{
  "id": "ca",
  "name": "California",
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "refreshed": "2026-01-15",
  "statute": {
    "short": "AB 1482",
    "citation": "Cal. Civ. Code §1947.12",
    "url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=1947.12"
  },
  "cpi_source": {
    "name": "BLS CUUR0000SA0L2 (regional CPI-U)",
    "url": "https://www.bls.gov/cpi/data.htm"
  },
  "statewide": {
    "cap_pct": 8.8,
    "formula": "5% + regional CPI, never more than 10%",
    "regional_cpi_pct_used": 3.8,
    "year": 2026
  },
  "age_exemption_years": 15,
  "local_overrides": [
    { "city": "Los Angeles",   "key": "los-angeles",   "cap_pct": 6.0, "ordinance": "LAMC §151" },
    { "city": "San Francisco", "key": "san-francisco", "cap_pct": 2.3, "ordinance": "SF Admin Code §37" },
    { "city": "Oakland",       "key": "oakland",       "cap_pct": 3.0, "ordinance": "Oakland Mun. Code §8.22" },
    { "city": "Berkeley",      "key": "berkeley",      "cap_pct": 2.9, "ordinance": "Berkeley Mun. Code §13.76" },
    { "city": "Santa Monica",  "key": "santa-monica",  "cap_pct": 3.4, "ordinance": "SM Charter Art. XVIII" },
    { "city": "West Hollywood","key": "west-hollywood","cap_pct": 3.0, "ordinance": "WH Mun. Code §17.36" }
  ],
  "exemptions": [
    "Single-family homes (unless owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member)",
    "Buildings less than 15 years old (rolling — recompute every January)",
    "Deed-restricted affordable-housing units",
    "Dorms owned and operated by a college/university",
    "Hotel/motel units occupied less than 30 days"
  ],
  "notice_periods": [
    { "rule": "Increase < 10%",  "days": 30 },
    { "rule": "Increase ≥ 10%",  "days": 90 }
  ],
  "just_cause_link": {
    "citation": "Cal. Civ. Code §1946.2",
    "note": "AB 1482 also limits eviction grounds. Capping rent is one obligation; the statute requires just-cause for terminations after the first 12 months."
  },
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What is AB 1482?",
      "a": "California's statewide rent-cap law, in effect since 2020. It caps annual rent increases at 5% plus regional CPI, never more than 10%. For 2026 the cap works out to 8.8% in most regions."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does AB 1482 apply to my single-family rental?",
      "a": "Single-family rentals are exempt only if the owner is a natural person (not a corporation, REIT, or LLC with any corporate member) AND the tenant has been served the required exemption notice. Without that notice, you're covered."
    },
    {
      "q": "How is the CPI portion of the cap calculated?",
      "a": "The CPI portion uses the regional CPI-U (BLS series CUUR0000SA0L2) measured from April to April of the prior year. The 2026 figure of 3.8% applied to most California metros. Add the statutory 5% to reach the 8.8% cap."
    },
    {
      "q": "What's banking and can I save unused increase capacity?",
      "a": "California explicitly disallows banking unused AB 1482 increases. If you increased rent only 4% in 2025, you cannot stack the unused 4.6% onto 2026's 8.8% — you start fresh. (Some local ordinances do allow banking; check the local override row.)"
    },
    {
      "q": "Do I need to give 30 or 90 days notice?",
      "a": "30 days for any increase under 10% of the current rent. 90 days for any increase of 10% or more. Counted from the date the tenant receives the notice, not the date you mail it."
    },
    {
      "q": "What happens if I overshoot the cap?",
      "a": "Cal. Civ. Code §1947.12(h)(2) lets the tenant recover the overcharge — up to three times the actual damages — plus attorney fees. The unit may also lose its just-cause protection, complicating any later termination."
    }
  ]
}