California Landlord-Tenant Laws (2026)
California has some of the strictest — and fastest-changing — rental laws in the country. Browse by category to learn a topic ahead of time, then get a free Protection Score to see exactly which laws apply to your property.
Rent Increases & Rent Caps
How much you can raise rent, how often, the notice you must give — and which units are exempt.
Security Deposits
Deposit limits, the 21-day return deadline, and lawful deductions.
Habitability & Repairs
Your repair duties, safety retrofits, and required living conditions.
Just Cause, Notices & Eviction
When you can end a tenancy, the notice required, and relocation rules.
2026 Law Updates
What changed this year for California landlords, with effective dates.
Commercial Lease Rules
What California actually imposes on retail, office and industrial leases — the rest is your lease.
- SB 1103 — qualified commercial tenant protections (2025) · official source ↗
- Rent-increase notice for qualified commercial tenants (§827) · official source ↗
- Building-operating-cost (CAM) disclosure (§1950.9) · official source ↗
- CASp accessibility-inspection disclosure (§1938) · official source ↗
- ADA Title III — public accommodation access · official source ↗
- Translated lease copy where negotiated in another language (§1632) · official source ↗
Local & City Rent Control
Cities that layer their own rent control or just-cause rules on top of state law.
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Cities with local rent ordinances
These California cities layer their own rent control or just-cause rules on top of state law. If your property is here, statewide rules are only the floor.
- Berkeley
- Chula Vista
- Concord
- Glendale
- Hayward
- Inglewood
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Oakland
- Pasadena
- Pomona
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Santa Ana
- Santa Monica
- Ventura
California coverage
We map the statewide baseline for all 483 California cities and publish individual search guides only after their local rules have been reviewed and sourced.
See all 483 cities and their review statusThis guide is general information about California law, not legal advice. Verify against the current statute or consult a California attorney before acting.