Is My Rental Exempt from AB 1482?
What Properties Are Exempt from AB 1482 in California?
AB 1482 caps rent increases and adds just cause eviction protections for millions of California renters. But not every property is covered. If you own a newer building, a single-family home, or a condo in Orange County or the Inland Empire, your property may qualify for an exemption. The catch: some exemptions only hold if you take specific written action before a lease is signed.
In This Article
- What Is AB 1482 and Who Does It Affect?
- Complete AB 1482 Exemption Table
- The 15-Year Window Explained
- The SFR/Condo Notice: Don’t Skip This Step
- OC Landlords vs. IE Landlords: What Changes
- How Just Cause Eviction Overlaps with Exemptions
- Consequences of Illegal Rent Increases
- How to Confirm Your Exemption Status
- 6 Mistakes That Kill Your Exemption
- Calculating the Correct Rent Increase
- How TrueDoor Manages Your Exemption Status
- Decision Matrix: What to Do Next
- Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is AB 1482 and Who Does It Affect?
California’s Tenant Protection Act of 2019, commonly called AB 1482, went into effect on January 1, 2020. The law has two main teeth: a rent increase cap and just cause eviction protections. For covered properties, landlords cannot raise rent more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, with a hard ceiling of 10%, in any 12-month period. Once a tenant has lived in the unit for at least 12 months, the landlord must also demonstrate just cause to terminate the tenancy.
As Kyle Thompson, Owner of TrueDoor Property Management, puts it: “California has become increasingly tenant-friendly and a little bit anti-landlord.” That observation applies directly to AB 1482. The law applies statewide, but it is not universal. The California Legislature carved out a specific set of exemptions. Understanding which exemptions apply to your property in Orange County or the Inland Empire is one of the most important steps you can take as a landlord. And in some cases, the exemption only survives if you take written action at the right moment.
TrueDoor Property Management has been navigating California’s regulatory landscape for almost 20 years. Our team tracks AB 1482 changes through NARPM and CalNARPM, and we work with independent attorney consultants to interpret new laws before they affect our clients’ properties. We handle exemption notice management as a standard part of our lease process, so property owners in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Redlands, and Murrieta do not have to monitor these requirements on their own.
Not Sure If Your Property Is Covered?
Our team reviews your portfolio and tells you exactly which units fall under AB 1482 and which are exempt. Call us for a free property consultation.
Complete AB 1482 Exemption Table
California Civil Code Section 1947.12(d) lists the categories of properties that are not subject to the rent increase cap. The table below summarizes each exemption category, what qualifies, what does not, and what landlord action is required. The “action required” column is critical: some exemptions are automatic, while others depend entirely on whether you served the correct notice.
| Exemption Category | Status | What Qualifies | What Does NOT Qualify | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Construction (15-Year Rule) | EXEMPT | Any rental unit where the certificate of occupancy was issued within the past 15 years (rolling window). | Buildings that passed the 15-year mark in any prior year. Once covered, the unit remains covered. | None required. Exemption is automatic based on the occupancy date. Track the anniversary each year. |
| Single-Family Homes and Condos | CONDITIONAL | SFRs and condos not owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC where a single member is a corporation. | SFRs or condos where the landlord has NOT served the required written exemption notice. Also: corporate-owned SFRs and REITs. | MANDATORY: Serve written notice to tenant before or at lease signing. Without the notice, the exemption does not apply even if the property qualifies. |
| Owner-Occupied Duplex | EXEMPT | A duplex where the owner occupies one of the two units as their primary residence, and that occupancy began before the tenancy began. | A duplex where the owner does not live on the property, or moved in after the tenant already occupied the unit. | No notice required, but keep documentation confirming owner’s primary residence predates the tenancy. |
| Affordable Housing with Deed Restrictions | EXEMPT | Units that are already subject to affordability restrictions under a recorded covenant or regulatory agreement with a government entity. | Market-rate units. Privately negotiated below-market rents without a recorded restriction do not qualify. | None required, but keep the recorded document accessible. Confirm the restriction is still in effect. |
| Dormitories and Student Housing | EXEMPT | Dormitories and housing owned and operated by an institution of higher education for use by students. | Private rentals near a university that happen to be rented to students. Only institutional dormitory-style housing qualifies. | None required. |
| Short-Term Rentals and Hotels | EXEMPT | Transient occupancy of fewer than 30 days. Hotels, motels, and short-term rental platforms. | Any tenancy that has extended or is expected to extend beyond 30 days, even if it began as a short-term stay. | Monitor occupancy duration carefully. If a stay crosses 30 days, AB 1482 protections may attach. |
Single-family homes and condos are the only exemption that can be lost through inaction. If you own a qualifying SFR in Irvine or Redlands and never served the written notice, you are operating as if your property is covered, even if it legally qualifies for the exemption. TrueDoor includes exemption notice management in every lease we handle for SFR and condo clients.
The 15-Year Window Explained
The new construction exemption in AB 1482 is often misunderstood. The 15-year period is not fixed from the law’s effective date in 2020. It is a rolling window that moves forward every year. A building with a certificate of occupancy issued in 2011 was exempt in 2020 when AB 1482 took effect, but it crossed into covered territory in 2026 when its 15-year window expired. A building issued its certificate in 2012 will become covered in 2027.
This matters enormously for landlords in Orange County and the Inland Empire who own mid-2000s or early 2010s construction. If you bought a newer building assuming it was permanently exempt because it was built after 2010, you need to verify your certificate date and calculate when the window closes. Many OC landlords with properties completed between 2010 and 2012 are either newly covered or approaching coverage now.
Certificate of occupancy issued in 2015 or later: still inside the 15-year window as of 2026. Confirm the exact year before assuming the exemption holds. Track the anniversary date each year as the window will eventually expire.
Buildings completed between 2011 and 2014 are either newly covered or approaching the end of their exemption window. A building with a 2012 occupancy date enters coverage in 2027. Pull your certificate and calculate the exact date now.
A certificate of occupancy issued before 2011 means the property has already passed the 15-year mark as of 2026. These units are subject to AB 1482 rent limits unless another exemption applies, such as the SFR/condo or owner-occupied duplex categories.
OC and IE Examples: Does Your Building Still Qualify?
Consider a 12-unit apartment complex in Anaheim that completed construction in 2013. That building’s 15-year clock runs through 2028, so it remains exempt in 2026. The landlord can raise rents beyond the 5% + CPI cap until that window closes. A similar building in Fontana that received its certificate in 2010 crossed into covered territory in 2025 and is now subject to the full AB 1482 rent increase limits.
In the Redlands market, which has older building stock on average, a property owner with a complex built in 2003 has been fully covered since 2018, even before AB 1482 passed. The law simply codified rules that applied to them from day one of its effective date. For newer Redlands properties completed in 2015 or later, the exemption currently holds. TrueDoor tracks each property’s occupancy date as part of our standard portfolio management in that market.
TrueDoor Tracks Exemption Status for Every Property We Manage
We monitor the rolling 15-year window for every building in our portfolio. When a property is approaching the coverage threshold, we notify the owner and plan accordingly. Reach out to learn how we manage this for OC and IE portfolios.
The SFR/Condo Exemption Notice: Don’t Skip This Step
The single-family home and condo exemption is the area where TrueDoor sees the most landlord errors. Unlike the new construction exemption, which is automatic based on a date, the SFR and condo exemption requires the landlord to serve a specific written notice to the tenant. If the notice is not served before or at the time of lease signing, the exemption does not apply, regardless of whether the property would otherwise qualify.
This is not a technicality you can cure after the fact. Under California Civil Code Section 1947.12(d)(5), the notice is a condition of the exemption. A landlord who raises rent above the AB 1482 cap on an unnoticed SFR is treated as if they are in violation, even if the property is a true single-family home not owned by a corporation. The only protection is the notice, served at the right time, with the correct statutory language.
What the Notice Must Say
The Civil Code requires specific language. The notice must include a statement that the property is not subject to the rent limits of Section 1947.12 of the Civil Code and is not subject to the just cause eviction requirements of Section 1946.2. The exact wording California courts expect:
“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.”
(This is the single-family-residence version of the notice. Condo notices use the parallel language in Civil Code Section 1947.12(d)(5)(B).)
An owner in Irvine rents their single-family home, forgets to include the exemption notice in the lease, and then tries to raise rent 12% two years later. The tenant files a complaint. Because the notice was never served, the property is treated as a covered unit. The landlord must roll back the increase, refund the excess, and potentially face a tenant lawsuit for wrongful rent increases. This situation is entirely preventable. The notice takes two minutes to add to a lease. Skipping it costs thousands.
Who Must Serve the Notice
The notice requirement applies to single-family homes and condos not owned by a corporation, a real estate investment trust (REIT), or a limited liability company where one of the members is a corporation. If you are an individual landlord renting your single-family home in Huntington Beach, Murrieta, or anywhere else in TrueDoor’s service area, you qualify for the exemption but only if you serve the notice. Corporate and institutional owners of single-family properties do not qualify for this exemption at all.
At TrueDoor, we build the exemption notice into every lease we prepare for qualifying SFR and condo clients. We retain a signed copy in the tenant file and track renewal dates to ensure the notice is re-served as required. This is not an add-on service. It is part of how we protect owner interests across almost a thousand properties managed throughout our four offices.
What AB 1482 Means for OC Landlords vs. IE Landlords
AB 1482 applies statewide, but the practical impact differs between Orange County and the Inland Empire because of local ordinance layers and market characteristics. Understanding your local landscape matters as much as knowing the state law.
| City | Region | Local Rent Ordinance? | More Restrictive Than AB 1482? | Key Notes for Landlords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irvine | OC | No local ordinance | N/A | State AB 1482 is the governing rule. New construction (Irvine’s building stock skews newer) frequently qualifies for the 15-year exemption. |
| Huntington Beach | OC | No local ordinance | N/A | State law governs. Older coastal rentals from the 1990s and early 2000s are fully covered. Newer beachside condos may qualify for the SFR/condo exemption with proper notice. |
| Santa Ana | OC | Yes: Santa Ana Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance | YES, more restrictive | Santa Ana’s local ordinance applies to units built before 1995 and covers buildings with 3+ units. Landlords must comply with whichever law is more tenant-protective. |
| Anaheim | OC | Yes: Anaheim Rent Stabilization Ordinance (2022) | Partially | Anaheim’s ordinance has specific applicability rules. Confirm coverage under both the local ordinance and AB 1482 before raising rent in any Anaheim unit. |
| Redlands | IE | No local ordinance | N/A | State AB 1482 governs. Redlands has older building stock, so most units are covered. The University of Redlands rental market adds tenant-friendly pressure even without a local ordinance. |
| Murrieta / Temecula | IE | No local ordinance | N/A | State law only. New construction in this fast-growing market frequently falls inside the 15-year exemption window. Track occupancy dates carefully as the area continues to expand. |
| Riverside | IE | Limited local provisions | Marginally | Riverside city has some local regulations, but they generally align with AB 1482 rather than exceeding it. Confirm with an attorney for specific properties. |
Why Santa Ana Landlords Need Extra Attention
For landlords with properties in Santa Ana, AB 1482 is not the primary concern. The Santa Ana Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance predates the state law and applies to older multi-unit buildings with its own rent increase formula and eviction requirements. If you own a 10-unit building in Santa Ana built in 1988, you face the local ordinance first and AB 1482 as a secondary floor. TrueDoor’s Santa Ana case study, a roughly 50-unit property that had been neglected for years under a distressed out-of-state owner, illustrates exactly how complex this environment can get. Our team identified every compliance and legal risk item on the property and stabilized it within 30 days.
For most Inland Empire cities, including Redlands, Fontana, Ontario, and Murrieta, landlords operate under state law only. There is no additional local layer. This gives IE landlords somewhat more predictability, though AB 1482 still applies fully to covered units in those markets.
Offices in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Redlands, and Murrieta
TrueDoor is positioned across OC and the IE specifically because these are distinct markets with different regulatory footprints. Call us to discuss how AB 1482 applies to your specific city and property type.
How Just Cause Eviction Overlaps with Exemptions
AB 1482 contains two distinct protections. The first is the rent increase cap. The second is just cause eviction, which requires a landlord to have a legally recognized reason to terminate a tenancy for tenants who have lived in the unit for 12 months or more. These two protections do not always travel together, and understanding the distinction matters for landlords who believe their property is exempt.
If your property qualifies for an exemption from the rent increase cap, that exemption may also apply to just cause eviction requirements. For the new construction exemption, both the rent cap and just cause protections do not apply during the 15-year window. For single-family homes and condos with proper notice, both protections are waived. However, once the 15-year window closes on a building that was previously exempt, just cause eviction requirements apply from that point forward for any tenant who subsequently reaches the 12-month threshold.
The interaction becomes more nuanced when a tenant has already been in the unit for over 12 months at the time the building exits the exemption window. TrueDoor recommends all clients consult with a California landlord-tenant attorney when a property is transitioning from exempt to covered status, especially if existing tenants are approaching or have passed the 12-month mark. Our team can identify which properties in your portfolio are in transition and connect you with appropriate legal resources.
Consequences of Illegal Rent Increases Under AB 1482
Raising rent above the AB 1482 cap on a covered property is not a paperwork issue. It exposes the landlord to tenant civil claims, regulatory complaints, and potential penalty damages. California landlords who implement illegal rent increases face several specific risks.
Civil lawsuit by tenant: A tenant may sue for actual damages, which include the excess rent paid. Courts may also award treble damages, up to three times the excess rent amount, in cases of willful, oppressive, fraudulent, or malicious violations.
Civil Rights Department complaint: Tenants can file complaints with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly DFEH) if the illegal increase intersects with protected class issues or is part of a broader pattern of harassment.
Rent rollback orders: Courts can require the landlord to refund all excess rent paid since the illegal increase began, with interest.
Eviction defense: A tenant may use an illegal rent increase as a defense in an unlawful detainer proceeding, potentially delaying or defeating the eviction.
Reputational damage: Regulatory filings and civil judgments become part of the public record in California, which can affect future tenant applicants and lender evaluations.
The cost of an illegal increase compounds quickly. Assume a landlord in Huntington Beach raises rent $400 per month above the legal cap on a covered unit. Over 18 months, the excess collected is $7,200. Add a three-month civil penalty at the new rent level and the landlord is potentially facing a $10,000 or greater judgment, plus attorney fees if the tenant prevails under fee-shifting provisions. The cost of serving the exemption notice or calculating the correct CPI-adjusted cap is, by comparison, negligible.
TrueDoor’s property management service includes annual rent increase analysis for every covered unit we manage. We calculate the correct cap for your county’s CPI, prepare the notice to tenant, and document the increase properly. Our goal is that no TrueDoor client in Orange County or the Inland Empire ever faces an illegal rent increase claim because we caught the issue before the notice went out.
How to Confirm Your Exemption Status in 5 Steps
Every California landlord with rental property should complete this process at least once per year, because the rolling 15-year window moves and your exemption status can change even if nothing about your property changes physically.
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1Pull the Certificate of Occupancy
Locate the original certificate of occupancy for every building you own. The date of issuance is the starting point for the 15-year calculation. If you do not have the document, you can typically obtain it from your local building department. In Orange County cities, the county or city building department maintains records. In Redlands, contact the Redlands Building and Safety Division.
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2Calculate the 15-Year Expiration Date
Add 15 years to the certificate of occupancy date. If that date has already passed, the new construction exemption no longer applies. If it has not yet passed, the exemption still holds, but mark your calendar for the expiration year so you can plan for coverage before it arrives.
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3Identify Your Property Type
Determine whether your property is a single-family home, condo, duplex, or multifamily building. For SFRs and condos not already covered by the new construction exemption, confirm ownership structure. If you own through an LLC where a corporation is a member, you do not qualify for the SFR exemption.
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4Check for Local City Ordinances
Confirm whether your city has a local rent stabilization ordinance that goes beyond AB 1482. In Orange County, Santa Ana and Anaheim have local rules. In the Inland Empire, most cities follow state law only. If a local ordinance applies, the more tenant-protective of the two laws governs your obligations.
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5Serve and Document the Written Notice (SFR/Condo Only)
If your property is a qualifying single-family home or condo, prepare the AB 1482 exemption notice using the statutory language from Civil Code Section 1947.12(d)(5). Serve it to the tenant before or at lease signing. Retain a signed copy. If you are renewing a lease, re-confirm that the notice is in the tenant file or re-serve it with the renewal. TrueDoor handles this step as a standard part of every lease we manage.
Let TrueDoor Handle This Process for Every Property You Own
We track exemption status, serve correct notices, calculate CPI-adjusted caps, and document everything. You focus on ownership. We handle the compliance. Call our team at (714) 899-2200 to get started.
6 Mistakes That Kill Your AB 1482 Exemption
Qualifying for an exemption is not the same as keeping it. These are the six most common errors TrueDoor sees California landlords make when managing exempt properties.
❌ Forgetting the SFR Notice
Skipping the written exemption notice on a single-family home or condo is the single most preventable compliance error. No notice means no exemption, even if the property qualifies in every other way.
❌ Treating the 15-Year Window as Permanent
Buying a newer building and assuming it is permanently exempt is a planning error. The window rolls forward every year. Track the expiration date for every building you own and plan rent strategy around it.
❌ Ignoring Local City Ordinances
AB 1482 exemptions do not override stricter local ordinances. A Santa Ana landlord who assumes the state SFR exemption applies without reviewing the city ordinance may still be subject to local rent stabilization rules for older units.
❌ Corporate Ownership Disqualifying the SFR Exemption
An SFR owned through an LLC with a corporate member does not qualify for the single-family exemption. Some landlords restructure ownership for liability purposes without realizing it changes their AB 1482 status.
❌ Assuming Just Cause Eviction Does Not Apply
Some landlords exempt from rent control still believe they can terminate any tenancy without cause. After 12 months of occupancy, just cause eviction requirements may apply even to some exempt properties, depending on the exemption category.
❌ Losing Track During Property Transitions
When a building moves from exempt to covered status as the 15-year window expires, some landlords continue raising rent at the old rate. Without a system to flag this transition, the next rent increase notice may be an illegal one.
How to Calculate the Correct Rent Increase for a Covered Unit
If your property is covered by AB 1482 and you plan to raise rent, the calculation is more involved than simply adding 5%. The law says the cap is 5% plus the “percentage change in the cost of living,” which refers to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for the region where your property is located, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. California uses the April-to-April change in the regional CPI, not the national CPI and not a statewide average.
For Orange County properties, the relevant CPI is the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan statistical area index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For Inland Empire properties in San Bernardino or Riverside County, the relevant index is the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA. These two regions can produce different CPI figures in any given year, which means landlords with properties in both markets need to calculate separately.
The Calculation Formula
The maximum allowable increase is the lesser of: (a) 5% plus the percentage change in the applicable CPI, or (b) 10%. If the CPI change is 4%, your cap is 9%. If the CPI change is 6%, your cap is still 10% because that is the hard ceiling. If the CPI change is 0% or negative, your cap is 5%.
Scenario: You own a 16-unit apartment complex in Irvine, built in 2005. The property is covered by AB 1482. The April 2024 to April 2025 CPI for the Los Angeles MSA was 3.0% (BLS, published via HCD/AAGLA CPI update).
Calculation: 5% + 3.0% = 8.0%. The hard cap is 10%. Your allowable increase is 8.0% for the 12-month period beginning in August 2025.
Action: Issue a rent increase notice that reflects the 8.0% increase. The notice must be served at least 30 days before the effective date for increases of 10% or less, or 90 days for increases above 10% (which are not permitted under AB 1482 for covered units).
If you charge more: The excess is an illegal rent increase. The tenant may seek a rent rollback plus damages.
Notice Timing Requirements for Covered Units
Under California Civil Code Section 827, landlords must give proper advance notice before a rent increase takes effect. For increases of 10% or less, the notice period is 30 days. AB 1482 did not change this rule directly, but it did restrict the amount, which means if your increase is at or below the 5% + CPI cap, the 30-day notice applies. For month-to-month tenants, the notice must also comply with the just cause eviction requirements if the tenant has been in the unit for 12 or more months.
One additional rule that catches landlords off guard: AB 1482 limits raises that happen within a 12-month period. If you raised rent in January and then want to raise it again in July, the cumulative total of both increases cannot exceed the cap. The law looks at the last 12 months, not just the most recent single increase. TrueDoor’s team calculates the allowable increase window for every property we manage before a notice goes out, so no TrueDoor client inadvertently crosses the cap with a mid-year second increase.
Get Your Rent Increase Numbers Right the First Time
TrueDoor calculates the correct CPI-adjusted cap for every covered unit in your portfolio before any increase notice is issued. Call (714) 899-2200 to discuss your specific properties.
How TrueDoor Manages AB 1482 Exemption Status for Your Portfolio
Kyle Thompson’s view is that regulatory complexity is one of the clearest reasons to hire a professional property manager rather than self-managing. “Property managers are becoming a much more needed service provider because of the complexity of navigating tenant relations, applications for properties, and making sure that we stay in line with California laws,” Kyle has noted. AB 1482 is Exhibit A. For a self-managing landlord with even two or three properties across different vintages and types, keeping exemption status current, calculating correct CPI increases, and serving the right notices at the right time is genuinely complicated work.
TrueDoor stays current on AB 1482 and related laws through NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) and CalNARPM, California’s state chapter, which tracks California-specific legal changes and publishes guidance for member property managers. TrueDoor also works with independent attorney consultants who interpret new laws as they pass and advise on specific property situations. When a law like AB 1482 is amended or a city like Anaheim passes a local ordinance, TrueDoor’s compliance process is updated before the next lease cycle.
What TrueDoor Does for Your AB 1482 Compliance
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1Portfolio Classification on Intake
When a new property owner joins TrueDoor, our team classifies every unit: covered, exempt by new construction window, exempt by SFR/condo with notice, exempt by owner-occupied duplex, or subject to a local ordinance. This classification drives all downstream compliance decisions for that property.
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2Certificate of Occupancy Review
For every building, we pull or request the certificate of occupancy date and calculate the 15-year window expiration. Properties approaching the end of the exemption period are flagged so owners have time to plan rent strategy before the unit enters covered status.
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3Exemption Notice in Every SFR and Condo Lease
For every qualifying single-family home or condo we manage, the AB 1482 exemption notice is built into the standard lease template. There is no opportunity to forget it. We retain a signed copy in the tenant file and re-confirm at each lease renewal.
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4Annual CPI-Adjusted Increase Calculations
Each year, before rent increase season, TrueDoor calculates the allowable cap for every covered unit using the correct regional CPI index. No owner receives an increase recommendation that exceeds the legal limit. Notices are drafted and served with the correct advance notice period.
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5Local Ordinance Monitoring for OC Properties
For properties in Santa Ana and Anaheim, TrueDoor applies the local ordinance analysis on top of the state AB 1482 analysis. Where a local rule is more restrictive, we follow the local rule. Owners in those cities receive communications that explain which regulation governs the rent increase for their specific unit.
TrueDoor’s service model is built around alignment with the property owner: maximum rent, full occupancy, clean books. That alignment extends to regulatory compliance. A missed exemption notice or an illegal rent increase damages the owner’s position with the tenant and potentially in court. TrueDoor’s systems are designed to prevent those errors before they happen, not to respond to them afterward.
Kyle on the broader picture: “There’s no problem that we haven’t heard of.” That depth of experience is what makes TrueDoor’s compliance process robust. When an edge case arises, like a property transitioning from exempt to covered mid-tenancy, or an LLC structure that affects SFR exemption eligibility, TrueDoor’s team has navigated it before.
Ready to Let TrueDoor Handle the Regulatory Details?
With offices in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Redlands, and Murrieta, TrueDoor serves property owners across Orange County and the Inland Empire. Almost a thousand Google reviews reflect almost 20 years of doing this well. Call us to get started.
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
A condensed reference for California landlords confirming AB 1482 exemption status. Print this or save it.
| If your property is… | Then… | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Built within the last 15 years | Exempt from rent cap and just cause (new construction window) | Track certificate date; set calendar reminder for window expiration |
| A qualifying SFR or condo with notice served | Exempt from rent cap and just cause | Serve written notice before lease signing; retain signed copy |
| A qualifying SFR or condo WITHOUT notice served | COVERED despite qualifying property type | Do not raise rent above cap; serve notice at next lease renewal |
| An owner-occupied duplex | Exempt (no notice required) | Keep documentation that your occupancy predates the tenant’s |
| A multifamily building older than 15 years | Covered by AB 1482 | Calculate allowable increase using 5% + local CPI, max 10% |
| In Santa Ana or Anaheim | Also subject to local ordinance | Apply whichever law is more restrictive for your specific unit |
| A tenant crossing the 12-month mark | Just cause eviction may apply | Review the exemption category for your property before any termination |
Decision Matrix: What Should You Do Next?
Once you have confirmed your property’s exemption status, the next step depends on where your property falls in the matrix below. Every scenario points to a specific action. If you are uncertain which row applies to you, TrueDoor’s team can walk through the analysis with you in a free consultation.
| Your Situation | AB 1482 Status | Immediate Action | Annual Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment building, built 2015 or later | EXEMPT | Pull the certificate of occupancy and note the 15-year expiration date. | Each January, verify the expiration date has not passed. Plan rent strategy for the transition year. |
| Apartment building, built 2010 or earlier | COVERED | Calculate the allowable rent increase using 5% + regional CPI, max 10%. | Calculate the updated cap each spring using the April CPI. Issue increase notices with the correct advance notice period. |
| SFR or condo, individual owner, notice served | EXEMPT | Confirm signed notice is in the tenant file. Retain for the life of the tenancy. | Re-confirm notice is present at each lease renewal. Re-serve if renewing with a new lease agreement. |
| SFR or condo, individual owner, no notice served | COVERED (currently) | Do not raise rent above the AB 1482 cap until the notice is served. Serve the notice at the next lease renewal. | Once the notice is served with a new lease, the exemption applies going forward. Document and retain. |
| Owner-occupied duplex | EXEMPT | Document that your occupancy began before the tenant’s. No notice required. | If you move out, re-evaluate status. The exemption depends on continuous owner occupancy as primary residence. |
| Property in Santa Ana or Anaheim | LOCAL ORDINANCE APPLIES | Review the local ordinance for your specific property type and age. Determine which law is more restrictive. | Monitor the local ordinance for annual updates. Santa Ana and Anaheim both amend their rules periodically. |
| Building transitioning from exempt to covered this year | TRANSITION YEAR | Determine the exact date the 15-year window closes. Rent increases before that date are uncapped; after that date, the AB 1482 cap applies. | Set up the AB 1482 compliance process for all future increases. Notify tenants of the change via the CPI-adjusted notice. |
AB 1482 and Related California Laws to Monitor
AB 1482 does not operate in isolation. California continues to add and amend tenant protection laws, and each new layer interacts with the existing framework. TrueDoor tracks these changes through NARPM and CalNARPM so clients do not have to monitor the regulatory calendar on their own.
AB 2493, which reformed tenant screening application fees effective January 1, 2025, gives landlords two compliance paths: publish written screening criteria and process applications in the order received, or charge an application fee and refund it to unselected applicants within the statutory window. Landlords must also give applicants an adverse-action notice identifying which report was used and how to dispute it. This law does not overlap directly with AB 1482, but it applies to the same pool of properties and any violations can affect a landlord’s position in subsequent legal proceedings. Similarly, California’s just cause eviction requirements under Civil Code Section 1946.2, and local ordinances like Santa Ana’s, continue to evolve through city council action and court interpretation. TrueDoor recommends all OC and IE landlords review their lease templates and compliance practices at least once per year.
For more detail on California’s rent control landscape, see our related guides on the just cause eviction requirements under AB 1482, how AB 2493 changed tenant screening in California, and what the Santa Ana Rent Stabilization Ordinance means for OC landlords. Our team updates these resources as the law changes.
Questions About AB 1482? Our Team Has Answers.
TrueDoor’s property management team in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Redlands, and Murrieta handles compliance questions from OC and IE landlords every day. Call us or request a free consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AB 1482 apply to a newly constructed building?
AB 1482 exempts buildings for the first 15 years after their certificate of occupancy was issued. This is a rolling window, so a building completed in 2012 will become covered in 2027. If your building received its certificate in 2011 or later as of 2026, check the exact date against the rolling cutoff because the window shifts every year.
What happens if I forget to serve the AB 1482 exemption notice for my single-family home?
Failure to serve the required written notice means your single-family home or condo loses its exemption, even if it would otherwise qualify. California Civil Code Section 1947.12(d) makes the notice a condition of the exemption itself. You must serve the correct statutory language before or when the tenant signs the lease.
Does AB 1482 rent control apply to single-family homes?
Single-family homes and condos are exempt from AB 1482 rent limits if the landlord serves the required written notice to the tenant. Without that notice, they are treated as covered units and the rent increase cap applies. Owner-occupied duplexes are exempt without a notice requirement.
What is the maximum rent increase under AB 1482 for covered units?
AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at the lower of 5% plus local CPI or 10% total. For the 12-month period beginning August 2025, that worked out to 8.0% in Orange County (Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI region) and roughly 7.5% in the Inland Empire (Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario CPI region). Landlords must use the correct CPI figure for their county, not a statewide average.
Does AB 1482 apply to properties in the Inland Empire?
Yes. AB 1482 is a statewide law and applies to covered properties in the Inland Empire, including Redlands, Fontana, Riverside, and surrounding cities. Most IE cities do not have their own stricter local rent ordinances, so state law is the primary rule. Riverside city has some local provisions, but they generally align with AB 1482.
Can I evict a tenant even if my property is exempt from AB 1482 rent control?
If your property is exempt from AB 1482 rent limits, you may still be subject to the just cause eviction requirements if a tenant has lived there for 12 or more months. The exemption from rent limits and the exemption from just cause eviction are separate analyses. For most newer buildings and single-family homes with proper notice, both exemptions apply, but confirm with an attorney for your specific situation.
Do Orange County cities like Anaheim and Santa Ana have additional rent control rules beyond AB 1482?
Santa Ana has its own rent stabilization ordinance that is more restrictive than AB 1482 for older covered properties. Anaheim passed a rent stabilization ordinance in 2022. For properties in those cities, landlords must comply with whichever law is more tenant-protective. Most other OC cities follow state law only.
Related Resources for California Landlords
AB 1482 is one part of a broader regulatory framework that California landlords must navigate. The topics below are directly connected to exemption status and rent increase compliance. TrueDoor has dedicated guides on each of these areas for OC and IE property owners.
AB 1482’s second protection requires landlords to document a specific legally recognized reason before terminating a tenancy in a covered unit after 12 months. Understanding which reasons qualify and how to document them properly protects you in an unlawful detainer proceeding.
California’s AB 2493, effective January 1, 2025, gives landlords two compliance paths for screening applicants: publish written screening criteria and process applications in the order received, or charge an application fee and refund it to unselected applicants within the statutory window. This law applies to the same properties as AB 1482 and works alongside it in the leasing process.
Santa Ana’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance applies to older multi-unit buildings within the city limits. OC landlords with Santa Ana properties must analyze this local ordinance separately from AB 1482 and follow whichever rule is more tenant-protective.
California Civil Code Section 827 governs how and when rent increase notices must be delivered. For covered units, the notice must comply with both Section 827 timing and the AB 1482 cap. TrueDoor prepares and serves compliant notices for all managed properties.
Talk to TrueDoor About Your Specific Properties
Whether you have one rental home in Huntington Beach or a 50-unit complex in Redlands, our team gives you a clear compliance picture for every property. Call (714) 899-2200 or request a free consultation.
A Note on Legal Counsel
This article covers the framework of AB 1482 exemptions as they apply to Orange County and Inland Empire property owners. It is informational, not legal advice. California landlord-tenant law is complex, and individual property situations can involve facts that change the analysis. The exemptions described here have exceptions within exceptions. For example, a property may qualify as a single-family residence for AB 1482 purposes but still be subject to local city rules. An LLC structure may look like individual ownership but include a corporate member that disqualifies the SFR exemption.
TrueDoor Property Management works with independent attorney consultants to ensure our compliance processes stay current with California law. When a client situation requires a legal opinion, we coordinate the connection. Property owners who self-manage should maintain an ongoing relationship with a California landlord-tenant attorney who tracks AB 1482 and related laws. The cost of that relationship is consistently lower than the cost of a legal challenge from a tenant claiming an illegal rent increase or wrongful eviction.
Know Your AB 1482 Status Before Your Next Rent Increase
Whether your property is exempt, covered, or transitioning, TrueDoor Property Management gives you a clear picture of where you stand and manages the compliance details so you don’t have to.
Offices in Irvine, Huntington Beach, Redlands, and Murrieta. Serving property owners across Orange County and the Inland Empire.
California’s Tenant Protection Act is not going away, and its exemptions require active management, not passive assumptions. A building you bought as exempt may become covered. A single-family home you have rented for years may never have had the required exemption notice served. A city you assumed followed state law may have passed a local ordinance in the last two years. The regulatory landscape in Orange County and the Inland Empire is dynamic, and TrueDoor’s job is to stay ahead of it for our clients.
If you manage your own properties and have any uncertainty about whether your units are exempt or covered, the most cost-effective thing you can do is call TrueDoor at (714) 899-2200. We will walk through the analysis with you at no charge. Kyle Thompson and his team have been doing this for almost 20 years across four offices. There is no exemption question they have not encountered before.