Buena Park is a mid-sized city in northwestern Orange County, home to Knott's Berry Farm and a diverse renter population. There is no local rent control ordinance here — California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) is the sole rent increase and eviction protection available to eligible tenants.·Updated May 2026
✓
Key Takeaways
Most pre-2011 multi-family rentals; single-family homes and condos are exempt under Costa-Hawkins
5% + LA Metro CPI, max 10% per year (approximately 8.8% for 2025)
AB 1482 requires just cause for eviction after 12 months of tenancy
Buena Park sits at the crossroads of Los Angeles and Orange Counties in northwestern Orange County, bordered by cities like Anaheim, Fullerton, and La Palma. With a population of roughly 82,000, the city has a significant renter share — approximately 40% of households are renters — living in a mix of older apartment complexes, garden-style units near the entertainment corridor on Beach Boulevard, and scattered single-family rentals. The local rental market has tightened considerably over the past decade, with median rents for a two-bedroom unit consistently above $2,200.
Buena Park has never enacted a local rent control ordinance, and the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act limits what any California city can regulate at the local level. That means California's statewide AB 1482 — the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — is the primary legal safeguard for most renters in Buena Park. AB 1482 caps annual rent increases and requires landlords to show just cause before evicting a tenant who has lived in the unit for at least 12 months.
This article explains exactly which Buena Park rentals qualify for AB 1482 protections, how the rent cap is calculated using the Los Angeles metro CPI, what counts as just cause for eviction, and where to find local legal help if your landlord is not following the law.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Buena Park?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units in Buena Park that received their certificate of occupancy at least 15 years before the current date. Because this is a rolling threshold, units built before approximately 2011 are generally covered as of 2026. The tenant must also have lived in the unit for at least 12 months before the rent cap or just-cause eviction rules kick in.
The following types of rentals are exempt from AB 1482:
Single-family homes and condominiums — exempted by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner has voluntarily opted in. Landlords of SFHs and condos must provide written notice of the exemption.
Units built within the last 15 years — any unit with a certificate of occupancy issued in 2011 or later (as of 2026) does not qualify.
Owner-occupied duplexes — when the property owner occupies one of the two units, the other unit is exempt.
Corporate-owned single-family homes — SFHs owned by a real estate investment trust (REIT), corporation, or LLC where one member is a corporation are not exempt from AB 1482 the way individually owned SFHs are; they may be covered.
Government-subsidized affordable housing — units with deed restrictions or rental assistance contracts (e.g., Section 8 project-based units) that already impose stricter rent limits are exempt.
Transient and hotel occupancy — short-term rentals, hotels, motels, and similar transient housing are excluded.
If you are unsure whether your Buena Park unit qualifies, use RentCheckMe's address lookup at rentcheckme.com or contact a local legal aid organization.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
Under AB 1482, landlords of covered Buena Park units may raise rent by no more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage change, up to a maximum of 10% per year. Buena Park falls within the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area, so the relevant CPI is the LA Metro CPI published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For 2025, the LA Metro CPI increase is approximately 3.8%, making the allowable cap roughly 8.8% (5% + 3.8%). This figure can shift year to year as inflation rises or falls. Landlords are required to use the April CPI figure from the prior year when calculating permissible increases.
Additional rules governing rent increases under AB 1482:
12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot impose the first rent increase until a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months. After that, the landlord may raise rent no more than twice in any 12-month period, as long as the total does not exceed the annual cap.
No banking of unused increases: If a landlord skips a year or raises rent below the cap, they cannot roll over unused increase percentages into a future year.
Proper notice required: Increases of 10% or less require at least 30 days written notice; increases over 10% (which are not permitted under AB 1482) would require 90 days notice under general California law.
Rollback of illegal increases: If a landlord raised rent above the AB 1482 cap after January 1, 2020, a tenant may have the right to demand a rollback and repayment of excess rent collected.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a tenant has lived in a covered Buena Park rental for 12 months (or if any tenant in the household has lived there for 24 months), AB 1482 prohibits the landlord from terminating the tenancy without just cause. Just cause is divided into two categories:
At-Fault Just Cause
The landlord may evict if the tenant is responsible for one of the following:
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of a lease term (after written notice and an opportunity to cure)
Maintaining, committing, or permitting a nuisance on the property
Committing waste (substantial damage to the property)
Criminal activity on the premises or directed at the landlord or property manager
Refusing the landlord lawful entry after proper notice
Subletting or assigning the unit in violation of the lease
Using the unit for an unlawful purpose
Failure to vacate after a valid, lawful termination of a fixed-term lease where the tenant did not have continuous and uninterrupted tenancy for 12 months
No-Fault Just Cause
Landlords may also terminate a tenancy for reasons that are not the tenant's fault, but they must pay relocation assistance equal to one month's rent (or waive the final month of rent) in these cases:
Owner move-in: The landlord or a qualifying family member intends to move into the unit as their primary residence
Ellis Act withdrawal: The landlord is withdrawing the property from the rental market entirely
Substantial remodel: Renovation requiring permits that cannot safely be done with the tenant in place and will take more than 30 days
Demolition: The landlord intends to demolish the unit
For owner move-in evictions, if the landlord or family member does not move in within 90 days (or moves out within 12 months), the tenant has the right to re-occupy the unit at the prior rent and may be owed damages. Tenants who believe a no-fault eviction is pretextual should seek legal advice immediately.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Buena Park has no local rent control ordinance. The City of Buena Park has not passed any municipal rent stabilization law, and as of 2026, the city has no rent board, no local rent registry, and no local just-cause eviction ordinance beyond what state law requires. This means tenants cannot file a complaint with a city rent board — there is no such body.
The primary reason cities like Buena Park have not enacted stronger local protections is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a 1995 state law that prohibits California cities from applying rent control to units built after February 1, 1995, single-family homes, or condominiums. Because a large share of Buena Park's rental housing stock was built after 1995, any local ordinance would cover a relatively narrow slice of units, and the city council has not moved to pass one even for older units.
For Buena Park renters, this means AB 1482 is your only rent increase and eviction protection, and it is self-enforced — there is no city agency to call if your landlord violates it. If your landlord raises rent above the AB 1482 cap or attempts a no-fault eviction without paying relocation assistance, your options are to send a written demand letter, file in small claims court, or contact a legal aid organization.
The City of Buena Park does operate a Housing Division that can assist with housing code complaints, habitability issues, and referrals to rental assistance programs. They can be reached through the city's housing portal at buenapark.com/housing. Orange County also administers emergency rental assistance through the Orange County Housing Authority at ochousing.org.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by verifying whether your specific Buena Park address qualifies for AB 1482 protections using RentCheckMe's free address lookup at rentcheckme.com. The tool cross-references your unit's age and type against AB 1482 eligibility criteria.
If you need legal help or want to report a violation, the following organizations serve Buena Park renters:
Legal Aid Society of Orange County — Free civil legal services for low-income Orange County residents, including tenant rights, eviction defense, and rent dispute assistance. legal-aid.com
Orange County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — Can connect you with a local attorney for a low-cost consultation on tenant issues. ocbar.org
Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC) — Offers housing counseling, rental assistance referrals, and social services for Orange County residents. capoc.org
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides tenant rights guides and local referrals. tenantstogether.org
Housing Is Key — California's statewide housing assistance hotline for eviction, foreclosure, and rental help. Call 833-430-2122 or visit housingiskey.com.
City of Buena Park Housing Division — For habitability complaints and housing code enforcement. buenapark.com/housing
Orange County Housing Authority — For Section 8 vouchers and emergency rental assistance programs. ochousing.org
7. Resources for Buena Park Tenants
Legal Aid Society of Orange County — Free civil legal services for low-income Orange County residents, including eviction defense and tenant rights.
Orange County Bar Association — Lawyer referral service connecting Buena Park tenants with local attorneys for low-cost consultations.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering tenant rights education and local referrals.
Housing Is Key — California's statewide hotline (833-430-2122) for eviction prevention, rental assistance, and housing resources.
8. Important Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and AB 1482 exemption thresholds change over time; the information here reflects the law as understood in May 2026. Every tenancy is different, and whether AB 1482 applies to your specific unit depends on facts that may require legal analysis. If you have a dispute with your landlord or face eviction, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Orange County.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Buena Park has never passed a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. The only rent increase protection available to Buena Park tenants is California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which caps annual increases for eligible units at 5% plus the LA Metro CPI, up to 10%. There is no local rent board or city agency that enforces rent limits.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Buena Park?
For units covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise rent by no more than 5% plus the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metro CPI per year, with a hard ceiling of 10%. For 2025, that works out to approximately 8.8%. Your landlord cannot raise rent at all during your first 12 months of tenancy, and cannot raise it more than twice in any rolling 12-month period as long as the total stays within the annual cap.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Buena Park?
AB 1482 covers most Buena Park apartments and multi-family units that received a certificate of occupancy before approximately 2011 (15 years before 2026). Key exemptions include single-family homes, condominiums, units built in the last 15 years, and owner-occupied duplexes. If your building was built in the 1970s–1990s and is not a condo or SFH, there is a good chance you are covered — use RentCheckMe's address lookup at rentcheckme.com to confirm.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Buena Park?
Not after 12 months of tenancy if your unit is covered by AB 1482. Once you have lived in a qualifying Buena Park rental for 12 months, your landlord must have a legally recognized just cause — such as nonpayment of rent, lease violation, owner move-in, or Ellis Act withdrawal — to terminate your tenancy. For no-fault evictions, your landlord must pay you one month's rent as relocation assistance. If your unit is exempt from AB 1482, California's general 30- or 60-day notice rules apply and no just cause is required.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Buena Park?
Start with the Legal Aid Society of Orange County (legal-aid.com), which offers free legal help to income-qualifying residents. The Orange County Bar Association (ocbar.org) can refer you to a private attorney for a low-cost consultation. You can also call Housing Is Key at 833-430-2122 or use RentCheckMe's address lookup at rentcheckme.com to verify your AB 1482 coverage before taking action.
Get notified when rent laws change in Buena Park
We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.