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Most California landlords have heard of AB 1482, but a surprising number misunderstand exactly what it covers, especially when it comes to single-family homes. The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 caps how much rent can go up each year and requires a legally recognized reason before ending most tenancies, and getting either piece wrong can expose an owner to real financial and legal risk.
With the annual rent cap resetting again on August 1, now is a good time for Santa Clarita landlords to make sure their properties, and their paperwork, are actually in compliance.
Key Takeaways
AB 1482 caps most annual rent increases at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, never exceeding 10% total.
For the Los Angeles metro area, including Santa Clarita, the cap is 8.0% through July 31, 2026, rising to 8.7% effective August 1, 2026.
Tenants who have occupied a unit for 12 months or more can only be evicted for a legally recognized "just cause" reason.
Single-family homes are not automatically exempt from AB 1482. The exemption only applies if the owner isn't a corporation or REIT and a specific written notice was included in the lease at signing.
Properties built within the last 15 years are exempt on a rolling basis, so a property that was exempt last year may become covered this year.
What AB 1482 Actually Covers
The Tenant Protection Act, codified in California Civil Code Sections 1946.2 and 1947.12, does two main things for covered properties statewide. It limits how much rent can increase in any 12-month period, and it requires a legally recognized reason before a landlord can end a tenancy once a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months or longer. The law took effect January 1, 2020, and it's currently set to sunset on January 1, 2030, though that date has already been the subject of legislative discussion.
The Rent Cap: How Much You Can Actually Raise Rent
For covered properties, AB 1482 limits rent increases to 5% plus the regional Consumer Price Index, capped at 10% total, whichever is lower. This figure resets every August 1 based on April's CPI data for the relevant metro area. For the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim region, which covers Santa Clarita, the current cap is 8.0% (5% plus 3.0% CPI), running through July 31, 2026.
Effective August 1, 2026, that cap rises to 8.7% (5% plus 3.7% CPI). No more than two increases can be applied in any 12-month period, and the combined total still can't exceed the annual cap. Getting the math right, and applying it at the correct time of year, is one of the more common compliance slip-ups we see from owners managing this on their own.
Just Cause Eviction Requirements After 12 Months
Once a tenant has occupied a unit for 12 months or more, a covered property can only end that tenancy for a reason recognized under Civil Code Section 1946.2(b).
At-fault reasons include nonpayment of rent, a lease violation, or illegal activity on the property.
No-fault reasons include the owner or a qualifying family member intending to move in, permanently withdrawing the unit from the rental market, a substantial remodel, or a government order to vacate.
For curable violations, the law requires giving the tenant a chance to fix the problem before termination proceeds, and skipping that step is exactly the kind of mistake that can get an eviction thrown out in court. No-fault terminations also generally require relocation assistance equal to one month's rent, whether paid directly or waived as the final month's rent.
Handling this correctly is a core part of what our rent collection and lease management process is built around for owners.
The Single-Family Home Exemption Most Landlords Get Wrong
This is where a lot of owners assume they're covered by an exemption that doesn't actually apply to them. Single-family homes and condos are only exempt from AB 1482 if the owner is a natural person, not a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member, and a specific written exemption notice was included in the lease at the time of signing. That notice can't be added later to claim the exemption retroactively.
An owner who assumes their single-family rental is automatically exempt, without having included this notice in the original lease, may find their property is fully covered by both the rent cap and just cause requirements even though they believed otherwise. Reviewing your current lease templates to confirm this notice is actually present is worth doing before your next lease renewal.
Properties Built in the Last 15 Years
AB 1482 also exempts properties built within the last 15 years, but this exemption works on a rolling basis rather than a fixed date. A property that was exempt last year can become covered this year simply because it crossed the 15-year threshold.
For 2026, that generally means a certificate of occupancy issued after roughly January 1, 2011 keeps a property exempt, but that window moves forward every year. It's worth checking your property's exact certificate of occupancy date annually rather than assuming last year's exemption status still applies.
Our tenant screening and lease preparation process includes confirming this status for every property we manage, since it directly affects what notice language and rent increase limits apply.
FAQ
Are all single-family rentals exempt from AB 1482?
No. The exemption only applies if the owner is a natural person, not a corporate entity, and a specific written exemption notice was included in the lease at signing. Without that notice, the property is covered.
What's the current rent increase cap for Santa Clarita rentals?
8.0% through July 31, 2026, rising to 8.7% effective August 1, 2026, based on the Los Angeles-area CPI formula of 5% plus the regional cost-of-living change.
Can I evict a long-term tenant without a specific reason?
Not if the property is covered by AB 1482 and the tenant has lived there 12 months or longer. You need a legally recognized just cause reason, and no-fault terminations generally require relocation assistance.
Does my property stay exempt forever once it qualifies under the 15-year rule?
No. The 15-year exemption is a rolling threshold, so a property that's exempt today can become covered in future years simply by aging past that window.
Staying Ahead of a Law That Keeps Moving
AB 1482 isn't a law you check once and forget about. The rent cap resets every August, the 15-year construction exemption shifts every year, and the single-family home exemption depends entirely on paperwork that has to be right from the start of the lease. Confirming your properties' current status, and making sure your lease language actually reflects it, protects you from penalties that are far more expensive than the compliance review itself.
If you'd like help reviewing your Santa Clarita rental properties for AB 1482 compliance, reach out to our team today.
