Burbank, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, has no local rent control ordinance — California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) is the only rent increase and eviction protection available to most renters here.·Updated May 2026
✓
Key Takeaways
Most multi-unit buildings with certificates of occupancy issued before 2011 (rolling 15-year rule); single-family homes and condos are exempt under Costa-Hawkins
5% + LA Metro CPI, max 10% per year — approximately 8.8% for 2025
After 12 months of tenancy, landlords must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to evict
Burbank sits in the southeastern San Fernando Valley, sharing borders with Glendale, Pasadena, and the city of Los Angeles. Known as the 'Media Capital of the World,' it hosts major entertainment studios — Warner Bros., Disney, and NBCUniversal among them — which drive strong demand for housing and keep rents among the higher tiers in the greater LA metro. The city's population hovers around 104,000, with renters making up roughly 50% of households, concentrated in the Magnolia Park, Downtown Burbank, and Olive Avenue corridors.
Unlike Los Angeles, Santa Monica, or West Hollywood, Burbank has never enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. California's AB 1482 — the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — fills that gap for qualifying units by capping annual rent increases and requiring landlords to cite a just-cause reason before terminating a tenancy after 12 months. The law is statewide, so no Burbank-specific rent board administers it; enforcement is the tenant's responsibility.
This article explains which Burbank rentals qualify for AB 1482 protections, how the rent cap is calculated using the Los Angeles metro CPI, what just-cause eviction means in practice, and where to get help if your landlord is not complying with the law.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Burbank?
AB 1482 covers residential rental units whose certificate of occupancy was issued at least 15 years ago. Because the rule is rolling, as of 2026 that generally means units that received their certificate of occupancy in 2011 or earlier. In Burbank's older multi-unit stock — the dingbats and garden apartments that line Olive Avenue and the neighborhoods just north of Downtown — many buildings fall within this window.
The following categories are exempt from AB 1482 rent cap and just-cause protections:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), regardless of the age of the property, unless the owner is a real estate investment trust (REIT), a corporation, or an LLC in which at least one member is a corporation
Buildings constructed within the last 15 years — units with a certificate of occupancy issued after 2011 (as of 2026) are not covered
Owner-occupied duplexes — where the owner lives in one of the two units at the start of the tenancy
Government-subsidized affordable housing — units subject to deed restrictions or regulatory agreements with more restrictive rent rules (e.g., Section 8 project-based housing, tax-credit apartments)
Transient occupancy — hotels, motels, and short-term rentals where guests do not establish tenancy
Dormitories — school or college-operated student housing
If you are unsure whether your Burbank unit qualifies, use RentCheckMe's address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check coverage based on your specific address.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered units, AB 1482 limits annual rent increases to 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a hard ceiling of 10% in any 12-month period. Burbank falls within the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan statistical area, so the applicable CPI is the LA Metro CPI published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For increases effective between August 1, 2024, and July 31, 2025, the LA Metro CPI figure results in a combined cap of approximately 8.8% (5% + ~3.8% CPI). This figure is recalculated each year when new CPI data is published; landlords and tenants should verify the current cap at the California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) website before any increase takes effect.
Additional rules that apply to Burbank renters under AB 1482:
A landlord cannot raise the rent during the first 12 months of a tenancy.
After the 12-month mark, a landlord may apply only one increase per 12-month period.
Landlords cannot bank or carry over unused increases from a prior year — if a landlord skipped an increase in 2024, they cannot double up in 2025.
Proper written notice is required: 30 days for increases under 10%, 90 days for increases of 10% or more (Civil Code § 827).
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a Burbank tenant has lived in an AB 1482-covered unit for 12 months (or if any tenant in the household has lived there for 24 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate the tenancy. There are two categories:
At-Fault Just Cause
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of a lease term (after written notice and opportunity to cure)
Nuisance or causing substantial damage to the property
Unlawful use of the unit (e.g., illegal subletting, criminal activity on premises)
Refusal to sign a substantially similar renewal lease
Employee, agent, or licensee relationship that has ended
No-Fault Just Cause
Owner move-in — the owner or a qualifying family member intends to occupy the unit as their primary residence
Ellis Act withdrawal — the owner is removing all units from the rental market
Substantial remodel — work requiring permits that cannot be done with the tenant in place and will take at least 30 days
Demolition — the owner has obtained all necessary permits to demolish the building
Relocation Assistance
For any no-fault eviction, the landlord must pay the displaced tenant one month's rent as relocation assistance, or waive the final month's rent. This payment is due before the tenant vacates. Landlords who fail to pay relocation assistance may be liable for actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Burbank has no local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The Burbank City Council has never passed one, and under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), any ordinance Burbank might enact would be prohibited from covering single-family homes, condominiums, or units built after February 1, 1995 — limiting the practical scope of any potential local law. AB 1482 remains the only rent increase protection available to most Burbank renters.
What this means practically: there is no Burbank Rent Board to file a complaint with, no rent registry, and no city-level hearing process for rent disputes. If a landlord raises rent above the AB 1482 cap or attempts a no-fault eviction without proper relocation assistance, the tenant must take action independently — typically by sending a written objection, filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (for related housing discrimination issues), or pursuing the matter through small claims or superior court.
The City of Burbank does operate a Housing Division through its Community Development Department that can provide referrals to rental assistance programs and information about fair housing rights. The city also participates in regional rental assistance programs administered through the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). Contact the Burbank Housing Division at burbankca.gov/housing for current program availability.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by checking whether your specific Burbank address is covered by AB 1482 using the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com. The tool cross-references building permit data and unit type to estimate AB 1482 eligibility.
For legal help and tenant advocacy, the following organizations serve Burbank renters:
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — free civil legal services for low-income residents across LA County, including tenant rights and eviction defense. lafla.org
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — free legal aid for LA County residents, with a dedicated housing unit handling eviction, habitability, and rent disputes. bettzedek.org
Housing Rights Center — free counseling and legal referrals for tenants facing discrimination, unlawful rent increases, or retaliation in the greater LA area. housingrightscenter.org
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides a tenant hotline and know-your-rights resources. tenantstogether.org
Housing Is Key (State of California) — rental assistance referrals and tenant rights information statewide. Call 833-430-2122 or visit housingiskey.com
Burbank Housing Division — city referrals and program information. burbankca.gov/housing
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents, with a dedicated housing unit covering eviction, habitability, and rent disputes.
Housing Rights Center — Free tenant counseling and legal referrals for renters in the greater Los Angeles area facing discrimination or unlawful rent increases.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization, offering a tenant hotline and know-your-rights resources.
Housing Is Key — California state portal for rental assistance referrals and tenant rights information. Hotline: 833-430-2122.
8. Important Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and local programs change frequently — the information here reflects conditions as of May 2026 and may not reflect subsequent legislative or regulatory changes. If you are facing an eviction, an unlawful rent increase, or another housing dispute, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a legal aid organization in Los Angeles County for advice specific to your situation.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Burbank has never enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) is the only rent increase protection available to eligible Burbank renters. There is no Burbank Rent Board — tenants must self-enforce AB 1482 or seek assistance from legal aid organizations.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Burbank?
For units covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise rent by no more than 5% plus the Los Angeles Metro CPI, with a hard ceiling of 10% per year. For increases effective in 2025, that works out to approximately 8.8%. Your landlord cannot apply the increase until you have lived in the unit for 12 months, and cannot stack unused increases from prior years.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Burbank?
AB 1482 applies to most Burbank multi-unit buildings whose certificate of occupancy was issued in 2011 or earlier (the 15-year rolling rule). Single-family homes, condos, units built after 2011, and owner-occupied duplexes are generally exempt. Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific unit's coverage.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Burbank?
Not if you have lived in an AB 1482-covered unit for 12 months or more. After that threshold, your landlord must cite a legally recognized at-fault reason (such as nonpayment or lease violation) or a no-fault reason (such as owner move-in or Ellis Act withdrawal). For no-fault evictions, the landlord must pay you one month's rent in relocation assistance before you vacate.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Burbank?
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (lafla.org) and Bet Tzedek Legal Services (bettzedek.org) both offer free legal help to qualifying low-income renters in Burbank. The Housing Rights Center (housingrightscenter.org) provides free tenant counseling and referrals. You can also call the statewide Housing Is Key hotline at 833-430-2122 or contact the Burbank Housing Division at burbankca.gov/housing for program referrals.
Get notified when rent laws change in Burbank
We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.