Updated July 2026 | Authored by Scott Engle, Broker DRE #01332676 | Realty Management Group | Serving San Diego County Since 2005
San Diego County's maximum allowable rent increase drops from 8.8% to 8.2% on August 1, 2026. The new cap — calculated as 5% plus the San Diego regional CPI change of 3.2% under California AB 1482 — applies to every rent increase with an effective date from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 on covered properties. The date that matters is the effective date of the increase, not the date the notice is served: a notice served in July that takes effect in August must use 8.2%.
This is the annual reset of California's statewide rent cap under the Tenant Protection Act (Civil Code Section 1947.12). The formula never changes — 5% plus regional CPI, never more than 10% — but the CPI input resets every August 1, so the number every San Diego landlord must use changes with it. For the 2025–26 window, San Diego's CPI ran 3.8%, producing the 8.8% cap; for the 2026–27 window it came in at 3.2%, producing 8.2%.
This guide covers the new number, the exact math at every common San Diego rent level, the transition rules for notices that straddle August 1, who is exempt, and the local-ordinance layer in the City of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach that the state form alone cannot satisfy. It is updated every August when the cap resets. For the full notice-by-notice process, see the companion San Diego rent increase guide.
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is written for:
- San Diego County landlords planning a 2026–27 rent increase
- Owners of covered pre-2010 rentals — single-family, condo, or 2–16 unit multifamily
- Accidental and out-of-state landlords unsure whether the cap applies to them
- Owners who served (or are about to serve) a notice that straddles the August 1 reset
- Investors underwriting San Diego rental income against the new cap
This guide is not intended for:
- Short-term / vacation rental operators (AB 1482 does not govern that model)
- Commercial property owners
Quick Answers
What is the San Diego rent cap for 2026–27? The maximum allowable rent increase in San Diego County is 8.2% for increases effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, under California AB 1482 — calculated as 5% plus the San Diego regional CPI change of 3.2%. This is down from the 8.8% cap that applied to effective dates through July 31, 2026.
When does the new 8.2% cap take effect? August 1, 2026. The cap that applies is determined by the increase's effective date — any rent increase taking effect on or after August 1, 2026 is limited to 8.2%, even if the notice was served earlier at a time when the cap was 8.8%.
Why did the San Diego rent cap go down? Because local inflation cooled. The AB 1482 formula is fixed — 5% plus regional CPI, capped at 10% — and San Diego's CPI input fell from 3.8% (2025–26) to 3.2% (2026–27), lowering the total from 8.8% to 8.2%.
Does the 8.2% cap apply to my property? AB 1482 covers most San Diego County residential rentals built before January 1, 2010. Properties with a certificate of occupancy issued within the last 15 years are exempt, and single-family homes and condos not owned by a corporation, REIT, or corporate-member LLC are exempt only if the written exemption notice was properly included in the lease at signing.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in California? 30 days written notice for increases of 10% or less — which covers every lawful increase under the 8.2% cap — and 90 days for increases above 10% (Civil Code §827 — possible only on exempt properties). Add 5 calendar days if the notice is mailed.
Do San Diego cities have their own rent caps? No city in San Diego County caps rent below the state 8.2% formula. But the City of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach have local tenant protection ordinances that add just-cause eviction rules and notice language the state form alone does not satisfy — the cap is countywide, but the paperwork is not.
The mistake to avoid this August: applying last year's 8.8% to an increase that takes effect on or after August 1, 2026. The excess 0.6% is unenforceable, the notice is disputable, and under Civil Code §1947.12 a willful violation can carry a civil penalty of up to $15,000 plus actual damages and attorney fees. The 8.8% window is closed for any new notice — a 30-day notice served today cannot take effect before August 1.
TL;DR
- San Diego County's AB 1482 rent cap is 8.2% for increases effective August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 (down from 8.8%)
- Formula: 5% + San Diego regional CPI of 3.2% — verified against BLS.gov CPI data
- The effective date of the increase determines which cap applies — not the date the notice was served
- Two increases are permitted per 12-month period, but the combined total cannot exceed the cap for that period
- Notice: 30 days written for any increase under the cap; add 5 days if mailed; text and email are not valid service
- City of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach require city-specific ordinance language on top of the state form
- The cap resets again August 1, 2027 — this page is updated each August with the new figure
San Diego Rent Cap: Key Numbers (2026–27)
New maximum increase: 8.2% — effective dates August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027
Prior cap: 8.8% — effective dates through July 31, 2026
Formula: 5% + regional CPI (3.2%), never to exceed 10% (Civil Code §1947.12)
CPI source: Bureau of Labor Statistics — AB 1482 uses the April-to-April change, with a March-to-March fallback where April is not published, which is the rule that applies to San Diego and Riverside Counties
Increases per 12 months: maximum 2, cumulative total capped at 8.2% for the applicable window
Notice: 30 days written (90 days if an increase exceeds 10% under Civil Code §827 — possible only on exempt properties); +5 days if mailed
Coverage: most residential rentals built before January 1, 2010 (rolling 15-year new-construction exemption)
Local TPO cities: City of San Diego (SDMC §§98.0701–98.0709), Chula Vista (CVMC Ch. 9.65), Imperial Beach (IBMC Ch. 9.90)
What Changed — and Why the Cap Went Down
The AB 1482 cap is not a number the state picks — it is a calculation the state publishes inputs for. Every August 1, the allowable increase resets to 5% plus the change in the regional Consumer Price Index, with a hard ceiling of 10%. When local inflation falls, the cap falls with it.
Last year's math (Aug 1, 2025 – Jul 31, 2026): 5% + 3.8% CPI = 8.8%
This year's math (Aug 1, 2026 – Jul 31, 2027): 5% + 3.2% CPI = 8.2%
The 10% ceiling: did not come into play — the full calculated figure applies. The ceiling only matters when regional CPI exceeds 5%.
A technical detail most summaries skip: the statute specifies the April-to-April CPI change, but where no April figure is published for the applicable area, the March-to-March change is used instead — and that fallback is the rule that governs San Diego and Riverside Counties. This is also why the maximum rent increase in California is not one statewide number: the 5% base is identical everywhere, but each region's own CPI sets its cap, so counties reset to different figures every August 1. When in doubt, verify the current San Diego figure at BLS.gov before serving any notice.
San Diego Rent Increase Calculator (8.2% Cap, 2026–27)
Enter your current monthly rent to calculate the maximum allowable increase under the 8.2% cap for a covered property, with the increase effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. Formula: Current Rent × 0.082, rounded down to the nearest dollar.
Current monthly rent ($):
Calculator assumes AB 1482 coverage and one increase in the 12-month window. If you issued any increase in the past 12 months, the combined total cannot exceed the applicable cap.
Not sure whether your property is covered? Get a free rent increase review before serving your notice — coverage status, exemption check, and your exact maximum, at no cost.
The 8.2% Cap by Rent Level: Maximum Increase at Every Common San Diego Rent
Each line shows the maximum increase, the new monthly rent, and the added annual revenue for a covered property, assuming one increase in the 12-month window. Amounts rounded down to the nearest dollar.
$1,800/month → max increase $147 → new rent $1,947 → +$1,764/year
$2,000/month → max increase $164 → new rent $2,164 → +$1,968/year
$2,200/month → max increase $180 → new rent $2,380 → +$2,160/year
$2,400/month → max increase $196 → new rent $2,596 → +$2,352/year
$2,600/month → max increase $213 → new rent $2,813 → +$2,556/year
$2,800/month → max increase $229 → new rent $3,029 → +$2,748/year
$3,000/month → max increase $246 → new rent $3,246 → +$2,952/year
$3,200/month → max increase $262 → new rent $3,462 → +$3,144/year
$3,500/month → max increase $287 → new rent $3,787 → +$3,444/year
$3,800/month → max increase $311 → new rent $4,111 → +$3,732/year
$4,200/month → max increase $344 → new rent $4,544 → +$4,128/year
$4,800/month → max increase $393 → new rent $5,193 → +$4,716/year
$5,500/month → max increase $451 → new rent $5,951 → +$5,412/year
Figures apply to increases with effective dates August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, on AB 1482-covered properties. Two increases in the window are permitted, but the combined total cannot exceed Current Rent × 0.082.
Transition Rules: Notices That Straddle August 1
The question owners actually have in July is not "what is the new cap" — it is "which cap applies to the notice I'm about to serve, or already served." The controlling rule: the cap in effect on the increase's effective date governs, regardless of when the notice was served.
Notice served in July, effective on or after August 1. Use 8.2%. Serving while the 8.8% cap is still technically in force does not preserve the higher figure — the effective date is what counts. An 8.8% notice effective August 5 exceeds the cap by 0.6%.
Notice already served at 8.8%, effective on or before July 31. Valid, assuming the notice itself was compliant. The increase took effect inside the 8.8% window.
Notice already served at 8.8%, effective on or after August 1. The portion above 8.2% is unenforceable. The clean fix is to re-serve a corrected notice at 8.2% (or notify the tenant in writing of the corrected amount) rather than attempt to collect the excess — only the excess above the cap is invalid, not the entire increase, but a disputed notice is not worth 0.6%.
Can I still lock in 8.8%? Practically, no. A 30-day notice served today cannot take effect before August 1 (and mailing adds 5 days). The window to apply the higher cap has closed for new notices.
Two increases across the reset. The two-increases-per-12-months rule follows the tenancy's own 12-month lookback, and the cumulative total is measured against the cap applicable to each increase's effective date. If you applied a partial increase in the spring under 8.8%, get the remaining headroom calculated before assuming a second increase is available — this is the single easiest place to accidentally exceed the cap.
Who the 8.2% Cap Does Not Apply To
Newer construction. Properties with a certificate of occupancy issued within the last 15 years are exempt — the exemption is rolling, currently covering buildings from 2010 onward.
Qualifying single-family homes and condos. Exempt only if the owner is not a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member, AND the written AB 1482 exemption notice was properly included in the lease at signing. Miss the notice and the property is covered for that entire tenancy — it cannot be fixed retroactively.
Certain affordable and restricted housing. Deed-restricted and subsidized housing is typically exempt — verify with the administering agency.
The catch for exempt owners: exemption from the state cap is not exemption from everything. Notice-period rules still apply (90 days for any increase above 10% under Civil Code §827), anti-price-gouging limits apply during declared emergencies, and in the City of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach the local ordinance can still govern the tenancy even where the state cap does not.
For the complete coverage framework — ownership tests, notice language, and the multifamily rules — see the AB 1482 exemptions guide.
The Local Layer: Same Cap, Different Paperwork in Three Cities
No San Diego County city lowers the 8.2% cap — the number is countywide. What changes by city is the process. Three cities have local tenant protection ordinances that add requirements the state AB 1482 form alone cannot satisfy, and a notice missing the city-required language can be void even when the math is perfect.
City of San Diego — Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance (SDMC §§98.0701–98.0709): just cause from day one of tenancy, mandatory city notices, city-specific exemption notice required. Neighborhoods inside city limits — North Park, South Park, Mission Valley, and the rest — are all covered.
Chula Vista — Residential Landlord-Tenant Ordinance (CVMC Chapter 9.65): city-specific just-cause and notice requirements on top of state law.
Imperial Beach — Just Cause for Termination Ordinance (IBMC Chapter 9.90, effective March 22, 2025): renoviction controls and relocation requirements, with a strict-compliance standard for notices.
Everywhere else in the county — El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, National City, Escondido, Oceanside, Carlsbad, and all unincorporated areas — state AB 1482 governs alone and the state form is sufficient. Full jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction detail is in the San Diego rent control ordinance map.
Should You Take the Full 8.2%? The Retention Math
The cap is a ceiling, not a recommendation. The legally maximum increase and the financially optimal increase are often different numbers — because a rent increase that triggers a move-out costs more than the increase earns.
The turnover math. On a $2,800/month unit, the full 8.2% adds $229/month — $2,748/year. One month of vacancy costs $2,800, before make-ready and marketing. If a maximum increase pushes a reliable tenant to leave, the year's gain is gone in the first vacant month.
Where restraint wins. Reliable long-term tenants near market rent, tenancies with unresolved maintenance items, and units competing against 2026's concession-heavy new supply are the classic cases where a below-cap increase protects more income than the ceiling captures. The full framework is in the rent increase guide's "When NOT to Raise Rent" analysis.
How RMG approaches it. Across the 400+ units RMG manages through its San Diego property management service, the renewal decision is priced unit by unit against real segment comps, not defaulted to the ceiling — and the result of that approach is an average tenancy of 39 months, well beyond typical market tenure. Retention is the cheapest occupancy there is, and a flat fee model with no leasing fees means RMG earns nothing extra when a tenant turns over — the incentive points the same direction as the owner's.
The discipline that matters is the same one that matters in a down-headline market: price the specific unit, not the statute. The cap tells you what you may do — the comps tell you what you should.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum rent increase in San Diego right now?
For rent increases effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, the maximum is 8.2% on AB 1482-covered San Diego County properties. For increases that took effect on or before July 31, 2026, the applicable cap was 8.8%.
How do you calculate an 8.2% rent increase?
Multiply the current monthly rent by 0.082 and round down to the nearest dollar — that is the maximum monthly increase for a covered property. Example: $2,800 × 0.082 = $229.60, rounded down to $229, for a new rent of $3,029. If any increase was applied in the prior 12 months, subtract it — the combined total cannot exceed the cap.
How is the 8.2% San Diego rent cap calculated?
Under Civil Code §1947.12, the cap is 5% plus the change in the regional Consumer Price Index, with a maximum of 10%. San Diego's regional CPI change for this cycle was 3.2%, so the cap is 5% + 3.2% = 8.2%. The CPI figure comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics data, using the April-to-April change with a March fallback for the San Diego area.
I served a rent increase notice in July at 8.8% that takes effect in August. Is it valid?
The portion above 8.2% is not. The cap that governs is the one in effect on the increase's effective date, so an increase effective on or after August 1, 2026 is limited to 8.2% even if the notice was served while the 8.8% cap was current. The practical fix is to correct the notice to 8.2% in writing rather than attempt to collect the excess.
How much is an 8.2% increase in dollars?
Multiply the current rent by 0.082 and round down. On $2,400/month it is $196; on $2,800/month it is $229; on $3,200/month it is $262; on $3,500/month it is $287. The full rent-level breakdown and the calculator are above.
Why is San Diego's cap different from other California counties?
Because the 5%-plus-CPI formula uses each region's own inflation data. The 5% base is identical statewide, but regional CPI varies — so counties reset to different caps every August 1 even under the same law. San Diego's 3.2% CPI produced an 8.2% cap for this cycle.
Can I raise rent twice in one year under the 8.2% cap?
Yes — AB 1482 permits up to two increases in any 12-month period, but their combined total cannot exceed the applicable cap. If part of the cap was used earlier in the tenancy's 12-month window, only the remaining headroom is available — not a fresh 8.2%.
Does the 8.2% cap apply to single-family homes in San Diego?
Only if the home is covered. A single-family home or condo not owned by a corporation, REIT, or corporate-member LLC is exempt from the state cap — but only when the written exemption notice was properly included in the lease at signing. Without the notice, the home is covered for that tenancy and the 8.2% cap applies. In the City of San Diego, a city-specific exemption notice is also required.
What notice do I need to give for an 8.2% rent increase?
At least 30 days written notice before the effective date, delivered by personal service or first class mail (add 5 calendar days if mailed) — text and email are generally not valid service. In the City of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach, the notice must also include the city-specific language required by the local ordinance; the state form alone is insufficient there.
What happens if I raise rent above 8.2% on a covered property?
The excess above the cap is unenforceable, the tenant may refuse it, and under Civil Code §1947.12 a landlord can be liable for actual damages, attorney fees, and a civil penalty of up to $15,000 per willful violation. Only the amount above the cap is invalid — not the entire increase — but a disputed notice creates exactly the paper trail you do not want.
When does the San Diego rent cap change next?
August 1, 2027, when the next CPI figure resets the formula for the 2027–28 window. The new input is typically publishable by mid-May each year. This page is updated each August with the current figure — and the current cap can always be verified against BLS.gov CPI data before serving a notice.
How We Verify These Figures
The cap figures on this page are calculated directly from the statutory formula in Civil Code §1947.12 using Bureau of Labor Statistics regional CPI data, and cross-checked against the county figures published by the Legal Aid Society of San Diego and California landlord-industry sources. Local ordinance citations are to the current municipal codes of the City of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach. This page is reviewed and updated at each annual reset; the "Updated" date in the byline reflects the last verification.
Figures reflect California Civil Code §1947.12 and BLS regional CPI data as of July 2026, for the cap window of August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. The calculator is an informational tool for covered properties and does not account for prior increases in the 12-month window or exemption status. Coverage, exemptions, and local ordinance applicability are fact-specific. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice; consult a qualified California landlord-tenant attorney before serving notices or relying on an exemption.
The number changed; the discipline didn't. The 8.2% cap is public, the formula is fixed, and the math takes thirty seconds. What separates owners who capture the increase from owners who end up in a dispute is everything around the number — the effective date, the coverage status, the delivery method, and the city-specific language in three jurisdictions.
Know your cap window, verify your coverage, serve it correctly — and decide unit by unit whether the ceiling is actually the right number.
About the Author
Scott Engle is a California licensed real estate broker (DRE #01332676), licensed since 2002, and principal of Realty Management Group, a flat fee San Diego property management company serving San Diego County since 2005. RMG manages 400+ units across every San Diego County jurisdiction and issues AB 1482-compliant rent increase notices as part of the flat fee — $199/month for 1–3 units, $179/month per unit for 4–16 units, with no leasing fees, renewal fees, or maintenance markups.
Get Your 8.2% Numbers Before You Serve Anything
For your property, at no cost, we will:
- Calculate your exact maximum increase under the 8.2% cap
- Confirm whether your property is AB 1482-covered or exempt
- Check whether a local ordinance (San Diego, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach) governs your notices
- Benchmark your current rent against live segment comps
- Tell you honestly whether the full cap or restraint is the better play — no obligation
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- Which San Diego Cities Have Rent Control? (2026 Ordinance Map)
- San Diego Tenant Protection Ordinance: Just Cause, Relocation Costs, and Owner Liability
- Chula Vista Landlord Laws & Rental Regulations (2026 Guide)
- 2026 California Rental Laws: What San Diego Landlords Need to Know
