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How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in California?
Short answer
At a glance: 30 days (10% or less); 90 days (over 10%)
Rent increase notice: 30 days (10% or less in 12 months) or 90 days (over 10%)
Notice: At least 90 days before the rent increase takes effect (30 days for increase of 10% or less over 12 months; 90 days for increase over 10% over 12 months)
Give written notice at least 30 days before a rent increase that, with other increases in the prior 12 months, totals 10% or less; give at least 90 days' notice if it totals more than 10%.
"the notice shall be delivered at least 30 days before the effective date of the increase, and subject to Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure if served by mail." leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
"If the proposed rent increase for that tenant is greater than 10 percent of the rental amount charged to that tenant at any time during the 12 months before the effective date of the increase, ... the notice shall be delivered at least 90 days before the effective date of the increase," leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Rent increase notice: 30 days (10% or less in 12 months) or 90 days (over 10%) Verified
Deadline: At least 90 days before the rent increase takes effect (30 days for increase of 10% or less over 12 months; 90 days for increase over 10% over 12 months)
Give written notice at least 30 days before a rent increase that, with other increases in the prior 12 months, totals 10% or less; give at least 90 days' notice if it totals more than 10%.
Who it covers: Month-to-month and shorter periodic tenancies. Add 5 days if served by mail (CCP §1013). Fixed-term leases: increases follow the lease.
"the notice shall be delivered at least 30 days before the effective date of the increase, and subject to Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure if served by mail." leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
"If the proposed rent increase for that tenant is greater than 10 percent of the rental amount charged to that tenant at any time during the 12 months before the effective date of the increase, ... the notice shall be delivered at least 90 days before the effective date of the increase," leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Notes: Civ. Code §827(b). Local rent control (e.g., Los Angeles RSO) may cap the amount.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction
Statewide rent cap (Tenant Protection Act): 5% + CPI, max 10% in any 12 months Verified
Deadline: Ongoing requirement with no fixed date
For covered units, total rent increases over any 12 months may not exceed 5% plus the regional CPI change, or 10%, whichever is lower, and may be made in no more than two increments. New tenancies may start at any rent.
Who it covers: Exempt: housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years; owner-occupied duplexes; single-family homes and condos not owned by a REIT/corporation/LLC with a corporate member IF the tenant got the statutory exemption notice; units under stricter local rent control; deed-restricted affordable housing.
"an owner of residential real property shall not, over the course of any 12-month period, increase the gross rental rate for a dwelling or a unit more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower," leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
"the gross rental rate for the unit of residential real property shall not be increased in more than two increments over that 12-month period," leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
"Housing that has been issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years, unless the housing is a mobilehome." leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Notes: Civ. Code §1947.12. The applicable CPI figure is regional and changes each year; it is not recorded here.
Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: high · Status: verified · Report a correction