How much can rent go up in Santa Barbara County?

Santa Barbara County's code: No fixed cap. Homeowners can contest increases above 75% of the CPI increase. (Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County. At a hearing, the arbitrator automatically allows 75% of the CPI increase.) (§ 11A-5); The total increase cannot be more than the amount in management's rent increase notice. (Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County, when the arbitrator sets the increase after a hearing.) (§ 11A-5). State law: 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) (Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)).

Rent increases in Santa Barbara County: the local rules

Santa Barbara County code What Santa Barbara County's code adds
Annual increase limit	No fixed cap. Homeowners can contest increases above 75% of the CPI increase. Applies: Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County. At a hearing, the arbitrator automatically allows 75% of the CPI increase. § 11A-5 · code text The arbitrator shall automatically allow a rent increase of seventy-five percent of the CPI increase (hereinafter "automatic increase").
Floor or ceiling on the increase	The total increase cannot be more than the amount in management's rent increase notice. Applies: Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County, when the arbitrator sets the increase after a hearing. § 11A-5 · code text The total increase shall not exceed the amount in management's notice of rent increase.
Units covered	All mobilehome tenancies in mobilehome parks in unincorporated Santa Barbara County, except the listed exemptions. § 11A-3 · code text This chapter applies as of November 21, 1979, to all mobilehome tenancies in mobilehome parks located in the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County, except: Exempt: commercial-use, government-run and lease tenancies; parks of 4 or fewer spaces where the owner occupies one. Also exempt: new parks in their first 5 years; no-agreement tenancies expected to last 3 months or less; subsidized tenancies federal or state law exempts. § 11A-3 · code text (g) Tenancies governed by a lease between management and homeowner. Not covered during the lease: rent is the lease amount. Before and after it, the park maximum rent schedule applies. Applies: Only mobilehome park spaces under a lease between management and the homeowner. § 11A-7 · code text During the term of the lease, rent shall be that amount agreed to by management and lessee under the terms of the lease.
How often rent can go up	No more than once a year. Applies: Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County that are not under a lease. § 11A-8 · code text Management may increase the maximum rent increase schedule no more than once a year for tenancies not subject to a lease.
Petitions and pass-throughs	Up to 10% more on the maximum rent schedule while the space is sublet or assigned, plus other increases. Applies: Mobilehome park spaces in the unincorporated county only. No once-a-year limit. Rent goes back down when the owner tenant moves back in. § 11A-10 · code text This increase is in addition to other increases authorized under this chapter and is not subject to the once-a-year limitation of section 11A-8(a). Up to 10% more on the maximum rent schedule, excluding capital improvement and expense amounts, plus other increases. Applies: Unincorporated county mobilehome spaces only, on the first sale after the ordinance or a sale at least 60 months after the last. No once-a-year limit. § 11A-14 · code text This increase is in addition to other increases under this section and is not subject to the once-a-year limitation of section 11A-8(a). Within 45 days of notice, a homeowner majority may petition for hearing, only if the increase exceeds 75% of CPI. Applies: Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County, to contest a proposed increase. § 11A-5 · code text Homeowners may, no later than forty-five days after the date of notice, file a petition for hearing to contest the proposed increase but only if the increase is in excess of seventy-five percent of CPI. Capital improvement costs can pass through at an annual increase after homeowner-majority written approval, no homeowner contest, or hearing approval. Applies: Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County. Covers capital improvements, including reasonable financing costs. § 11A-6 · code text The cost of capital improvements incurred or proposed, including reasonable financing costs, may be passed on to homeowners at the time of an annual increase: Capital expense costs, including reasonable financing costs, may be passed on at the time of an annual increase. Applies: Only mobilehome park spaces in unincorporated Santa Barbara County, for capital expenses. § 11A-6 · code text The cost of capital expenses incurred or proposed, including reasonable financing costs, may be passed on to homeowners at the time of an annual increase. Costs required by a change in government law or regulation may pass through automatically at an annual increase. Applies: Unincorporated county mobilehome park spaces only, for capital improvements a law or regulation change requires. A hearing only decides if management's plan is unreasonable. § 11A-6 · code text Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the cost of capital improvements required by a change in governmental law or regulation may be automatically passed on to homeowners at the time of an annual increase. Management may collect the increase before the ruling; anything above 75% of the CPI increase goes into an interest-bearing account. Applies: Unincorporated county mobilehome park spaces only, when a homeowner majority petitioned and the hearing is after the increase starts. The account is held for homeowners. § 11A-8 · code text Where a homeowner majority has petitioned for a hearing on an increase and the hearing is to be held after the effective date of increase, management may collect the increase pending the arbitrator's decision; however, any portion of an increase in excess of seventy-five percent of the CPI increase shall be placed in an interest-bearing account in the name of management as trustee for the homeowners of that park.

Also in Santa Barbara County's code: Mobilehome Rent Control (Ch. 11A) — mobilehome park spaces only. This page does not summarize it yet.

Where Santa Barbara County'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	8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the California consumer price index (Department of Industrial Relations), used for counties outside the four metro areas, 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)

Rent increases in Santa Barbara County

What Santa Barbara County's code says

The California rule underneath

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