions people bring to an attorney

• Is this home covered by the state rent cap, or is it exempt?
• If an exemption is claimed, was a written notice given, and was it correct?
• What is the current allowed increase for this county, and does a local rule set a lower cap?
• Do the just cause rules apply to this tenant?
• How do these rules affect the lease I would take over if I buy?

Related guides

• Short-term rental rules in San Diego
• Cash flow, cap rate and cash-on-cash return in San Diego
• House hacking in San Diego
• 1031 exchanges for San Diego investment property
• ADU rules, costs and rental income in San Diego
• How San Diego property taxes are calculated
• Closing costs for San Diego home buyers

Frequently asked questions

How much can a landlord raise rent in California?

At the time this article was written, the California Attorney General said the cap is 5% plus the change in the cost of living, up to 10%, over any 12 month period. Not every home is covered, so please ask an attorney about a specific home.

What is the rent cap for San Diego County?

At the time this article was written, the Attorney General's table listed 8.2% for increases starting August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. The figure changes, and the Attorney General's page has the current one.

Are single family homes exempt from the California rent cap?

They can be, but only if the owner is not a corporation, REIT or similar owner and the tenant got the required written notice. An attorney can say whether a certain home qualifies.

Does the rent cap apply to new tenants?

The Attorney General says the cap does not set the starting rent when a new tenant moves in. Other rules can still apply, so please check with an attorney.

What is just cause eviction in California?

The Tenant Protection Act lists at-fault and no-fault reasons for ending a tenancy after the tenant has lived in the unit for a year. No-fault reasons come with relocation help. An attorney can explain how it applies to a case.

About the author

Trevor Landress is a San Diego REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West (DRE# 02126901). He was born and raised in San Diego and has been licensed since 2021. Trevor helps homeowners sell, guides first-time buyers through the home buying process and assists investors with their next acquisition. His work includes negotiating offers, analyzing market trends, building pricing strategies and running marketing campaigns for his listings.

He serves clients across San Diego County, from coastal communities like La Jolla, Del Mar and Carlsbad to neighborhoods inland. Trevor is part of the Campbell Group, a three-generation real estate team, and he and the Campbell Group consistently rank as a top producing team at Coldwell Banker West each month. He writes these guides to help San Diego buyers and sellers navigate an ever-changing market.

Each guide on this blog is built from official or primary sources, and the text names the source and the month it was checked. When a fact can go stale, such as a rate, a fee, a deadline or a rule, the guide says so. The goal is plain answers you can use before you make a big decision.

Trevor is a REALTOR, not a tax advisor, attorney, lender or contractor. For questions in those areas, he recommends you check with the right professional. To talk through your plans, call or text (619) 402-4614 or contact Trevor Landress.

How I help San Diego home buyers

Trevor guides first-time buyers through the home buying process, from setting a budget to closing. His work includes negotiating offers and analyzing market trends so buyers understand what a home may really cost to own.

How I help San Diego home sellers

Trevor helps homeowners sell with pricing strategies, marketing campaigns, offer negotiation and market analysis, so sellers know what to expect before they list.

Sources

• California Attorney General, Rent Caps (checked October 2026)
• California Attorney General, Tenant Protection Act: Landlords and Property Managers (checked October 2026)

This guide is general information only. It is not tax, legal or financial advice, and I am not a tax professional or an attorney. Please talk with a licensed CPA, tax professional or attorney, and with the County or the agency named above, before you make any decision.