The San Diego Landlord's Guide to AB 1482
If you own residential rental property in San Diego, AB 1482 is one of the most consequential laws affecting your investment. Most landlords know the name. Far fewer understand which properties it actually covers, how to calculate a compliant rent increase, or what the penalties look like when something goes wrong.
This guide breaks it down in plain language. What the law does. Who it applies to. How to stay on the right side of it. And where San Diego’s local ordinances go further than state law alone.
Note: This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance specific to your property, consult a licensed California attorney or a qualified property management professional.
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What Is AB 1482?
AB 1482, formally called the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, took effect January 1, 2020, and runs through January 1, 2030. The law was designed to address rapid rent increases and arbitrary evictions across the state by establishing two core protections for tenants in covered properties.
The Rent Cap Limits how much rent can increase in any 12-month period for covered properties, calculated as 5% plus the regional Consumer Price Index, with an absolute ceiling of 10%. | Just Cause Eviction Once a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months, the landlord must have a legally recognized reason to end the tenancy. Landlords cannot ask a long-term tenant to leave without cause. |
AB 1482 is a statewide baseline. In San Diego County, it applies differently depending on whether your property is in an unincorporated area, within the City of San Diego, or within Chula Vista. The City of San Diego and City of Chula Vista each have their own Tenant Protection Ordinances that impose additional requirements beyond state law. If your property is within city limits, the state form alone is not enough.
Does AB 1482 Apply to Your Property?
Determining whether your property is covered is the first and most important step. AB 1482 applies to most residential rental properties built more than 15 years ago. The 15-year threshold is a rolling date, which means it advances each year. As of 2026, properties with a certificate of occupancy issued before 2011 are generally covered.
Properties typically covered by AB 1482:
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Properties typically exempt from AB 1482:
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Critical point on exemptions. Exemptions are not automatic. If your single-family home or condo qualifies for an exemption but you did not include the required written exemption notice in the lease at signing, the property may be treated as covered regardless of ownership structure. The exemption notice must use specific language under California Civil Code Section 1946.2. Never assume exemption status without documentation in every active lease. |
How the Rent Cap Works
For covered properties, AB 1482 limits annual rent increases to 5% plus the regional Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the San Diego-Carlsbad Metropolitan Statistical Area, with an absolute ceiling of 10%. The CPI data used comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The cap resets each August 1 and runs through July 31 of the following year.
Aug 2025 to Jul 2026 8.8% 5% base + 3.8% CPI | Aug 2026 to Jul 2027 8.2% 5% base + 3.2% CPI | Aug 2027 onwards Verify annually Check bls.gov each August |
Practical example using the current 8.8% cap:
If your tenant currently pays $2,500 per month, the maximum allowable increase is $2,500 x 0.088 = $220. The new maximum rent is $2,720. You are not required to take the full increase, and you may not exceed it for any covered property.
Additional rules governing rent increases:
- You may increase rent up to two times in a 12-month period, but the combined total cannot exceed the annual cap.
- You cannot raise rent until a tenant has occupied the unit for at least 12 months.
- Unused increases cannot be banked or carried forward to a future year.
- A tenant cannot waive their rights under AB 1482. Any agreement purporting to do so is unenforceable.
Notice Requirements for Rent Increases
A valid rent increase under AB 1482 requires proper written notice delivered correctly and on time. Procedural errors here are one of the most common ways San Diego landlords void an increase and are forced to restart the clock.
Increase of 10% or less 30 days written notice minimum before the effective date | Notice delivered by mail Add 5 calendar days to the 30-day minimum | Notice by text or email Generally not sufficient under California law |
City of San Diego properties: The City of San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance requires rent increase notices to include city-specific language. A notice using only the state AB 1482 form does not satisfy city requirements. If your property is within city limits, your notice must comply with both state and local standards.
Just Cause Eviction Protections
The second pillar of AB 1482 is just cause eviction protection. Once a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months, the landlord must have a legally recognized reason to end the tenancy. There are two categories of just cause: at-fault and no-fault.
At-Fault Just Cause Tenant has violated the lease:
| No-Fault Just Cause Tenant has done nothing wrong:
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No-fault evictions require relocation assistance. When a no-fault termination is issued, the landlord must provide one month’s current rent in relocation assistance, paid directly or as a rent waiver for the final month. This payment must be made within 15 days of the notice. If it is not, the notice is void. For properties within the City of San Diego, local ordinance may require two to three months of relocation assistance. |
What Happens When Landlords Get It Wrong
AB 1482 has no government enforcement agency. There is no inspector auditing rent increases. Enforcement happens when tenants pursue private legal action, often with the help of tenant advocacy organizations or attorneys. That makes full compliance the only sensible strategy, because the penalties for non-compliance are significant.
Landlords who violate AB 1482 may face:
- Repayment of all excess rent collected
- Statutory damages
- The tenant’s attorney fees
- Relocation costs if a termination is found to be unlawful
- Additional penalties under the City of San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance for city properties
The most common compliance errors among San Diego landlords are: using the wrong CPI figure, missing the required exemption notice in the lease, delivering rent increase notices by text or email, applying a second increase before 12 months have passed since the first, and issuing no-fault eviction notices without the required relocation payment.
AB 1482 Compliance Checklist for San Diego Landlords
Use this as a starting point each year. It does not replace legal review, but it covers the steps every San Diego landlord managing a covered property should complete.
01 | Confirm whether your property is covered or exempt based on build date, ownership structure, and occupancy type. |
02 | If your property qualifies for an exemption, verify the required written exemption notice is in every active lease. |
03 | Check current CPI data at bls.gov for the San Diego-Carlsbad metro area and calculate the maximum allowable rent increase for the current period. |
04 | Review the rent increase history for each unit. Confirm no increase occurred in the past 12 months, and that the cumulative total across two increases does not exceed the annual cap. |
05 | Issue written notice by first-class mail or personal delivery, minimum 30 days before the effective date. Add 5 days if mailed. |
06 | If your property is within City of San Diego or Chula Vista limits, ensure the notice includes city-required language in addition to the state requirement. |
07 | If issuing a no-fault termination, confirm relocation assistance is calculated correctly and paid within 15 days of the notice date. |
08 | Document everything. Maintain signed copies of all notices, lease addenda, exemption disclosures, and relocation payments. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AB 1482 apply to all rental properties in San Diego?
No. AB 1482 applies to most properties with a certificate of occupancy issued more than 15 years ago. New construction, owner-occupied duplexes, and single-family homes or condos not owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC may be exempt, provided the landlord gave the required written notice of exemption in the lease at signing.
What is the current rent increase cap for San Diego in 2025-2026?
For covered properties, the maximum allowable rent increase between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026 is 8.8%. This is calculated as 5% base plus 3.8% San Diego-Carlsbad Metro CPI. The cap resets each August 1 based on updated CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Can I raise rent twice a year under AB 1482?
Yes, you may increase rent up to two times in a 12-month period. However, the combined total of both increases cannot exceed the annual cap. You also cannot raise rent until a tenant has been in the unit for at least 12 months.
What is the difference between AB 1482 and the City of San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance?
AB 1482 is the statewide baseline. The City of San Diego’s Tenant Protection Ordinance goes further by requiring city-specific language in lease agreements and rent increase notices, and by providing additional just cause eviction protections beyond state law. Properties within City of San Diego limits must comply with both.
What happens if I raise rent above the AB 1482 limit?
Tenants may pursue private legal action to recover the excess rent collected, statutory damages, and attorney fees. There is no government enforcement agency that proactively audits increases, but violations discovered through tenant complaints can be costly. Compliance from the outset is significantly less expensive than remediation.
Do I have to pay relocation assistance if I want to move back into my rental?
Yes. Owner move-in is a no-fault just cause reason for terminating a tenancy, which means relocation assistance is required. Under state law, this equals one month’s current rent. For properties within the City of San Diego, local ordinance may require more. The payment must be made within 15 days of issuing the notice.
Does AB 1482 expire?
Yes. AB 1482 is currently set to expire on January 1, 2030. The law may be extended, amended, or replaced before that date, so owners of covered properties should monitor any legislative updates that affect their compliance obligations.
Managing California Landlord Compliance Is Part of What We Do.
Mendes Company tracks every change to AB 1482 and local San Diego ordinances as part of our full-service property management. We handle rent increases, notice delivery, lease compliance, and documentation so you are never exposed to a costly error. If you want a property management partner who stays ahead of the law on your behalf, let’s talk.