Can My Landlord Raise My Rent $300? (California 2026 Answer)

Quick answer: whether a $300 rent increase is legal in California depends on what percentage of your current rent it represents — and which law covers your unit. Through July 31, 2026, most California rentals fall under AB 1482, which caps increases in the Los Angeles area at 8.0%. From August 1, 2026, that cap rises to 8.7%. If your unit is under the City of L.A.’s rent stabilization ordinance (RSO), the limit is just 3% this year. A $300 increase is only legal if it fits under your cap.

Do the math first: what % is $300 of your rent?

Divide 300 by your current monthly rent. That single number usually answers the question:

Current rent	$300 increase =	Legal under AB 1482 (8.0% now / 8.7% from Aug 1)?	Legal under L.A. RSO (3%)?
$2,000	15%	No	No
$2,500	12%	No	No
$3,000	10%	No	No
$3,500	8.6%	Not until Aug 1, 2026 — then yes	No
$4,000	7.5%	Yes	No
$10,000	3%	Yes	Yes

So for a typical Los Angeles apartment renting between $2,000 and $3,000, a $300 increase is over the legal limit for any rent-capped unit.

Which rule covers your unit?

1. City of L.A. RSO units — 3% max this year

If your building is in the City of Los Angeles and was built on or before October 1, 1978, it is almost certainly covered by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Two big changes just took effect: as of July 1, 2026, the annual allowable increase is calculated at 90% of CPI with a 1% floor and a 4% ceiling — it works out to 3% for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. And since February 2, 2026, landlords can no longer add the old 1% + 1% utility surcharges. One increase per 12 months. You can check any address at zimas.lacity.gov.

2. AB 1482 units — 8.0% now, 8.7% from August 1, 2026

Most other apartment buildings in California that are at least 15 years old fall under the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482): annual increases are capped at 5% + local CPI, never more than 10%, with a maximum of two increases in any 12 months (both within the cap). For the L.A. metro area that means 8.0% through July 31, 2026 and 8.7% from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. Cities with their own rent control (Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood) use their own — usually lower — caps; see our guides to Santa Monica rent control and Beverly Hills rent control.

3. Exempt properties — no percentage cap, but strict notice rules

Single-family homes and condos rented individually (when the owner isn’t a corporation or REIT and gave the required exemption notice in the lease), plus buildings issued a certificate of occupancy within the last 15 years, are exempt from AB 1482’s cap. There, a $300 increase can be legal at any rent level — but the notice rules below still apply, and the increase can’t be retaliatory or discriminatory.

Notice requirements (Civil Code §827)

For month-to-month tenancies: an increase of 10% or less requires 30 days’ written notice; an increase of more than 10% requires 90 days’ written notice. If the notice is served by mail, add 5 days. During a fixed-term lease, rent can’t change until renewal unless the lease itself says otherwise.

If you’re a tenant facing an illegal increase

Put it in writing: cite AB 1482 (Civil Code §1947.12) or the L.A. RSO, state your current rent and the percentage the increase represents, and keep paying your current lawful rent. Increases above the cap are void for covered units — you cannot be evicted for refusing to pay the unlawful portion. The L.A. Housing Department (1-866-557-7368) takes RSO complaints.

If you’re an owner: how to raise rent the right way

Rent increase mistakes are one of the most expensive errors an independent landlord can make in Los Angeles — an over-cap notice is unenforceable, restarts your timeline, and can trigger tenant complaints or worse. The right sequence: confirm your property’s status (RSO vs. AB 1482 vs. exempt), apply the correct current percentage, serve the correct notice with the correct lead time, and document everything. Our team does this across 1,100+ units every month — get a free rental analysis and we’ll tell you exactly what your allowable increase is and what your unit should rent for. Also see: How often can landlords raise rent in California?

FAQ

Can my landlord raise my rent $300 a month in California?

Only if $300 is within your unit’s cap (8.0% for L.A.-area AB 1482 units through July 31, 2026; 8.7% after; 3% for City of L.A. RSO units) — or if the property is legitimately exempt, in which case notice rules still apply.

How much notice does my landlord have to give?

30 days for increases of 10% or less; 90 days for more than 10% (plus 5 days if mailed).

Can rent go up twice in one year?

Under AB 1482, up to two increases in 12 months, but combined they must stay within the annual cap. Under the L.A. RSO, only one increase per 12 months.

Is my building rent-controlled?

City of L.A.: built on or before Oct 1, 1978 → RSO. Check any address at zimas.lacity.gov, or ask us — we’ll look it up free.

2026 update: for the full rundown of every California rental law change this year — required appliances, disaster protections, and the new RSO formula — see New California Rental Laws in 2026.