California Rent increase notice
How much notice does a landlord need to give to raise the rent in California?
Periodic (e.g., month-to-month) tenancies: written notice at least 30 days before the effective date if the increase, alone or combined with other increases in the prior 12 months, is 10% or less. Increases over 10% need at least 90 days' notice.
Verified Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b) · last checked 2026-10-15
How this works in California
In California, how much notice you give depends on the size of the increase. For a month-to-month or other periodic tenancy, an increase of 10 percent or less (counting all increases in the past 12 months) needs at least 30 days' written notice, and anything over 10 percent needs at least 90 days. Separately, the statewide rent cap in Civil Code § 1947.12 limits covered units to 5 percent plus the change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, over any 12 months.
Step by step in California
- Check whether the unit is covered by the statewide cap or exempt, for example housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years, or a qualifying single-family home or condo whose tenants got the required written exemption notice.
- For covered units, keep the total increase within 5 percent plus the change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months.
- Add up every increase in the 12 months before the new rent takes effect.
- If the total is 10 percent or less, deliver written notice at least 30 days before the effective date. If it is over 10 percent, deliver it at least 90 days before.
- Deliver the notice personally, or by mail. Mailed notices are subject to Code of Civil Procedure § 1013.
- Check your city's rules too. Local rent control can be stricter.
Common California mistakes to avoid
- Raising a covered unit more than twice in the same 12-month period.
- Forgetting to count earlier increases from the past 12 months when picking the 30-day or 90-day notice.
- Mailing the notice at the last minute without checking the Code of Civil Procedure § 1013 rules that apply to mailed notices.
- Claiming the single-family exemption without having given tenants the written exemption statement.
- Assuming the state cap covers a unit already under stricter local rent control. Those units are exempt from § 1947.12 because local rules apply.
Key deadlines and amounts in California
| Increase of 10% or less (12-month total) | At least 30 days' written notice |
|---|---|
| Increase over 10% (12-month total) | At least 90 days' written notice |
| Statewide cap (covered units) | 5% plus cost of living change, or 10%, whichever is lower, in any 12 months |
| Number of increases (covered units) | No more than two in any 12-month period |
| Newer housing | Exempt if certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years |
| Cap sunset | § 1947.12 remains in effect until January 1, 2030 |
California FAQ
How much notice do I need to raise rent in California?
For a month-to-month or other periodic tenancy, at least 30 days' written notice if the increase is 10 percent or less over the past 12 months, and at least 90 days if it is more than 10 percent, under Civil Code § 827(b). Mailed notices are subject to Code of Civil Procedure § 1013.
What is the California rent cap?
For covered units, Civil Code § 1947.12 limits increases over any 12 months to 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, measured from the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months.
Which units are exempt from the statewide cap?
Exemptions include housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years, housing under stricter local rent control, certain affordable housing and dorms, and qualifying single-family homes and condos not owned by a REIT, corporation or LLC with a corporate member, if the tenants got the required written exemption notice. Read § 1947.12(d) for the full list.
Can I set any rent for a new tenant?
Yes. For a new tenancy where no tenant from the prior tenancy remains in lawful possession, the owner may set the initial rent. The cap applies to later increases.
How often can I raise rent on a covered unit?
No more than two increments in any 12-month period, and the total must stay within the cap.
Sources for this section: Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b) (checked 2026-10-15); Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12(a), (b), (d) (checked 2026-10-15)
Same topic in neighboring states
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