California landlord law, made clear.
Practical guides, a step-by-step rent-increase wizard and a checklist of required disclosures — each linked to the official source so you can check the law yourself.
What do you need to do today?
Pick the task and we’ll point you to the rules, the numbers and the official sources.
Raise the rent
Find the legal maximum for your ZIP code and date — and the notice period.
StartReturn a deposit
Limits, allowed deductions, photos and the 21-day deadline.
StartServe a notice
30, 60, 90-day and 3-day notices — and how to serve them.
StartHandle a repair
What must be fixed, the new stove and fridge rule, repair-and-deduct.
StartCheck the rent cap
AB 1482 exemptions, just cause and relocation assistance.
StartFind a required form
Lead paint, flood, bed bugs, Megan’s Law and more — official links only.
StartCount the days. Run the numbers.
Free calculators that show their math: notice dates (with weekends and court holidays explained), deposit deadlines and investor metrics.
Notice date calculator
3-day, 30, 60 and 90-day notices: when the period ends and which days count.
OpenDeposit deadline calculator
The 21-day deadline, itemization and photo rules, and the 14-day follow-up.
OpenInvestor calculators
Cap rate, GRM, cash-on-cash return, vacancy cost and cash flow, with formulas.
See all toolsProperty manager scorecard
Grade your manager or compare candidates. Private: nothing leaves your browser.
OpenWhat changed for 2026 and 2027?
California’s landlord-tenant rules are moving quickly. Here is the dated timeline, with the statute or bill linked in each guide.
Deposit, just-cause and habitability updates
AB 414 (security deposits), AB 1529 (just cause) and AB 628 (working stove and refrigerator) took effect.
See what changed →New rent-cap figures
Increases effective on or after this date use the April 2026 CPI. For example, San Diego County’s maximum is now 8.2% (was 8.8%).
Check your region →Altered listing photos & emergency caps
AB 2025 requires disclosure of digitally altered rental photos; SB 1365 extends emergency rent caps to all lease terms.
Read the details →Written pet policy required
SB 1296 requires a written pet policy to be provided with every rental application and linked in your digital ads.
Prepare now →
Emergency price caps can also apply right now in some counties. The rent-increase wizard checks the orders we track by date and location.
Which guide answers your question?
Search by keyword or filter by topic. Every guide opens with the short answer, then the details.
AB 1482 rent cap & just cause
The statewide cap (5% + local CPI, never above 10%), who is exempt, just-cause reasons and relocation payments.
Read the guideSecurity deposits
The one-month limit, allowed deductions, photo requirements, the 21-day return deadline and penalties.
Read the guideNotices: rent increases & terminations
30/90-day rent increase notices, 30/60-day termination notices, 3-day notices and how to serve them.
Read the guideHabitability & repairs
The legal standards for a habitable rental, stove and refrigerator rules (2026) and repair-and-deduct.
Read the guideNew laws: 2026–2027
Dated timeline: what took effect in 2026 and what starts January 1 and April 1, 2027.
Read the guideHiring a property manager
The DRE license rule, trust accounts, what to look for in the agreement, questions to ask and red flags.
Read the guideThe eviction process
Notice, court filing, the 10-court-day response, judgment, writ and sheriff, plus what self-help evictions cost you.
Read the guideRental property taxes
Property tax dates, depreciation, California’s differences from federal rules, 1099s, LLC fees and nonresident withholding.
Read the guideFair housing
Protected characteristics under Gov. Code § 12955, source of income, immigration status and Unruh Act damages.
Read the guideSelling with tenants
Deposit transfer, showings, termination notices and just-cause limits when you sell a tenant-occupied rental.
Read the guideAccidental landlord checklist
Exemption notice, deposit limit, disclosures, taxes, entry rules and hiring help for first-time landlords.
Read the guideDisasters and rentals
SB 610 evacuation rent and debris rules, destroyed premises, and emergency price caps.
Read the guideFree rent increase calculator
Step-by-step: find the legal maximum under AB 1482, the notice period, and whether an emergency price cap applies.
Open the calculatorAB 1482 Exemption Checker
See whether a rental looks exempt from the statewide rent cap and just-cause rules.
Open the checkerLaw tracker
Recent and upcoming laws and rulings with effective dates and links to the text.
Open the trackerCompliance calendar
Key dates through 2030: new laws, property tax, LLC deadlines and emergency order end dates.
Open the calendarState forms & disclosures
When each California and federal disclosure is required — with links to the official source and the legal cite.
See the checklistLatest from the blog
Timely explainers on new California landlord laws, emergency orders and everyday compliance, each with links to the official source.
Emergency rent caps after Tropical Storm Rachel
Penal Code 396 limits rent increases to 10% during a declared emergency, even for homes exempt from AB 1482. See the Tropical Storm Rachel dates, counties and exceptions.
Read the postAB 628: stove and refrigerator rules for 2026 leases
Since January 1, 2026, a working stove and refrigerator are part of California’s habitability standard for new, amended or extended leases. Learn the exceptions and the tenant-supplied fridge rules.
Read the postHow to calculate the 2026 AB 1482 rent increase
The AB 1482 cap is 5% plus regional CPI, up to 10%. See the 2026–27 caps by region, worked examples, notice periods and when an emergency cap overrides it.
Read the postSecurity deposit returns: the 21-day rule and photos
California landlords must return the deposit and an itemized statement within 21 days, and now need before-and-after photos. Here is what Civil Code 1950.5 requires.
Read the postSouthern California, in depth
Our deepest coverage is San Diego County, then the rest of Southern California, with a directory for all 58 counties.
San Diego County
Rent rules, the City’s tenant protections, emergency orders, courts and agencies.
Open the pageCounty directory
Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, Ventura and all 58 counties.
Browse countiesUtility directory
SDG&E, water agencies, trash haulers, sewer and internet providers, with official links.
Find a providerHow much can you raise the rent?
Answer a few questions — ZIP code, current rent, date, and a handful of exemption checks — and get the maximum new rent, the math, the notice period, and any emergency price cap in effect today.
Start the wizardWhy can you rely on this site?
Official sources, linked
Every rule points to the statute, agency page or court resource it comes from, so you can read the law yourself.
Dated and reviewed
Each guide shows when it was last reviewed. If we can’t confirm a rule against an official source, we leave it out.
Education, not advice
We explain the rules in plain English. We do not give legal advice, and we encourage you to check local ordinances and talk to an attorney.
Laws change and many cities have stricter rules. Read the full disclaimer.
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