East Palo Alto · Renting & eviction
Rent increases in East Palo Alto
City rule: yearly increases in regulated units are 80% of the CPI increase, at most 10%, and only 1 increase every 12 months.
Key points
- Rent increases: City rule: yearly increases in regulated units are 80% of the CPI increase, at most 10%, and only 1 increase every 12 months.
Each rule below links to the section of the East Palo Alto Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
What East Palo Alto's code says
| Annual increase limit |
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| Floor or ceiling on the increase |
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| How often rent can go up |
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| Petitions and pass-throughs |
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The California rule underneath
Where East Palo Alto'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.
| Rent cap right now | 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.8% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the BLS consumer price index for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area, April to April, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. |
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| 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. |
| Number of rent increases | No more than two increases in any 12-month period |
| Rent cap — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| 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)). |
| 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 |
| New tenancy resets the rent | When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases |
| Rent cap sunset | § 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Who this affects
TenantsLandlordsProperty managers
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in East Palo Alto?
City rule: yearly increases in regulated units are 80% of the CPI increase, at most 10%, and only 1 increase every 12 months.
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific East Palo Alto property
Ask GoCodebook how East Palo Alto's rent increases rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.
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