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California Rent Control and Rent Stabilization: How Local Ordinances Evolved After AB 1482
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...
SB 635—New Enforcement Rules for Sidewalk Vending
Legal Update: On October 7, 2025 Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 635—the Street Vendor Business Protection Act—into law, creating new statewide requirements for how cities and counties regulate sidewalk vending in California. This new legislation builds upon SB 946 (Safe Sidewalk Vending Act) and SB 972 (Compact Mobile Food Operations), adding significant privacy protections for vendors and restrictions on local enforcement authority. Key Provisions of SB 635 1. Privacy Protections and Data Collection LimitsLocal governments may no longer collect or request the following information from sidewalk vendors or Compact Mobile Food Operations (CMFOs): Criminal history or background information! Immigration or citizenship status Place of birth The bill also prohibits local authorities from requiring applicants for sidewalk vending permits or business licenses to submit to fingerprinting, LiveScans, or other background checks. 2. Restrictions on Data SharingExcept under specific legal circumstances such as a judicial warrant or subpoena, local governments are barred from sharing vendor information with immigration enforcement or other external entities. Municipalities that...
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