Los Angeles Rent Control for Single-Family Homes: Complete 2025 Guide for Landlords
Most single-family homes in Los Angeles are exempt from the city's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) rent caps. However, California's statewide AB 1482 may still limit your rent increases to 5% + CPI (max 10%) unless you provide proper written exemption notice. Additionally, all single-family rentals must comply with LA's Just Cause Eviction rules—you cannot terminate a tenancy without a valid legal reason, regardless of RSO status.
Single-family rental property owners in Los Angeles face a complex web of overlapping regulations. Understanding which laws apply to your property—and which exemptions you may qualify for—can mean the difference between legal compliance and costly violations reaching thousands of dollars in penalties.
Which Rent Control Laws Apply to Single-Family Homes?
Three separate regulatory frameworks may affect your single-family rental property in Los Angeles. Each has different requirements, exemptions, and penalties for non-compliance.
| Law | Rent Caps | Just Cause Eviction | SFH Exempt? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LA RSO | 3% (2025-2026) | Yes | Generally Yes |
| AB 1482 (State) | 5% + CPI (max 10%) | Yes | With Notice |
| LA Just Cause Ordinance | N/A | Yes | No |
Even if your single-family home is exempt from rent caps, you still cannot evict tenants without a valid legal reason under LA's Just Cause Ordinance. This protection applies to all rental properties in the city.
LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) Exemption
The RSO generally does not apply to single-family homes. Properties covered by the RSO must have been built on or before October 1, 1978, and single-family dwellings are typically excluded from its rent cap provisions.
When RSO May Still Apply
Your single-family home could become subject to RSO if you rent individual rooms to separate households rather than the entire property to one tenant. A recent California appellate court case (Chun v. Del Cid) confirmed that properties rented room-by-room may be treated as rooming houses subject to RSO, regardless of the original construction type.
Important: If you rent multiple rooms with separate locks to different tenants who share common areas, consult with a landlord-tenant attorney. Your property may be classified as a rooming house rather than a single-family home.
Questions about your property's rent control status?
Get expert guidance from a local real estate professionalCalifornia AB 1482: The Statewide Rent Cap
Even when exempt from local RSO rules, your single-family rental may be subject to California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), which limits annual rent increases to 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, with a maximum cap of 10%.
AB 1482 Exemption Requirements for Single-Family Homes
Your single-family home is exempt from AB 1482's rent caps and just cause requirements only if both conditions are met:
- Ownership structure: The property is not owned by a corporation, real estate investment trust (REIT), or LLC with at least one corporate member
- Written notice: You provide the tenant with specific statutory language in writing, either in the lease agreement or as a separate addendum
Without proper written notice to your tenant, your single-family home is NOT exempt from AB 1482—even if you meet all other criteria. The exemption is not automatic.
Required AB 1482 Exemption Notice Language
California law requires this specific language in your notice:
"This property is not subject to the rent limits imposed by Section 1947.12 of the Civil Code and is not subject to the just cause requirements of Section 1946.2 of the Civil Code. This property meets the requirements of Sections 1947.12(d)(5) and 1946.2(e)(8) of the Civil Code and the owner is not any of the following: (1) a real estate investment trust, as defined by Section 856 of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a corporation; or (3) a limited liability company in which at least one member is a corporation."
Other AB 1482 Exemptions
- New construction: Properties built within the last 15 years (rolling basis)
- Owner-occupied duplexes: If you live in one unit and rent the other
- Affordable housing: Units deed-restricted for low or moderate income residents
Los Angeles Just Cause Eviction Rules
Since January 27, 2023, the LA Just Cause Ordinance (JCO) applies to all rental properties in the city—including single-family homes that are otherwise exempt from rent caps. This means you cannot terminate a tenancy without a valid legal reason.
Valid Reasons for Eviction
At-Fault Evictions (tenant violations):
- Non-payment of rent
- Material breach of lease terms
- Nuisance behavior affecting neighbors
- Illegal activity on the premises
- Refusal to sign a substantially similar lease renewal
- Unauthorized subletting or additional occupants
No-Fault Evictions (landlord-initiated):
- Owner or family member move-in
- Ellis Act withdrawal from the rental market
- Substantial rehabilitation requiring vacant possession
- Compliance with government order
- Demolition or conversion to non-rental use
Relocation Assistance Requirements
No-fault evictions trigger mandatory relocation payments to displaced tenants:
| Owner Type | Relocation Amount |
|---|---|
| Natural person with 4 or fewer LA units | One month's rent |
| Corporate owner or 5+ units | Two months' rent |
| Senior or disabled tenant | Additional protections may apply |
Considering selling your rental property?
Find out what your Los Angeles property is worthHow to Determine Your Property's Status
Verify Ownership Structure
Confirm the property is owned in your individual name, not through a corporation, REIT, or LLC with corporate members. Business entities cannot claim single-family home exemptions from AB 1482.
Check Property Age and RSO Status
Use LA's ZIMAS tool (zimas.lacity.org) to verify your property's construction date and RSO status. Enter your address and click the "Housing" tab.
Determine AB 1482 Applicability
Properties built within the last 15 years are exempt from AB 1482. For older properties owned by individuals, you must provide written notice to claim the single-family home exemption.
Provide Required Written Notices
Include the AB 1482 exemption language in your rental agreement or as a separate addendum. Without this notice, your property is NOT exempt from AB 1482 requirements.
Common Landlord Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming automatic exemption: Single-family homes require written notice to tenants to claim AB 1482 exemption
- Improper ownership structure: Holding property in an LLC with a corporate member eliminates your exemption
- Self-help evictions: Changing locks, shutting off utilities, or removing belongings is illegal regardless of exemption status
- Insufficient notice periods: California requires 30-day notice for rent increases under 10%, and 90-day notice for increases of 10% or more
- Missing relocation payments: No-fault evictions require relocation assistance even for exempt properties under the JCO
Penalties for Violations
Los Angeles enforces rent control and eviction violations aggressively. Potential consequences include:
- Rent rollbacks: Requirement to refund excess rent collected
- Monetary damages: Up to three times the overcharge amount in some cases
- Attorney fees: Tenant's legal costs in successful claims
- Civil penalties: Additional fines imposed by the city
- Eviction dismissal: Improperly filed evictions may be thrown out, requiring you to start over
Frequently Asked Questions
Most single-family homes are exempt from LA's RSO rent caps. However, California's AB 1482 may still limit rent increases to 5% + CPI (max 10%) unless you provide proper written exemption notice. All single-family rentals must comply with LA's Just Cause Eviction rules regardless of exemption status.
If exempt from both RSO and AB 1482, there is no cap. If AB 1482 applies (no exemption notice provided), increases are limited to 5% plus local CPI, not exceeding 10% total per year. You must provide 30-day notice for increases under 10%, or 90-day notice for 10% increases.
The property must be owned by an individual (not a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member), and you must provide written notice to tenants with specific statutory language. For tenancies starting after July 1, 2020, this notice must be included in the rental agreement.
No. Since January 27, 2023, LA's Just Cause Ordinance applies to all rental properties including single-family homes. You must have a valid legal reason (either at-fault or no-fault) to terminate any tenancy, and no-fault evictions require relocation assistance payments.
Only if the LLC has no corporate members. If even one member of your LLC is a corporation, your property does not qualify for the AB 1482 single-family home exemption and is subject to statewide rent caps and just cause eviction requirements.
Questions About Your Los Angeles Rental Property?
Whether you're navigating rent control compliance or considering selling your investment property, Justin Borges provides expert guidance for LA landlords.
The Borges Real Estate Team | 303 N Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502
