California Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
California rules on rent increases & late fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: 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. Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12
The rules in California
| 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.). § 1947.12 was re-enacted by SB 567 (Stats. 2023, ch. 290), operative April 1, 2024, and is repealed January 1, 2030. The initial rent for a new tenancy is not capped (§ 1947.12(b)). Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 |
|---|---|
| Late fees | No statutory dollar cap or grace period. Late fees in residential leases are treated as liquidated damages, which are void unless it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix the landlord's actual damages and the amount is a reasonable estimate of them. Local ordinances may set additional limits. Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(c)(2), (d) |
Free calculators
- Late Fee Checker — Check a late fee against your state's cap and grace period.
- Rent Increase Calculator — In states with a statewide rent cap, see the most your rent can go up this year.
Related questions
- Can a landlord raise the rent in the middle of a lease?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
- How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
California vs. neighboring states
| State | Rent control / increase limits | Late fees |
|---|---|---|
| California | 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.). Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 | No statutory dollar cap or grace period. Late fees in residential leases are treated as liquidated damages, which are void unless it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix the landlord's actual damages and the amount is a reasonable estimate of them. Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(c)(2), (d) |
| Arizona | Local rent control is preempted. Cities, including charter cities, and towns have no power to control rents on private residential property. There is no statewide rent cap. A.R.S. § 33-1329 | No statutory cap or grace period. The fee must be reasonable and set out in a written rental agreement. A.R.S. § 33-1368(B) |
| Nevada | No statewide rent control statute in NRS Ch. 118A. Rent increases require written notice at least 60 days in advance (30 days for periodic tenancies of less than one month). No Nevada statute expressly preempts local rent control, and none expressly authorizes it. Cities and counties have "home rule" power only over matters of local concern, which excludes matters needing statewide uniformity, and without express statutory authority they may not "prescribe the law governing civil actions between private persons or entities". Whether a local rent-control ordinance would fall within these powers has not been decided by statute or by a Nevada appellate court. NRS 118A.300; NRS 244.143, 244.146 (counties); NRS 268.003, 268.0035 (cities) | No late fee until at least 3 calendar days after rent is due; late fee may not exceed 5% of the periodic rent. NRS 118A.210(4) |
| Oregon | Statewide rent stabilization. After the first year, no more than one increase per 12 months, with at least 90 days' written notice; increase capped at the lesser of 10% or 7% + CPI (West Region CPI-U), published annually by DAS/Office of Economic Analysis. Max increase: 10.0% for 2025; 9.5% for 2026; 10% for 2027. Exempt: buildings whose first certificate of occupancy was issued less than 15 years before the notice date, and certain regulated affordable housing. Local rent control is otherwise preempted. ORS 90.323; ORS 90.324; ORS 91.225 | Allowed only if a written rental agreement provides for it and rent is not received by the 4th day of the rental period (fees begin on day 5). Cap: either (a) a reasonable flat fee once per period (customary amount in the market), (b) a reasonable daily fee not exceeding 6% of that flat amount, or (c) 5% of the periodic rent for each succeeding 5-day period. ORS 90.260 |
City rules that may add to state law
- Anaheim
- Bakersfield
- Berkeley
- Fresno
- Glendale
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Mountain View
- Oakland
- Pasadena
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Santa Ana
- Santa Monica
- West Hollywood
More California rental law
- California Security Deposit Law
- California Eviction Laws
- California Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in California
- California Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Breaking a Lease in California
- Squatters' Rights in California
- California Rental Fee Rules
- California Section 8, Records & Right to Counsel
- California Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- California Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- California Landlord Selling the House
- California Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
- California Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All California landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in California
Compare rent increases & late fees in all 50 states and DC →
California Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws FAQ
Is there rent control or a limit on rent increases in California?
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.). (Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12)
Is there a limit on late fees in California?
No statutory dollar cap or grace period. Late fees in residential leases are treated as liquidated damages, which are void unless it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix the landlord's actual damages and the amount is a reasonable estimate of them. (Cal. Civ. Code § 1671(c)(2), (d))
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.