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Most San Diego County landlords have heard of AB 1482, but a surprising number still aren't clear on whether it actually applies to their specific property, or what happens if they get the exemption paperwork wrong. The California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 introduced two major statewide protections, a cap on annual rent increases and a just cause requirement for evictions after 12 months of tenancy, and getting the details right matters more than simply knowing the law exists.
Key Takeaways
Rent Caps: Annual rent increases are capped at 5 percent plus the local change in the cost of living, with a maximum limit of 10 percent.
Just Cause Eviction Requirement: Landlords must have a valid, legally recognized reason to evict tenants who have occupied a unit for 12 months or more, ending no-cause terminations for covered properties.
Single-Family Home & Condo Exemptions: Exemptions apply only if the property is not owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant receives specific written statutory notice.
Rolling 15-Year Exemption: Properties built within the last 15 years are exempt, but lose this status on a rolling basis as they age past the threshold.
Evolving Legislation: SB 567 strengthened AB 1482 in 2024, signaling continued changes in California's rental regulations.
What the Rent Cap Actually Limits
Under AB 1482, covered properties can't see a rent increase exceeding 5 percent plus the percentage change in the regional cost of living, capped at 10 percent total in any 12-month period regardless of how that math works out. This figure is recalculated annually based on April cost-of-living data for the applicable region, so a cap that applied to an increase last year isn't necessarily the correct figure for an increase you're planning today. Confirming the current allowable percentage before sending a rent increase notice protects you from a technically invalid notice that a tenant could successfully challenge.
Just Cause Protections for Long-Term Tenants
Once a tenant has occupied a unit for 12 months, AB 1482 requires a landlord to have a legally recognized reason before ending the tenancy, and a plain no-cause termination is no longer an option for covered properties at that point.
Valid reasons generally fall into two categories:
At-fault reasons tied to something the tenant did, like nonpayment of rent or a lease violation.
No-fault reasons unrelated to tenant conduct, such as the owner moving into the unit or removing the property from the rental market entirely.
No-fault terminations under this law typically require the landlord to provide relocation assistance or waive the final month's rent, so the financial obligation attached to a no-fault termination is a real cost to factor into that decision. Our property management services evaluate exactly which category a proposed termination falls under before any notice goes out to a tenant.
The Single-Family Home Exemption Is More Complicated Than It Sounds
Single-family homes and condominiums are the most operationally complex exemption under AB 1482. To actually qualify, two conditions both have to be true: the property cannot be owned by a corporation, a REIT, or an LLC with at least one corporate member, and the landlord must have provided the tenant with a specific written notice using the exact statutory language found in California Civil Code Sections 1946.2 and 1947.12.
A single-family rental that would otherwise qualify for the exemption doesn't actually receive it if that notice language was never included in the lease. This is one of the more common compliance gaps we see, since owners often assume the property type alone is sufficient to establish the exemption.
Properties Built Within the Last 15 Years
AB 1482 exempts properties built within the past 15 years from both the rent cap and just cause requirements, but this exemption is rolling rather than permanent. A property constructed in 2012, for example, was exempt when the law first took effect but will eventually age past the 15-year threshold and become subject to the cap and just cause protections for the first time. Tracking each property's construction date against this moving threshold is easy to lose track of across a larger portfolio, and it's exactly the kind of exemption timeline our owner FAQs page and ongoing management support are built to keep current.
A Law That Keeps Evolving
AB 1482 wasn't the final word on this issue. SB 567 strengthened the law's protections in 2024, and subsequent legislative proposals, even ones that haven't ultimately passed, continue to signal where California's regulatory direction is headed. Treating AB 1482 as a static, settled rule rather than a framework that continues to be adjusted is a mistake that can leave a landlord relying on outdated assumptions about what's actually required today.
FAQ
What is the maximum rent increase allowed under AB 1482?
5 percent plus the local change in the cost of living, with a hard cap of 10 percent, whichever figure is lower, in any 12-month period.
Can I evict a long-term tenant without giving a reason?
Not on a covered property. Once a tenant has occupied a unit for 12 months, AB 1482 requires a legally recognized just cause reason to end the tenancy.
Is my single-family rental automatically exempt from AB 1482?
Not automatically. It's exempt only if the property isn't owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant received the specific statutory notice language required to claim the exemption.
Do newly built properties stay exempt forever?
No. The 15-year construction exemption is rolling, meaning a property eventually becomes subject to AB 1482 once it ages past that threshold.
Staying Ahead of an Evolving Law
AB 1482's rent cap and just cause protections apply to the vast majority of California rental properties, and the exemptions that do exist come with specific, easy-to-miss requirements rather than blanket exclusions based on property type alone. Confirming your current rent increase percentage, understanding which just cause category applies to any termination, and keeping exemption notices and construction dates currently protects you from a compliance mistake that's far more costly to fix after the fact.
If you'd like help reviewing your current lease templates or rent increase practices for a San Diego County rental, reach out to our team today.
