San Diego Landlord Checklist: Mastering Rent Control & Just Cause Eviction (AB 1482 & Beyond)

Quick Answer

California AB 1482 limits annual rent increases for most San Diego County rental properties to 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, with a maximum of 10% — whichever is lower. For San Diego County in 2026, the applicable cap is 8.8% through July 31, 2026. AB 1482 also requires Just Cause for eviction after 12 months of occupancy. Single-family homes and condos where the owner has provided proper written exemption notice at lease signing may be exempt.

TL;DR

• AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% + local CPI or 10% maximum — whichever is lower
• San Diego County 2026 cap: 8.8% through July 31, 2026
• Just Cause eviction required after 12 months of occupancy under AB 1482
• The San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance requires Just Cause from day one of tenancy within City of San Diego limits
• Single-family homes and condos with proper exemption notice in the lease may be exempt from the rent cap
• No-Fault evictions require relocation assistance — one month's rent under AB 1482, up to two months under the San Diego ordinance
• Properties built within the last 15 years are exempt from AB 1482 on a rolling basis

What Is California AB 1482?
California AB 1482 — the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — is a statewide rent control and just cause eviction law that limits annual rent increases and restricts the reasons a landlord may terminate a tenancy for most California residential rental properties built more than 15 years ago.

What Is the AB 1482 Rent Cap?
The AB 1482 rent cap is the maximum allowable annual rent increase under California law — calculated as 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index for the relevant metropolitan area, with a total ceiling of 10% regardless of CPI. For San Diego County in 2026, the applicable cap is 8.8% through July 31, 2026. This figure is recalculated annually when new CPI data is published.

What Is Just Cause Eviction?
Just Cause eviction is a legal requirement under AB 1482 that limits the reasons a landlord may terminate a tenancy after a tenant has occupied a rental unit for 12 months or longer. Just Cause reasons are divided into At-Fault causes — non-payment of rent, lease violations, illegal activity — and No-Fault causes — owner move-in, substantial remodel, removal from rental market. No-Fault evictions require relocation assistance. RMG's eviction coordination service manages the full process on the owner's behalf.

What Is the San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance?
The San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance is a local law that applies stricter protections within the City of San Diego than state AB 1482, including requiring Just Cause for eviction from the first day of tenancy — not after 12 months — and requiring relocation assistance of two months' rent for No-Fault evictions rather than one month under state law.

What Is an AB 1482 Exemption?
An AB 1482 exemption is a legal status that removes a rental property from the rent cap and just cause eviction requirements of the Tenant Protection Act. Common exemptions include single-family homes and condos where the owner has provided written notice of the exemption in the lease, properties built within the last 15 years (on a rolling basis), and owner-occupied duplexes. Exemption notices must be included in the lease — they cannot be added retroactively.

For most San Diego County rental properties covered by AB 1482, the maximum allowable rent increase is 8.8% through July 31, 2026. On a $2,800 per month unit, that is a maximum increase of $246 per month. On a $3,500 per month unit, the maximum increase is $308 per month. These figures apply to covered properties only — exempt properties are not subject to this cap.

Not all San Diego County rental properties are subject to AB 1482. Properties built within the last 15 years, single-family homes and condos with a proper exemption notice in the lease, and owner-occupied duplexes are among the most common exemptions. Exemption status must be established in the lease at signing — it cannot be added retroactively to an existing tenancy.

Under AB 1482, a landlord may not terminate a covered tenancy after 12 months of occupancy without a documented Just Cause reason. Just Cause reasons fall into two categories: At-Fault causes — where the tenant's actions justify termination — and No-Fault causes — where the landlord seeks to end the tenancy for reasons unrelated to the tenant's conduct. No-Fault terminations require relocation assistance. RMG's eviction coordination service manages the full process on the owner's behalf.

San Diego landlords must comply with whichever law provides greater protection to the tenant — state law or local ordinance. In most cases, the San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance is stricter than state AB 1482, meaning properties within the City of San Diego are subject to the local ordinance's requirements rather than the state baseline.

Rule 1: If your property is a single-family home or condo not owned by a corporation, LLC, or REIT, and the exemption notice was not included in the lease at signing, AB 1482 protections apply — you cannot add the notice retroactively.

Rule 2: If your property is within the City of San Diego, the local ordinance's Just Cause requirement applies from day one of tenancy. Any no-cause termination attempt will expose you to legal liability regardless of tenancy length.

Rule 3: If you plan to apply the maximum rent increase, always verify the current CPI-based cap before issuing notice. Verify current figures at the BLS website each August before the cap resets.

Rule 4: If you are terminating a covered tenancy for a No-Fault reason within the City of San Diego, relocation assistance is two months' rent — not one. Paying one month when two are required exposes you to claims under the local ordinance.

Rule 5: If a percentage-based property manager's monthly fee increases automatically when you apply a rent increase, the 8.8% cap adds to their revenue with no change in service. At $2,800/month under an 8% agreement, applying the full cap adds $20/month — $240/year — in management fees for zero additional work. A flat fee manager's cost is unchanged regardless of any rent increase applied.

☐  Confirmed whether each property is covered by AB 1482 or qualifies for an exemption

☐  Verified that any exempt properties have the required exemption language in the current lease

☐  Calculated maximum allowable rent increase using 2026 San Diego CPI figure (8.8% through July 31, 2026)

☐  Confirmed all rent increase notices provide minimum 30 days written notice for increases at or below 10%

☐  Confirmed whether property is within City of San Diego limits — subject to local ordinance from day one of tenancy

☐  Documented Just Cause reason for any pending tenancy terminations

☐  Confirmed relocation assistance amount for any planned No-Fault evictions (1 month under AB 1482 / 2 months under San Diego ordinance)

☐  Reviewed AB 628 appliance compliance requirements for any upcoming lease renewals

Staying compliant starts before the tenancy. Rigorous tenant screening — income verification, rental history review, and credit assessment — reduces the risk of the situations AB 1482 is most commonly litigated around: disputed evictions, habitability claims, and lease violation disputes. RMG's screening process is included in the flat $199/month fee with no separate placement charge.

What is the maximum rent increase allowed in San Diego in 2026?

For most covered San Diego County rental properties, the maximum allowable rent increase under California AB 1482 is 8.8% through July 31, 2026. This figure is calculated as 5% plus the San Diego County Consumer Price Index. The cap resets each August 1 when new CPI data is published. Properties exempt from AB 1482 — including qualifying single-family homes and condos with the proper exemption notice in the lease — are not subject to this limit.

Does AB 1482 apply to single-family homes in San Diego?

Single-family homes in San Diego may be exempt from AB 1482 if they are not owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC, and the owner provided written notice of the exemption in the lease at the time of signing. If the exemption notice was not included in the lease, AB 1482 protections apply regardless of property type. Exemption notices cannot be added retroactively to an existing tenancy.

When does Just Cause eviction protection begin in San Diego?

Under California AB 1482, Just Cause eviction protection begins after a tenant has lawfully occupied a unit for 12 months. Within the City of San Diego, the local Tenant Protection Ordinance is stricter — Just Cause is required from the first day of tenancy. San Diego landlords must apply whichever law provides greater protection to the tenant.

Are all San Diego rental properties covered by AB 1482?

No. Common AB 1482 exemptions include properties built within the last 15 years (on a rolling basis), single-family homes and condos not owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC with proper exemption notice in the lease, and owner-occupied duplexes where the owner lives in one unit as their primary residence. If your property qualifies for an exemption but the exemption notice was not included in the lease, the property is covered by AB 1482 regardless of its type.

Do I have to pay relocation assistance for a No-Fault eviction in San Diego?

Yes. For a covered tenancy, No-Fault evictions — including owner move-in, substantial remodel, and withdrawal from the rental market — require relocation assistance. Under California AB 1482, relocation assistance is one month's rent. Under the City of San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance, relocation assistance is two months' rent. Landlords must pay whichever amount provides greater protection to the tenant.

How do I calculate the maximum rent increase for my San Diego property in 2026?

Multiply your current monthly rent by 0.088 to calculate the maximum allowable increase under the 2026 AB 1482 cap of 8.8%. For example, a $2,800 per month unit may be increased by up to $246 per month to $3,046. Verify the current cap at BLS.gov before issuing any rent increase notice, as the figure resets each August 1.

What is the difference between AB 1482 and the San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance?

The primary differences are Just Cause timing and relocation assistance amounts. AB 1482 requires Just Cause for eviction after 12 months of occupancy and relocation assistance of one month's rent for No-Fault evictions. The San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance requires Just Cause from day one of tenancy and relocation assistance of two months' rent for No-Fault evictions. Landlords must comply with whichever provides greater protection to the tenant.

Does AB 1482 affect how property management fees work?

Yes, for percentage-based management agreements. When a landlord applies a rent increase under AB 1482, a percentage-based manager's monthly fee increases automatically. On a $2,800 per month unit managed at 8%, applying the full 8.8% cap increases the monthly management fee by approximately $20 per month — $240 per year in additional cost with no change in service. A flat fee management agreement is unaffected by rent increases regardless of the cap applied. See the full flat fee vs. percentage cost comparison.

About the Author
Scott Engle is a California licensed real estate broker (DRE #01332676) and principal of Realty Management Group, a flat fee San Diego property management company serving San Diego County since 2005. RMG manages single-family homes and multi-family properties with 1 to 16 units throughout San Diego County. Flat fee: $199/month for 1–3 units, $179/month per unit for 4–16 units — no leasing fees, no renewal fees, no maintenance markups.

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