Los Angeles · Renting & eviction

Rent increases in Los Angeles

Los Angeles's own rules on rent increases, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

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

What Los Angeles's code says

Los Angeles code What Los Angeles's code adds
Floor or ceiling on the increase	$55.00 per month Applies: Only rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO); temporary capital-improvement surcharge approved by the Department on an application filed on or after October 1, 1989, per rental unit, unless agreed upon in writing by landlord and tenant; if the formula would exceed $55.00, the six-year period may be extended. § 151.07 · code text This temporary monthly surcharge shall not exceed $55.00 per month for each rental unit unless agreed upon in writing by a landlord and a tenant. $75.00 per month or 10% of the Maximum Adjusted Rent, whichever is less Applies: Only rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO); temporary rehabilitation surcharge approved by the Department on an application filed on or after January 1, 1999, per rental unit, unless agreed upon in writing by landlord and tenant; if the formula would exceed the cap, the five-year period may be extended. § 151.07 · code text This temporary monthly surcharge shall not exceed $75.00 per month or 10% of the Maximum Adjusted Rent, whichever is less, for each rental unit unless agreed upon in writing by a landlord and a tenant.
Petitions and pass-throughs	temporary monthly rent increase of 1/60th of fifty percent (50%) of the average per unit capital improvement cost for a period not to exceed six (6) years Applies: Only rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO); capital improvement work for which a rent increase application is filed with the Department on or after October 1, 1989 and approved; the surcharge may not exceed $55.00 per month per unit unless agreed in writing (the period may be extended to recover the cost); seismic retrofit work does not qualify. § 151.07 · code text the landlord shall only be entitled to a temporary monthly rent increase of 1/60th of fifty percent (50%) of the average per unit capital improvement cost for a period not to exceed six (6) years. temporary monthly rent increase of 1/60th of the average per unit rehabilitation cost for a period not to exceed five years Applies: Only rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO); rehabilitation work for which a rent increase application is filed with the Department on or after January 1, 1999 and approved; where the landlord obtained a rehabilitation loan, the increase is instead amortized over the life of the loan based only on its principal; capped at $75.00 per month or 10% of the Maximum Adjusted Rent, whichever is less. § 151.07 · code text the landlord shall only be entitled to a temporary monthly rent increase of 1/60th of the average per unit rehabilitation cost for a period not to exceed five years Landlord may apply for a Department-approved individual rent adjustment for qualifying capital improvements, rehabilitation, primary renovation or seismic retrofit work Applies: Rent Stabilization Ordinance rental units under section 151.02; Department approval on a completed landlord application within twelve months after work completion; outstanding fees paid; no duplicate recovery for the same work. one or more specified grounds exist § 151.07 · code text The Department, in accordance with such regulations and guidelines as the Commission may establish, shall have the authority to grant adjustments in the rent for a rental unit or units located in the same housing complex upon receipt of an application for an adjustment filed by the landlord of the unit or units if it finds that one or more of the grounds set forth in this Subdivision exist. Temporary monthly surcharge of 1/60th of 50% of average per-unit capital improvement cost; normally up to six years, extendable if the $55 monthly limit prevents recovery Applies: Rent Stabilization Ordinance rental units under section 151.02; Department approval on a completed landlord application within twelve months after work completion; outstanding fees paid; no duplicate recovery for the same work. capital improvement application filed on or after October 1, 1989 Excludes seismic retrofit and correction of conditions covered by specified tax-board noncompliance, REAP/rent-reduction notices or criminal convictions. Surcharge ends on complete improvement failure and is excluded from the automatic-adjustment base. Monthly cap $55 unless landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing. § 151.07 · code text Except that, for any capital improvement work for which a rent increase application is filed with the Department on or after October 1, 1989 the landlord shall only be entitled to a temporary monthly rent increase of 1/60th of fifty percent (50%) of the average per unit capital improvement cost for a period not to exceed six (6) years. This temporary monthly surcharge shall not exceed $55.00 per month for each rental unit unless agreed upon in writing by a landlord and a tenant. If the surcharge, as calculated under the above formula, would exceed $55.00 per month, then the surcharge period of six (6) years may be extended until the allowable capital improvement expenses are recovered. At most $55 per month per rental unit unless landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing. Applies: Rent Stabilization Ordinance rental units under section 151.02; Department approval on a completed landlord application within twelve months after work completion; outstanding fees paid; no duplicate recovery for the same work. temporary capital improvement surcharge for each rental unit, unless landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing Excludes seismic retrofit and correction of conditions covered by specified tax-board noncompliance, REAP/rent-reduction notices or criminal convictions. Surcharge ends on complete improvement failure and is excluded from the automatic-adjustment base. § 151.07 · code text This temporary monthly surcharge shall not exceed $55.00 per month for each rental unit unless agreed upon in writing by a landlord and a tenant. Temporary monthly increase of 1/60th of average per-unit rehabilitation cost, normally up to five years; extendable if the monthly surcharge cap prevents recovery; rehabilitation loans use principal amortized over the loan term Applies: Rent Stabilization Ordinance rental units under section 151.02; Department approval on a completed landlord application within twelve months after work completion; outstanding fees paid; no duplicate recovery for the same work. rehabilitation application filed on or after January 1, 1999 Excludes seismic retrofit and work required under section 91.8805. Any public-loan repayment deferment also defers the surcharge; surcharge is outside the automatic-adjustment base and ends on complete rehabilitation failure. Monthly cap is lesser of $75 or 10% of Maximum Adjusted Rent unless written agreement. § 151.07 · code text Except that, for any rehabilitation work for which a rent increase application is filed with the Department on or after January 1, 1999, the landlord shall only be entitled to a temporary monthly rent increase of 1/60th of the average per unit rehabilitation cost for a period not to exceed five years, provided, however, where the landlord has obtained a rehabilitation loan, the landlord shall only be entitled to a temporary monthly rent increase amortized over the life of the loan which is calculated based only on the loan’s principal. amortized over the life of the loan based only on principal Applies: Rent Stabilization Ordinance rental units under section 151.02; Department approval on a completed landlord application within twelve months after work completion; outstanding fees paid; no duplicate recovery for the same work. landlord obtained a rehabilitation loan for work covered by an application filed on or after January 1, 1999 Excludes seismic retrofit and work required under section 91.8805. Any public-loan repayment deferment also defers the surcharge; surcharge is outside the automatic-adjustment base and ends on complete rehabilitation failure. Monthly cap is lesser of $75 or 10% of Maximum Adjusted Rent unless written agreement. § 151.07 · code text Except that, for any rehabilitation work for which a rent increase application is filed with the Department on or after January 1, 1999, the landlord shall only be entitled to a temporary monthly rent increase of 1/60th of the average per unit rehabilitation cost for a period not to exceed five years, provided, however, where the landlord has obtained a rehabilitation loan, the landlord shall only be entitled to a temporary monthly rent increase amortized over the life of the loan which is calculated based only on the loan’s principal. At most $75 monthly or 10% of Maximum Adjusted Rent, whichever is less, unless landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing. Applies: Rent Stabilization Ordinance rental units under section 151.02; Department approval on a completed landlord application within twelve months after work completion; outstanding fees paid; no duplicate recovery for the same work. temporary rehabilitation surcharge for each rental unit, unless landlord and tenant agree otherwise in writing Excludes seismic retrofit and work required under section 91.8805. Any public-loan repayment deferment also defers the surcharge; surcharge is outside the automatic-adjustment base and ends on complete rehabilitation failure. § 151.07 · code text This temporary monthly surcharge shall not exceed $75.00 per month or 10% of the Maximum Adjusted Rent, whichever is less, for each rental unit unless agreed upon in writing by a landlord and a tenant.

The California rule underneath

Where Los Angeles'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

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Frequently asked questions

How much can rent go up in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles's code: $55.00 per month (Only rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO); temporary capital-improvement surcharge approved by the Department on an application filed on or after October 1, 1989, per rental unit, unless agreed upon in writing by landlord and tenant; if the formula would exceed $55.00, the six-year period may be extended.) (§ 151.07); $75.00 per month or 10% of the Maximum Adjusted Rent, whichever is less (Only rental units subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO); temporary rehabilitation surcharge approved by the Department on an application filed on or after January 1, 1999, per rental unit, unless agreed upon in writing by landlord and tenant; if the formula would exceed the cap, the five-year period may be extended.) (§ 151.07). State law: 8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.7% inflation) (Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)).

General information, not legal advice.

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