Rent increases in Culver City: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Culver City Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Culver City's code says

Culver City code What Culver City's code adds
Annual increase limit	Up to the percentage change in CPI. Applies: The general yearly increase for a covered rental unit. § 15.09.215 · code text On or after October 30, 2020, rent for a covered rental unit, including housing services, may be increased annually, without application to the city, in an amount not to exceed the percentage change in CPI, subject to the following provisions: In no event more than 5%. Applies: Every 12 months. § 15.09.215 · code text In no event shall the rent for a covered rental unit be increased more than 5% every 12 months. Up to 2%. Applies: When the percentage change in CPI is less than 2%. § 15.09.215 · code text If the percentage change in CPI is less than 2%, rent for a covered rental unit may be increased by up to 2%.
How often rent can go up	No more than 1 rent increase in any 12-month period. Applies: The general rule. § 15.09.215 · code text Not more than one rent increase for a covered rental unit may be imposed in any 12-month period, except as described in § 15.09.215.B.5.
Petitions and pass-throughs	Landlord may seek above the annual limit if it blocks a fair and reasonable return, and must prove need. Applies: For increases above the allowed amount; the landlord must have registered each covered rental unit. § 15.09.220 · code text If a landlord desires to increase the rent for a covered rental unit in an amount greater than allowed in § 15.09.215.B, and the landlord contends that the limitations on rent increases in § 15.09.215.B will prevent the landlord from receiving a fair and reasonable return with respect to the operation of the property containing the covered rental unit, the landlord may file a rent adjustment application with the housing services division to request an increase in rent beyond the amount permitted under § 15.09.215.B. Tenant may petition for a rent adjustment when housing services are decreased. Applies: A cut in housing services counts as a rent increase. § 15.09.215 · code text A decrease in housing services is considered an increase in rent. A tenant may petition for an adjustment in rent based on a decrease in housing services under the process set forth in § 15.09.235.

The California rule underneath

Where Culver City's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see California's statewide rent cap.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
Rent cap right now	8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.7% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the BLS consumer price index for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area, April to April, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)
Statewide rent increase cap (AB 1482)	5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months Applies: Covered units only; measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1)
Number of rent increases	No more than two increases in any 12-month period Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(2)
Rent cap — new construction exemption	Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. Civ. Code § 1947.12(d)(4)
Rent cap — single-family home or condo exemption	A home or condo that can be sold on its own is exempt when the owner is not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant was given the written exemption notice Applies: The same exemption applies to the just-cause rule (§ 1946.2(e)(8)). Civ. Code § 1947.12(d)(5)
Rent cap — owner-occupied duplex exemption	A duplex in one building is exempt when the owner lived in the other unit at the start of the tenancy and still does, unless either unit is an ADU or JADU Civ. Code § 1947.12(d)(6)
New tenancy resets the rent	When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases Civ. Code § 1947.12(b)
Rent cap sunset	§ 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended Civ. Code § 1947.12(o)

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much can rent go up in Culver City?

Culver City caps yearly increases on covered units at the CPI change, or up to 2% when CPI is below 2%, never above 5%.

General information, not legal advice.

Rent increases in Culver City

Key points

What Culver City's code says

The California rule underneath

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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