How to Run the AB 1482 Renewal Increase Conversation With a Redondo Beach Tenant

Published August 10, 2026

Civil Code section 1947.12 caps most California rent increases at 5 percent plus the local CPI change, up to 10 percent, and the notice period jumps from 30 to 90 days once the increase passes 10 percent. Here is a script for a Redondo Beach renewal that states the exact percentage and cites the law correctly.

The short answer

Civil Code section 1947.12 caps most California rent increases at 5 percent plus the local CPI change, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. Notice under Civil Code section 827 is 30 days for an increase of 10 percent or less, and 90 days for anything above that. Tell the Redondo Beach tenant the exact percentage and the exact dollar number in writing.

Last verified: August 10, 2026

The cap formula, in plain terms

Civil Code section 1947.12(a)(1) sets the statewide cap for covered tenancies at "5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower." That ceiling applies over any 12-month period and is measured against the lowest gross rental rate charged for the unit at any time during the 12 months before the increase takes effect, not against whatever the tenant happens to be paying today if a prior temporary reduction was given.

"Cost of living" is not a number a landlord picks. The statute ties it to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, CPI-U, for the metropolitan area that includes the rental property. For a Redondo Beach unit, that is the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI-U series published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If no CPI-U series exists for a given area, the statute falls back to the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Department of Industrial Relations.

Two things follow. First, the cap moves every year with CPI, so a Redondo Beach landlord cannot reuse last year's percentage. Second, the cap tops out at 10 percent even in a year when 5 percent plus CPI would run higher. This research did not retrieve the specific CPI-U figure published for the relevant month, so do not plug in a percentage from memory. Confirm the current figure against the Bureau of Labor Statistics release for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area before you send a notice.

Section 1947.12 also carries exemptions, including certain single-family homes and condos where the required exemption notice was given, and newer construction on a rolling basis. Confirm a given Redondo Beach unit is actually covered before applying the cap at all.

The notice period depends on the size of the increase

This is the piece landlords most often get backward. The cap statute, section 1947.12, does not set the notice period. Civil Code section 827 does, and it applies to any rent increase, not just ones near the AB 1482 ceiling.

Under section 827(b)(2), a rent increase must be delivered at least 30 days before the effective date, and that is the rule for an increase of 10 percent or less, measured against the amount the tenant was charged at any time during the 12 months before the effective date.

Under section 827(b)(3)(A), once the increase exceeds 10 percent, the notice period jumps to at least 90 days before the effective date.

Because the AB 1482 cap for most Redondo Beach tenancies lands at or below 10 percent, the 30 day notice period applies most often. But if a unit is exempt from the AB 1482 percentage cap, an owner can lawfully propose a larger increase, and that is where the 90 day clock kicks in. Check the percentage before you decide which notice period governs, not the other way around.

Quick reference

| Question | Answer | Citation |

|---|---|---|

| Cap formula for covered tenancies | 5 percent plus CPI change, or 10 percent, whichever is lower | Civil Code 1947.12(a)(1) |

| CPI input for Redondo Beach | CPI-U, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area | Civil Code 1947.12(a)(1) |

| Increase measured against | Lowest gross rental rate charged in the prior 12 months | Civil Code 1947.12(a)(1) |

| Notice period, increase of 10 percent or less | At least 30 days before the effective date | Civil Code 827(b)(2) |

| Notice period, increase greater than 10 percent | At least 90 days before the effective date | Civil Code 827(b)(3)(A) |

A script for the renewal conversation

The goal of this conversation is to state a number, not to negotiate a feeling. A Redondo Beach tenant who gets a vague "rents are going up" text has every reason to be anxious and to push back. A tenant who gets a specific percentage tied to a specific code section has something to evaluate.

Opening line, spoken or in a cover email attached to the written notice:

"Your lease is coming up for renewal on [date]. California law under Civil Code section 1947.12 limits how much we can raise the rent this year, and we're increasing it by [X] percent, from $[current rent] to $[new rent], effective [date]. That's within the legal cap for this area based on the current cost of living figure. You'll also see the formal notice attached, which is required to go out at least [30 or 90] days before the new rent starts."

If the tenant asks how you calculated the number:

"The cap is 5 percent plus the change in the cost of living index for the Los Angeles area, capped at 10 percent total. This year that works out to [X] percent. I can show you the published index figure if you'd like to see it."

If the tenant asks whether they have to sign anything:

A renewal increase under section 1947.12 does not require the tenant's signature on a new lease to take effect on a month-to-month tenancy. The written notice itself, served with the correct notice period, is what makes the increase effective. If you are asking the tenant to sign a new fixed-term lease at the new rate, say so separately from the statutory notice.

Do not say: a specific percentage without checking the current CPI-U figure first, or that the cap is a flat number that applies every year. It is not. Do not skip the written notice on the theory that a phone call is enough. Section 827 requires the notice be delivered, and a written notice is the only kind that is easy to prove later.

Building this into a South Bay renewal cycle

If you manage even a handful of Redondo Beach units, put the CPI-U check on a calendar ahead of every renewal season rather than calculating it under time pressure. Confirm whether each unit is exempt under section 1947.12(d) or (e) before running the percentage, then route the written notice with enough lead time that the 30 or 90 day clock does not put you late.

FAQ

Is the AB 1482 cap the same every year?

No. It moves with the CPI-U figure for the property's metro area and is capped at 10 percent even when 5 percent plus CPI would be higher. Recalculate it each renewal cycle rather than reusing a prior year's percentage.

Does the 90 day notice period only apply to units under the AB 1482 cap?

No. The 90 day rule in Civil Code section 827(b)(3)(A) applies to any rent increase over 10 percent, regardless of whether the unit is subject to the AB 1482 percentage cap. Most covered units will never see an increase that large because the cap itself tops out at 10 percent, but an exempt unit could.

What counts as the baseline for measuring the increase?

The lowest gross rental rate charged for the unit at any time during the 12 months before the increase's effective date, under Civil Code section 1947.12(a)(1). If you gave a temporary rent reduction during that period, the increase is measured against that lower figure, not the tenant's usual rent.

Can I raise the rent by exactly 10 percent and still use 30 days notice?

Section 827(b)(2) applies to increases of 10 percent or less, so an increase at exactly 10 percent falls under the 30 day rule. Anything above 10 percent requires 90 days under section 827(b)(3)(A).

Where do I find the current CPI-U figure for the Los Angeles area?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the CPI-U for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. Confirm the specific month and release the statute references before calculating your percentage, since this research did not pull that live figure.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the current CPI-U figure, your unit's exemption status, and your specific notice against the current statute at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov and with a licensed attorney or property manager before sending any rent increase.

Topics: playbook, landlord law, rent increases, South Bay, AB 1482

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