AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act, Explained

Updated June 21, 2026

Many LA owners assume that if their building is not under the city's Rent Stabilization Ordinance, the rent is uncapped. For most buildings, that is wrong — and AB 1482 is the reason. The Tenant Protection Act of 2019 is the statewide rent cap that catches the buildings local rent control misses, and a surprising number of owners are operating under it without knowing the ceiling exists. This is a broker's plain-English explainer. It is not legal advice; confirm your building's coverage with a rent-control attorney.

What AB 1482 does

AB 1482, the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, took effect January 1, 2020 and runs through January 1, 2030. It does two things:

Caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local CPI, never more than 10% in a 12-month period — whichever is lower. In practice, the 5%-plus-inflation formula governs in normal years and the 10% hard ceiling caps it in high-inflation years. An owner may take no more than two increases in 12 months, and together they cannot exceed the cap.
Requires "just cause" to end a tenancy for tenants who have lived in a unit long enough to qualify, with relocation assistance owed for certain no-fault terminations.

It is a statewide floor of protection, not a replacement for stricter local rules.

Where it fits with LA's RSO

This is the part that trips owners up. AB 1482 and the LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance are not the same law, and they do not stack — the stricter rule governs:

A pre-1978 LA City building is under the RSO (a 4% cap as of July 1, 2026). The RSO is tighter, so it controls. AB 1482 is not your operative cap there.
A post-1978 LA City building — too new for the RSO but not exempt under Costa-Hawkins — typically falls under AB 1482. This is the large middle group of owners who think they are uncapped and are not.
A post-February-1995 building exempt under Costa-Hawkins may still be reached by AB 1482 unless it qualifies for AB 1482's own new-construction exemption.

So the question is never just "am I under the RSO?" It is "which cap applies to this building?" — and for a lot of LA inventory, the answer is AB 1482.

The exemptions that matter

AB 1482 does not cover everything. The exemptions an owner should know:

Buildings less than 15 years old, on a rolling basis — a building built in 2012 becomes covered in 2027. The exemption moves with the calendar, so "new" buildings age into the cap.
Most single-family homes and condominiums, when separately alienable and when the owner is not a corporation or REIT (and proper notice is given).

Because the 15-year exemption rolls forward, a building that was exempt when you bought it can become covered during your hold. That is a real underwriting input, not a footnote.

What it means for buyers and sellers

For buyers, AB 1482 coverage changes the income trajectory of any building too new for the RSO but older than 15 years — underwrite the 5%-plus-CPI ceiling, not free-market rent growth, and check when a near-15-year building ages into coverage. The deal-analysis framework folds this in.

For sellers, know which cap a buyer will underwrite your building against. Misrepresenting a building as uncapped when AB 1482 applies is the kind of thing that surfaces in due diligence and kills trust mid-deal.

Frequently asked questions

What is AB 1482?
The California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — a statewide law, effective January 1, 2020 through January 1, 2030, that caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (maximum 10%) and requires just cause to end qualifying tenancies.

Does AB 1482 apply to my LA building?
It depends. If your building is under the stricter LA RSO, the RSO governs instead. If your building is post-1978 but at least 15 years old and not otherwise exempt, AB 1482 likely applies. Single-family homes, condos, and buildings under 15 years old are often exempt. Confirm with an attorney.

What is the AB 1482 rent cap?
5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, capped at 10% in any 12-month period, whichever is lower, with no more than two increases per 12 months.

Is AB 1482 the same as LA rent control?
No. The LA RSO is a separate, stricter local ordinance for pre-1978 City buildings. AB 1482 is a statewide floor that catches many buildings the RSO does not. The stricter applicable rule governs any given building.

The closing thought

The most expensive assumption in LA multifamily is "my building isn't rent controlled." For a large share of post-1978 buildings, AB 1482 quietly says otherwise. Know your real cap before you price a sale or underwrite a purchase. For an honest read on which rules govern your building, request a conversation.

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