Commerce is a small industrial city in southeast Los Angeles County with one of the smallest residential populations in the region. Renters here rely entirely on California's statewide AB 1482 for rent and eviction protections—there is no local rent control ordinance.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most multi-family rentals built before 2011 (15-year rolling 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 cite a legally recognized at-fault or no-fault reason to evict
Commerce sits in the Gateway Cities corridor of southeast Los Angeles County, bordered by Montebello, Vernon, Bell Gardens, and Downey. With a total population of roughly 13,000 and a land area dominated by warehouses, rail yards, and industrial facilities, Commerce has an unusually small residential footprint for an incorporated city. The Citadel Outlets and the city's extensive commercial tax base have historically allowed Commerce to keep residential property taxes low, but renters here navigate the same pressures as elsewhere in the LA metro — rising rents and limited vacancy.
Commerce has no local rent control ordinance. Instead, qualifying renters are covered by California's Tenant Protection Act of 2019, commonly known as AB 1482. This state law caps annual rent increases, prohibits no-cause evictions after 12 months of tenancy, and requires landlords to pay relocation assistance for certain no-fault evictions. Because the law is administered at the state level, there is no local rent board in Commerce — tenants must understand their rights and enforce them directly, often with help from legal aid organizations.
This article explains which Commerce rentals fall under AB 1482, how the rent cap is calculated using the Los Angeles metro Consumer Price Index, what just-cause eviction protections apply, and where to find local legal help if your landlord is not complying.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Commerce?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units in Commerce that received their certificate of occupancy at least 15 years ago. Because this is a rolling threshold, units built before 2011 are generally covered as of 2026. The law applies once a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months.
The following types of rentals are exempt from AB 1482's rent cap and just-cause eviction rules:
Single-family homes and condominiums — exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner is a corporation, real estate investment trust (REIT), or LLC in which a corporation holds an interest
Units built within the last 15 years — any rental with a certificate of occupancy issued in 2011 or later (as of 2026) is not covered
Owner-occupied duplexes — if the owner lives in one unit of a two-unit building, the other unit is exempt
Deed-restricted affordable housing — units already subject to affordability restrictions under government subsidy programs operate under their own rent rules
Transient or hotel-style occupancy — short-term rentals, motels, and similar arrangements are not covered
Commercial properties — only residential rentals qualify
If you are unsure whether your Commerce rental is covered, use the address lookup tool at RentCheckMe to check your unit's status before assuming protections apply.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
Under AB 1482, landlords of covered units in Commerce may raise rent by no more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage, with a hard cap of 10% per year. Commerce falls within the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area, so the applicable 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 maximum allowable rent increase for most covered Commerce units roughly 8.8% (5% + 3.8%). This figure adjusts annually based on CPI data published each spring.
Additional rules landlords must follow:
The rent cap applies only after the tenant has lived in the unit for 12 consecutive months. During that first year, landlords may set or adjust rent freely.
Landlords are limited to two rent increases per 12-month period, and the combined total cannot exceed the annual cap.
Unused rent increase percentages cannot be banked or carried over to future years — if a landlord raises rent less than the cap allows this year, that difference is lost.
Written notice is required: 30 days for increases of 10% or less; 90 days for any increase above 10% (though the latter would be illegal under AB 1482 for covered units).
If your landlord has raised your rent beyond the AB 1482 cap without a valid exemption, you may have grounds to challenge the increase. Document everything in writing and contact a legal aid organization.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
After residing in a covered Commerce rental for 12 months, tenants cannot be evicted without a legally recognized just-cause reason under AB 1482. Just-cause reasons fall into two categories:
At-fault just cause (tenant is responsible):
Nonpayment of rent
Breach of a material lease term after written notice to cure
Maintaining a nuisance or causing substantial damage to the property
Committing criminal activity on the premises
Subletting without permission in violation of the lease
Refusing to sign a lease renewal with similar terms after the landlord offers one
Failing to vacate after providing written notice of intent to terminate
No-fault just cause (tenant is not at fault):
Owner or owner's immediate family member move-in (qualified relative occupancy)
Withdrawal of the unit from the rental market under the Ellis Act
Intent to substantially remodel (work must require permits and temporary vacancy)
Demolition of the unit
For no-fault evictions, landlords are required to pay the displaced tenant relocation assistance equal to one month's rent, or alternatively waive the final month's rent. This payment must be made within 15 calendar days of serving the eviction notice.
Evictions that do not meet these requirements — including informal pressure, harassment, or utility shutoffs intended to force a tenant out — may constitute an illegal eviction under California law. Tenants facing such situations should contact legal aid immediately.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Commerce has no local rent control ordinance. The city has not enacted any municipal tenant protection law beyond what California state law provides. As a result, AB 1482 is the sole rent-stabilization and just-cause eviction protection available to Commerce renters who qualify under the state statute.
The reason Commerce — and most California cities — cannot simply enact broader local rent control is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a state preemption law that prohibits local jurisdictions from applying rent control to single-family homes, condominiums, and any units built after February 1, 1995. This effectively limits local rent control to older multi-family buildings, and Commerce has chosen not to adopt even that narrower option.
Because there is no Commerce rent board or local housing office administering tenant protections, renters must enforce AB 1482 rights on their own or through outside legal assistance. There is no local agency to file a rent overcharge complaint with — your remedies are civil court, small claims court (for rent overcharges), or negotiation with your landlord, ideally supported by a tenant rights attorney or legal aid provider.
Commerce residents can contact the City of Commerce Community Services Department for general housing referrals, though the city does not operate a dedicated tenant assistance program. The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs also provides free dispute resolution services to unincorporated and incorporated areas of LA County, which may assist Commerce tenants in some circumstances.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by using the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check whether your specific Commerce rental unit is covered by AB 1482. Enter your address to see the unit's age, likely coverage status, and applicable rent cap.
Additional resources for Commerce renters:
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization. Provides tenant education, hotline referrals, and connections to local organizing efforts. Covers Commerce residents.
Housing Is Key — California's state tenant assistance portal for rent relief, eviction resources, and renter information. Hotline: 833-430-2122.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Provides free civil legal services to low-income LA County residents, including tenant representation and advice on AB 1482 disputes.
RentCheckMe Address Lookup — Check whether your Commerce rental is covered by AB 1482 using RentCheckMe's address-based coverage tool.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering tenant education, referrals, and organizing support for Commerce renters.
Housing Is Key — California's official state portal for rent relief, eviction resources, and tenant assistance. Hotline: 833-430-2122.
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Free civil legal services for low-income residents of Los Angeles County, including tenant representation in AB 1482 disputes.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and exemption rules change over time — always verify current figures with a licensed attorney or qualified legal aid organization before taking action. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. If you are facing eviction or a disputed rent increase, contact a tenant rights attorney or legal aid provider in Los Angeles County as soon as possible.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Commerce has not enacted any local rent control ordinance. The only rent increase limits available to Commerce renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which covers qualifying multi-family units built at least 15 years ago. Single-family homes, condos, and newer buildings are not protected by any rent cap in Commerce.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Commerce?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise your rent by no more than 5% plus the Los Angeles Metro CPI, with a maximum of 10% per year. For 2025, the LA Metro CPI is approximately 3.8%, making the cap roughly 8.8%. This limit kicks in after you have lived in the unit for 12 months — during your first year, no statutory cap applies.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Commerce?
AB 1482 applies to residential rentals in Commerce where the certificate of occupancy was issued at least 15 years ago — generally before 2011 as of 2026. It does not apply to single-family homes, condos, owner-occupied duplexes, or units built in the last 15 years. Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific unit's coverage status.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Commerce?
If you have lived in a covered Commerce rental for at least 12 months, your landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to evict you under AB 1482. At-fault reasons include nonpayment of rent and lease violations; no-fault reasons include owner move-in and Ellis Act withdrawal. For no-fault evictions, you are entitled to one month's relocation assistance. If your unit is exempt from AB 1482, no-cause evictions remain legal under California law.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Commerce?
Start with the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) at lafla.org, which provides free legal services to low-income LA County residents facing rent disputes or eviction. You can also call the Housing Is Key hotline at 833-430-2122 or contact Tenants Together at tenantstogether.org for referrals and tenant education. Because Commerce has no local rent board, these outside organizations are the primary avenue for getting help.
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