Rent control in Unincorporated Los Angeles County, CA

2 rules apply — the local one first, then the county and state rules that bind alongside it.

Research, not legal advice

These summaries are compiled from ordinance text and public sources and are dated at the point they were last checked. Rules change between checks — Newark replaced its whole registration regime in a single month — so confirm anything you are about to underwrite against the primary source or the municipal office named in the citation.

County RSTPO caps eligible unincorporated-area rents

Unincorporated Los Angeles Countyhigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-18 — 1 day ago.

Los Angeles County's RSTPO limits annual increases for fully covered rental units in unincorporated areas; the published general-unit ceiling for 1 July 2026 through 30 June 2027 is 1.919%, with separate certified-small-landlord and luxury-unit rates.

Full rent stabilization generally requires an unincorporated-area property with at least two rental units and an initial certificate of occupancy on or before 1 February 1995. Other rentals may receive just-cause protection without the rent cap.

This rule belongs only to unincorporated Los Angeles County. The certified-small-landlord and luxury rates differ from the general ceiling, so confirm the registered category before modelling an increase.

Annual cap: 1.9%
Unit counts: 2+ units
Construction: Built before 1996

In effect since 2020-04-01.

Sources

Los Angeles County DCBA — Rent Stabilization Program — Los Angeles County Code ch. 8.52

AB 1482 caps increases at 5% plus CPI, to a 10% ceiling

Californiamedium confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 18 days ago.

The Tenant Protection Act caps annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI, with a hard ceiling of 10%, on housing built more than 15 years ago.

The 15-year window rolls forward, so a building drifts into coverage with age rather than being fixed by its construction date at purchase.

Exemptions

Housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years.
An owner-occupied duplex is exempt when the owner occupied one unit as their principal residence at the tenancy's start and remains there.
A separately alienable single-family home or condominium is exempt only when the owner is not a REIT, corporation, or LLC with a corporate member and the tenant received the statutory exemption notice.

Annual cap: 10%
Owner-occupied exemption: Yes

In effect since 2020-01-01.

Sources

California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) — Cal. Civ. Code §1946.2, §1947.12

Every rule for Unincorporated Los Angeles County, CA