Long Beach Rent Control and AB 1482: Maximum Rent Increase Guide for 2026

April 3, 2026

By Miles Williams, Broker/Owner, Real Property Management Southland

Last Updated: April 2026 | Reading Time: 12 minutes

Every property owner should look at their property as an asset and not just what’s the fee a property manager is going to cost me. The real question is: how are you going to increase the value of my asset over the time that it’s under your management? And when it comes to rent increases in Long Beach, getting that answer right means understanding AB 1482 inside and out.

California’s rent control landscape changed permanently when AB 1482 took effect on January 1, 2020. For Long Beach property owners specifically, this law replaced the city’s own short-lived local ordinance and now serves as the primary regulation governing how much and how often you can increase rent. If you own rental property anywhere in the 90802 through 90815 zip codes, this guide covers exactly what you need to know for 2026.

After managing over 730 properties across Long Beach, Downey, Lakewood, Signal Hill, and surrounding cities over the past 11 years, I can tell you that most rent increase violations we see come from property owners who simply didn’t understand the math or the notice requirements. This guide is designed to prevent those mistakes before they cost you money.

What Is AB 1482 and How It Applies in Long Beach

Assembly Bill 1482, officially called the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, is a statewide law that does two things: it caps how much landlords can increase rent annually, and it requires “just cause” for evictions on covered properties. Governor Newsom signed it into law on October 8, 2019, and it applies to most residential rental properties across California, including Long Beach.

The law is set to remain in effect until January 1, 2030. After that date, the legislature will need to renew, modify, or allow it to expire.

How AB 1482 Works in Practice

Under AB 1482, landlords of covered properties cannot increase rent by more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) change, or 10% total, whichever is lower. Since Long Beach falls within the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan statistical area, the CPI used for calculating your maximum increase is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for that specific metro region.

The CPI figure updates each year based on the April-to-April change, and the new cap takes effect August 1 and runs through July 31 of the following year. This is why the cap period doesn’t align with the calendar year. For property owners in Long Beach neighborhoods from Belmont Shore to North Long Beach, from Bixby Knolls to the East Side, the same statewide formula applies uniformly.

The 2026 Rent Increase Cap: 8% Through July 31

For rent increases effective between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026, the maximum allowable increase under AB 1482 is 8% for properties in Long Beach.

Here is how that number breaks down:

Since 8% is below the 10% absolute ceiling, the 8% figure is your binding maximum for covered properties in Long Beach through July 31, 2026.

Which Long Beach Properties Are Exempt from AB 1482

Not every rental property in Long Beach falls under AB 1482. The law includes several categories of exempt properties. Understanding whether your property qualifies is the first step before calculating any rent increase.

The 15-Year Rolling Exemption

The construction date exemption is not fixed. It rolls forward each year. In 2026, properties built after 2011 are exempt. In 2027, properties built after 2012 will be exempt. This means a building that is currently exempt could become covered as it ages. If you own newer construction in Long Beach neighborhoods like Shoreline Gateway or the downtown corridor near Ocean Boulevard, verify your certificate of occupancy date to confirm your exemption status each year.

Single-Family Home Exemption Requirements

The single-family home exemption is one of the most misunderstood provisions. For your Long Beach single-family rental to qualify as exempt, all three conditions must be true:

1. Ownership structure: The property is not owned by a corporation, real estate investment trust, or an LLC in which at least one member is a corporation. If you hold your Wrigley or California Heights rental in a standard LLC where all members are individuals, you may still qualify.
2. No additional dwelling units: There is not more than one dwelling unit on the same lot. If you have an ADU or converted garage unit on the property, the exemption does not apply to any unit on that lot.
3. Written notice: You must provide the tenant with a specific written notice stating that the property is exempt from AB 1482. The notice language is prescribed by California Civil Code Section 1947.12(d)(5).

How to Calculate Your Maximum Allowable Rent Increase

The math is straightforward once you know your property’s coverage status. Here is how to calculate the maximum compliant rent increase for a covered Long Beach property in 2026.

For a Long Beach property renting at $2,400 per month, the maximum annual increase generates an additional $2,304 in gross rental income. Across a 10-unit building in the Eastside or Wrigley neighborhood, that could represent over $23,000 in additional annual revenue if every unit is at or near the cap.

What If You Increased Rent Earlier This Year?

AB 1482 limits total increases within any 12-month period, not per notice. If you raised rent by 4% in February 2026, you can only increase by an additional 4% during the remainder of that 12-month window to stay within the 8% cap. You are also limited to a maximum of two increases within any 12-month period.

Notice Requirements for Long Beach Rent Increases

Getting the notice period right is just as important as getting the dollar amount right. An increase that exceeds the notice requirement is void, even if the amount itself is within the legal cap.

30-Day vs. 90-Day Notice

Since the 2026 AB 1482 cap is 8%, most compliant rent increases will require only 30 days’ notice. However, if your property is exempt from AB 1482 and you plan to increase rent by 10% or more, you must provide 90 days’ written notice.

Proper Service Methods

California law accepts the following methods for serving a rent increase notice to a Long Beach tenant:

• Personal delivery: Hand the notice directly to the tenant. This is the most reliable method.
• Substituted service: Leave the notice with a person of suitable age at the tenant’s home or workplace, plus mail a copy.
• Post and mail: If no one is available, post the notice on the door and mail a copy. When mailing, add 5 calendar days to the notice period.

Long Beach Relocation Assistance: What Happened and Where It Stands

You may have heard that Long Beach has its own rent control rules beyond AB 1482. That was briefly true, but the situation has changed.

The practical impact for Long Beach property owners today: you only need to comply with AB 1482. There is no separate local ordinance adding additional requirements, relocation payments, or lower caps.

That said, the Long Beach City Council has the authority to adopt new local regulations in the future. We monitor city council agendas and housing policy discussions so our clients are never caught off guard by new rules affecting properties in Belmont Heights, Bixby Knolls, or anywhere else in the city.

Common Rent Increase Mistakes Long Beach Landlords Make

After 11 years of managing rental properties across Long Beach, these are the rent increase errors I see most often from self-managing landlords. Every single one of these can result in the increase being voided, a tenant complaint, or legal liability.

1. Raising Rent on a Covered Property Without Knowing It

The most expensive mistake. A property owner with a single-family home in the Rose Park neighborhood raises rent by 12%, assuming single-family homes are exempt. But they hold the property in an LLC that has a corporate member. The property is covered by AB 1482, the increase exceeds the cap, and the tenant files a complaint. The landlord must roll back the increase and refund the overcharge.

2. Forgetting the Written Exemption Notice

Even if your property genuinely qualifies for the single-family exemption, you must provide the tenant with the specific written notice required by Civil Code 1947.12(d)(5). Without that notice, the exemption does not apply. We see this constantly with self-managing owners in Long Beach’s California Heights and Los Cerritos neighborhoods.

3. Miscounting the 12-Month Window

AB 1482 limits increases within any rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year. If you raised rent on March 1, 2026, your 12-month window runs through February 28, 2027. A second increase in January 2027 would fall within that same window and count toward the 8% cap. You cannot reset the clock by waiting until January 1.

4. Insufficient Notice Period

Mailing a 30-day notice exactly 30 days before the effective date. When served by mail, California law adds 5 calendar days to the notice period. That “30-day notice” is actually a 35-day minimum when mailed. This mistake invalidates the entire increase.

5. Verbal or Informal Rent Increases

Telling a tenant “rent is going up next month” in a text message or phone call does not constitute proper legal notice. California requires written notice served through one of the legally prescribed methods. Informal communication can also create confusion about the effective date and amount.

When and How to Raise Rent Legally in Long Beach

Timing a rent increase correctly can mean the difference between a smooth transition and a vacancy. Here is the practical approach we use across our 730+ property portfolio.

Best Timing for Rent Increases

In Long Beach, vacancy rates and rental demand fluctuate by season. Based on our portfolio data, the strongest rental demand in Long Beach falls between April and September. Properties in neighborhoods near Cal State Long Beach, the VA Medical Center corridor, and the Eastside tend to see the sharpest seasonal demand swings.

• April through August: Peak rental season in Long Beach. Higher demand means tenants are more likely to absorb a reasonable increase rather than vacate.
• September through November: Moderate demand. Increases are still manageable, especially for well-maintained properties in desirable Long Beach neighborhoods like Belmont Shore or Bixby Knolls.
• December through February: Lowest demand. A poorly timed increase during these months is more likely to trigger a vacancy, especially in older buildings along Atlantic Avenue or the downtown corridor.

The Rent Increase Process: Step by Step

1. Verify coverage: Confirm whether your property is covered or exempt from AB 1482. Check construction date, ownership structure, and exemption notice status.
2. Calculate the cap: For covered properties, the current cap is 8% (5% + 3.0% CPI). For exempt properties, there is no state cap, but market conditions and tenant retention should guide your decision.
3. Check your 12-month history: Review whether you have already issued an increase within the past 12 months. If so, calculate the remaining allowance.
4. Research market rent: Compare your current rent to comparable properties in the same Long Beach neighborhood. A 3-bedroom in Wrigley rents differently than a 3-bedroom in Belmont Heights.
5. Prepare written notice: Draft the notice with the current rent, new rent, effective date, and the amount of increase expressed as both a dollar figure and a percentage.
6. Serve notice legally: Use personal delivery, substituted service, or post-and-mail. Document the service method and date.
7. Retain records: Keep copies of the notice, proof of service, and any related correspondence for at least 3 years.

How RPM Southland Optimizes Rent While Staying Compliant

Every property owner should look at their property as an asset. The question is not what the management fee costs. The question is how we are going to increase the value of that asset over time. Rent optimization under AB 1482 is a core part of that answer.

Here is specifically what we do for the Long Beach properties under our management:

The Numbers Behind Our Approach

Our 95% owner retention rate is not accidental. It comes from a simple philosophy: maximize revenue while keeping good tenants in place. An aggressive rent increase that pushes out a reliable tenant costs you 1 to 2 months of vacancy, turnover expenses, and the risk of a less reliable replacement. A strategic increase that keeps the tenant and brings your rent closer to market does more for your bottom line over 3 to 5 years.

That 200-unit portfolio I mentioned earlier went from 75% to 90%+ occupancy, which translated to a $600,000 increase in gross annual rent. That did not happen by maximizing every single increase to the cap. It happened by filling vacancies quickly with qualified tenants, maintaining the properties to justify increases, and implementing increases consistently and legally every year.

For property owners with units in Long Beach’s Eastside, Signal Hill, or the North Long Beach corridor, that approach makes a measurable difference. Consistent 5% to 7% annual increases with zero turnover will outperform 8% increases that trigger vacancies every 18 months.

Frequently Asked Questions: Long Beach Rent Control and AB 1482

Miles Williams

Broker/Owner, Real Property Management Southland

Miles Williams founded RPM Southland in 2014 while completing his Master’s at Cal State Long Beach. Over 11 years, he has grown the company to manage 730+ properties across Long Beach, Downey, Lakewood, Torrance, and 15+ surrounding cities, earning 880+ client reviews and a 95% owner retention rate. California Real Estate Broker, DRE #01968830.

Phone: (562) 270-1777 | Office: 3450 E Spring St #209, Long Beach, CA 90806

Website: rpmsouthland.com