Los Angeles rent increase calculator
The City of Los Angeles rewrote its Rent Stabilization Ordinance formula in early 2026. For RSO units, generally apartments built before October 1978, the annual allowable increase is now 90% of the change in the regional CPI, no lower than 1% and no higher than 4%, and the old 1% add-ons for landlord-paid gas and electricity were removed. The Housing Department sets the figure each year for 1 July to 30 June; for 2026–2027 it is 3%.
Published figures
| Period | Allowable increase |
|---|---|
| Jul 2026 – Jun 2027 | 3% |
Source: Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). Annual allowable increase applies 1 July to 30 June.
Maximum new rent at common rents
Using the current 3% figure.
| Current rent | Maximum increase | Maximum new rent |
|---|---|---|
| $1,200.00 | $36.00 | $1,236.00 |
| $1,800.00 | $54.00 | $1,854.00 |
| $2,500.00 | $75.00 | $2,575.00 |
| $3,500.00 | $105.00 | $3,605.00 |
How the Los Angeles cap works
One increase per 12 months is allowed, with 30 days’ written notice. Buildings outside the RSO follow the statewide AB 1482 cap, which is 8.7% for Los Angeles County in 2026–2027.
Exemptions
- Applies to RSO units: generally multi-unit rental buildings in the City of Los Angeles with a certificate of occupancy before 1 October 1978.
- Single-family homes, condos and post-1978 buildings fall under the state AB 1482 cap instead.
30 days’ written notice (state law) for increases of 10% or less.
Related California rules
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: Landlord: 30 days if the tenant has resided in the unit less than 1 year, 60 days if 1 year or more (30 days also allowed when selling to an owner-occupant under § 1946.1(d)). Tenant: 30 days (at least as long as the rental period). Where § 1946.2 just-cause applies, the landlord must also state a just cause.
- Late fees: No statutory dollar or percentage cap and no statutory grace period. A late-fee clause in a residential lease is a liquidated-damages provision that is void unless it would be impracticable or extremely difficult to fix actual damages, so the fee must be a reasonable pre-estimate of the landlord's actual costs (Civ. Code § 1671(d); Orozco v. Casimiro (2004)).
- Security deposit: 1 month's rent (2 months if the landlord is a natural person or an LLC owned entirely by natural persons that owns no more than 2 residential properties totaling 4 or fewer units; service members may never be charged more than 1 month); returned 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates (itemized statement plus any refund).
Full page: California landlord and tenant rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is the allowable RSO rent increase in Los Angeles for 2026–2027?
3%, effective for increases taking effect 1 July 2026 through 30 June 2027, under the new 90%-of-CPI formula with a 1% floor and 4% ceiling.
Is my Los Angeles apartment under the RSO?
Generally yes if it is in a building of two or more units with a certificate of occupancy before 1 October 1978 within the City of Los Angeles. Check the address on the LAHD property lookup.
Can the landlord still add 1% for utilities?
No. The February 2026 amendments removed the gas and electricity add-ons.