Rent control has long been one of California’s most debated housing policies, balancing tenant protection with property owner rights. In recent years, the framework for rent stabilization has shifted significantly at the State level—reshaping how local governments approach housing affordability and tenant protections. Statewide Framework: AB 1482 and Beyond In 2019, California enacted the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), the State’s first comprehensive rent control legislation in decades. AB 1482 capped annual rent increases for most residential properties at 5% plus the local inflation rate (with a maximum of 10%), while also establishing statewide “just cause” eviction protections. This marked a turning point: for the first time, statewide rules set the floor for tenant protections, even in jurisdictions without local rent control ordinances. Local governments could—and many did—adopt stricter protections, but not weaker ones. Subsequent amendments and clarifications, including updates through 2024 legislation, have continued to refine how these protections interact with local ordinances. Local Evolution: Rent Stabilization at the City and County Level...
