AB 1482 in Plain English: Statewide Rent Caps and Just-Cause

AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, established statewide rent caps and just-cause eviction protections for most California rental properties. For Central Coast multifamily owners, it's the baseline regulatory framework — unless a local ordinance (like Santa Barbara's RSO) provides stronger protections.

The Rent Cap

AB 1482 limits annual rent increases to 5% plus the local CPI, with a maximum of 10%. For most Central Coast markets, this works out to approximately 7–9% per year in recent years. The cap applies to each 12-month period, not per lease term.

Which Properties Are Covered

AB 1482 applies to most rental housing in California, with key exemptions:

• Properties built within the last 15 years (rolling exemption)
• Single-family homes and condos, provided the owner gives proper notice
• Properties already covered by a local rent stabilization ordinance that is at least as protective, such as Santa Barbara's rent control ordinance
• Owner-occupied duplexes

Just-Cause Eviction

AB 1482 also requires just cause for eviction after a tenant has occupied a unit for 12 months. Just cause includes both "at-fault" reasons (non-payment, lease violations) and "no-fault" reasons (owner move-in, substantial renovation, withdrawal from rental market). No-fault evictions require relocation assistance.

Implications for Central Coast Buyers

For properties in markets without a local RSO (Santa Maria, Lompoc, SLO, Ventura), AB 1482 is the controlling framework. Buyers should verify the property's build date and ownership structure to confirm applicability, and model rent growth within the AB 1482 cap.

This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.