California Rent Increase Notice

A free California rent increase notice that follows California law. Fill in the boxes, check the rules below, then print or copy it. Keep a copy and proof of how you sent it.

What California law says

Notice before a rent increase	For month-to-month or shorter residential tenancies, written notice is required: at least 30 days if the increase, combined with any others in the past 12 months, is 10% or less, and at least 90 days if it is more than 10%. A 30-day rule applies when the increase results from a required income or family recertification. The notice must be handed over personally or mailed, and mailing adds time under Code Civ. Proc. § 1013. If another law or a regulatory agreement requires a longer notice, the longer notice applies. Statewide rent caps (Tenant Protection Act) and local rent control limit the amount separately. Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b)-(c); § 1947.12 (amount cap)
Rent control / increase limits	Statewide cap (AB 1482, Tenant Protection Act): within any 12 months, rent may rise by no more than 5% plus the local CPI change, or 10%, whichever is lower, in no more than two increments. Exemptions include housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the past 15 years, deed-restricted affordable housing, dorms, and qualifying single-family homes and condos not owned by a REIT, corporation, or corporate-member LLC, if the required exemption notice was given. Local rent control is allowed, within the limits of the Costa-Hawkins Act (Civ. Code § 1954.50 et seq.). Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12

Notice before a rent increase

For month-to-month or shorter residential tenancies, written notice is required: at least 30 days if the increase, combined with any others in the past 12 months, is 10% or less, and at least 90 days if it is more than 10%. A 30-day rule applies when the increase results from a required income or family recertification. The notice must be handed over personally or mailed, and mailing adds time under Code Civ. Proc. § 1013. If another law or a regulatory agreement requires a longer notice, the longer notice applies. Statewide rent caps (Tenant Protection Act) and local rent control limit the amount separately.

Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b)-(c); § 1947.12 (amount cap)

Rent control / increase limits

Statewide cap (AB 1482, Tenant Protection Act): within any 12 months, rent may rise by no more than 5% plus the local CPI change, or 10%, whichever is lower, in no more than two increments. Exemptions include housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the past 15 years, deed-restricted affordable housing, dorms, and qualifying single-family homes and condos not owned by a REIT, corporation, or corporate-member LLC, if the required exemption notice was given. Local rent control is allowed, within the limits of the Costa-Hawkins Act (Civ. Code § 1954.50 et seq.).

Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12

Fill in your letter

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To: [tenant name(s)]

Premises: [rental address]

Your rent will change from $[current rent] to $[new rent] per [month], starting [effective date].

This notice is given under Cal. Civ. Code § 827(b)-(c); § 1947.12 (amount cap). If a fixed-term lease is in effect, the new rent starts only when the lease allows a change.

All other terms of your tenancy stay the same.

Questions: [landlord name, phone, email].

Date: [today's date]
Landlord or agent: [your name]
Signature: ____________________

How to send it: use a method you can prove — certified mail with return receipt, or email/text if your lease allows notices that way. Write down the date.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.