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Can My Landlord Raise My Rent $300 in California?

It depends on the percentage, not the dollar amount. California caps most rent increases at 5% plus local inflation, up to 10% total, in any 12-month period (Civil Code §1947.12). A $300 increase is legal if it falls under that cap for your current rent: on a $3,500 apartment that's under 9%, likely fine; on a $2,000 apartment it's 15%, likely over the line unless your unit is exempt from the statewide cap.

Check your exact increase

Enter your current rent and the dollar amount it's going up. You'll see the percentage instantly, and whether it's in range for California.

Is this legal in California?

Under the Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), most apartments statewide can't have their rent raised by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index change, or 10% total, whichever is lower, in any rolling 12-month period. This is a statewide floor: buildings under 15 years old, single-family homes with proper notice, and some deed-restricted or owner-occupied units are exempt from AB 1482 itself, and a number of cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Monica, and others) have their own local rent control ordinances with lower caps that apply instead where they're stricter.

Notice required: 30 days’ written notice for increases up to 10%; 60 days’ notice for increases over 10%. (California Civil Code §1947.12 (AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019))

Legal doesn't mean final

Even a fully lawful increase can still be negotiable. Leasing offices build in room to move, especially for a renter who's paid on time, wants to renew rather than move out, and can point to real comparable units nearby. A legal increase and a negotiable one are not the same thing.

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Frequently asked questions

Can my landlord raise my rent every year?
In most places, yes, as long as they give proper notice and the increase doesn’t exceed any legal cap that applies in your city or state. A lease term protects you from a mid-lease increase, but at renewal or on a month-to-month tenancy, an annual increase is generally allowed.
Can my landlord raise my rent without notice?
No. Every state requires some minimum written notice before a rent increase takes effect, typically 30 to 90 days depending on the state and the size of the increase. An increase that shows up with no notice, or less than your state requires, is worth challenging.
What is a reasonable rent increase percentage?
There’s no single legal definition of "reasonable" outside of places with a rent-control cap, but increases in the low single digits (roughly 3–5%) are typically considered ordinary in most U.S. markets. Anything meaningfully higher is worth checking against your local market and, where one exists, any legal cap.
How much notice is required for a rent increase in California?
30 days’ written notice for increases up to 10%; 60 days’ notice for increases over 10%. (California Civil Code §827.)