How California's statewide rent cap works

What to know

• •California applies a statewide annual rent increase limit tied to inflation, on top of local rent control ordinances that may be stricter.
• •The cap generally applies to increases within a 12-month period and can differ for month-to-month versus fixed-term tenancies.
• •Certain properties are exempt, including some newer construction and single-family homes under specific conditions.
• •Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco layer additional local rent control rules on top of the state cap.
• •Because both state and local rules can apply, it's worth checking the specific city as well as the state limit.

This page is informational only and not legal advice. Rules change — see the live Observatory for current figures.