Compton renters in Los Angeles County are protected solely by California's statewide AB 1482 — the city has no local rent control ordinance of its own.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most multi-unit rentals built before 2011 (15-year rolling rule); single-family homes and condos are exempt under Costa-Hawkins
5% + LA Metro CPI, maximum 10% per year — approximately 8.8% for 2025
AB 1482 requires just cause to evict after 12 months of tenancy
Compton is a working-class city of roughly 97,000 residents in the heart of Los Angeles County, situated between the I-110 and I-710 freeways about 13 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The city has long been majority renter, with a significant share of households — estimated above 55% — paying rent in a housing market that mirrors the affordability pressures felt across the broader South LA region. Median rents have climbed steadily over the past decade, making tenant protections an urgent concern for many Compton households.
Compton has no local rent control ordinance. Instead, eligible renters rely entirely on California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019, commonly known as AB 1482. That law caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the Los Angeles-area Consumer Price Index (maximum 10%) and requires landlords to have just cause before evicting a tenant who has lived in a unit for 12 or more months. These are meaningful protections, but they come without a local rent board to handle complaints — enforcement is largely on tenants themselves.
This guide explains which Compton rentals AB 1482 covers, how the rent cap is calculated, what just-cause eviction means in practice, and where to get free or low-cost legal help if your landlord is not complying with state law.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Compton?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units whose certificate of occupancy was issued 15 or more years before the date of a rent increase or eviction notice. Because the rule is rolling, units built before approximately 2011 are generally covered as of 2026. The unit must also be used as a primary residence.
The following categories are exempt from AB 1482 and have no rent cap or just-cause eviction requirement:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner has received a government subsidy that creates separate rent restrictions. Landlords of exempt SFH and condos must serve a written exemption notice.
Units built in the last 15 years — any building that received its certificate of occupancy on or after January 1, 2011 (as of 2026) is exempt until the 15-year mark passes.
Owner-occupied duplexes — where the owner lives in one of the two units, the tenant-occupied unit is exempt.
Corporate-owned single-family homes — if the SFH is owned by a real estate investment trust (REIT), a corporation, or an LLC in which at least one member is a corporation, Costa-Hawkins exemption does not apply and AB 1482 may cover it.
Subsidized affordable housing — units with income and rent restrictions under a government program (e.g., Section 8 project-based, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties) are exempt because stricter rules already govern them.
Transient and hotel occupancy — rooms rented for fewer than 30 days are not covered.
Dormitories — university or college-owned student housing is excluded.
If you are unsure whether your Compton unit qualifies, use the address lookup tool at RentCheckMe or contact one of the legal aid organizations listed below.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
Under AB 1482, a landlord may raise rent on a covered Compton unit by no more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Price Index (CPI), with an absolute ceiling of 10% in any 12-month period. For Los Angeles County, the applicable index is the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Based on 2024–2025 CPI data, the effective cap for most covered LA-area units in 2025 is approximately 8.8% (5% + roughly 3.8% CPI), though landlords and tenants should verify the current figure at the California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD) website each year.
Key rules about how the cap works:
12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot impose any AB 1482-governed rent increase until a tenant has lived in the unit for at least 12 continuous months.
One increase per 12 months: Only one rent increase per 12-month period is permitted on a covered unit.
No banking of unused increases: If a landlord skips a year or raises rent by less than the maximum, the unused percentage cannot be carried forward and added to a future year's increase.
Proper notice required: A rent increase of 10% or less requires 30 days' written notice; any increase greater than 10% (which would be unlawful under AB 1482) would require 90 days' notice under Civil Code § 827.
If your landlord has raised your rent above the allowable cap, you can send a written demand letter citing AB 1482 and, if necessary, pursue a claim in Los Angeles County Small Claims Court or seek free legal help from LAFLA or the Housing Rights Center.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a Compton tenant has lived in a covered rental unit for 12 months (or, if there are multiple tenants, once at least one original tenant has been there 24 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just cause to terminate the tenancy. There are two categories: at-fault just cause and no-fault just cause.
At-Fault Just Cause
The tenant's own actions form the basis for eviction. Examples include:
Nonpayment of rent
Violation of a material lease term (after written notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure)
Committing or permitting a nuisance on the property
Committing waste (significant damage to the unit)
Refusal to sign a substantially similar renewed lease
Criminal activity on or near the property that affects health or safety
Subletting in violation of the lease
Failure to vacate after a lawful owner move-in notice (see no-fault, below)
No-Fault Just Cause
The landlord has a legitimate business reason, but the tenant did nothing wrong. Examples include:
Owner or qualified family member move-in: The owner, spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents intend to occupy the unit as a primary residence.
Ellis Act withdrawal: The owner is removing all units in the building from the rental market entirely.
Substantial remodel: Renovation requires the unit to be vacant for at least 30 days and involves permits for significant structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work.
Demolition: The building will be torn down.
Relocation Assistance for No-Fault Evictions
When the eviction is no-fault, AB 1482 requires the landlord to provide the tenant with one month's rent as relocation assistance, or alternatively waive the final month of rent. This payment must be made within 15 calendar days of the termination notice. If the landlord fails to pay, the eviction notice is rendered void.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Compton does not have a local rent stabilization ordinance, rent board, or municipal just-cause eviction code. The Compton City Council has not enacted any such protections, and under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), any local ordinance could not extend rent control to single-family homes, condominiums, or units built after February 1, 1995 — significantly limiting the practical scope of any local law even if one were pursued.
This means there is no local agency in Compton where tenants can file a rent overcharge complaint or request a hearing. AB 1482 is self-enforcing: tenants must assert their own rights, typically by sending a written notice to the landlord, filing a complaint in small claims or superior court, or working with a legal aid organization. There is no administrative process in Compton equivalent to what exists in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, or other cities with rent boards.
The City of Compton does operate a Housing Department that can provide referrals and general housing assistance. The Los Angeles County Housing Authority (HACLA) also serves Compton residents with Section 8 vouchers and affordable housing programs. For code enforcement issues — habitability, repairs, unsafe conditions — Compton's Code Enforcement Division can inspect rental properties and compel repairs independent of AB 1482.
Tenants who believe their landlord is retaliating against them for asserting AB 1482 rights (e.g., filing a complaint, requesting repairs) have additional protections under Civil Code § 1942.5, which prohibits retaliatory rent increases, eviction notices, or reduced services.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Use RentCheckMe's address lookup tool to check whether your specific Compton rental unit is covered by AB 1482. Enter your address to see the unit's estimated build year, applicable rent cap, and coverage status.
The following organizations offer free or low-cost help to Compton renters:
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Free civil legal services for low-income Angelenos, including tenant rights, eviction defense, and rent dispute assistance. LAFLA has offices and clinics throughout LA County.
Housing Rights Center — Free counseling and legal referrals for tenants facing discrimination, unlawful rent increases, or illegal evictions in the LA metro area.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents, including eviction defense and AB 1482 enforcement.
Housing Rights Center — Free tenant counseling and legal referrals for LA metro renters facing unlawful rent increases, eviction, or housing discrimination.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents including eviction defense and tenant rights enforcement under state law.
Tenants Together — California statewide renter advocacy organization with a tenant hotline and self-help resources on AB 1482 and local rent laws.
Housing Is Key — California state housing assistance portal; call 833-430-2122 for renter counseling and referrals to local programs.
8. Important Disclaimer
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and exemption thresholds change over time, and individual circumstances vary. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord or need guidance about your rights under AB 1482, consult a licensed California attorney or contact one of the free legal aid organizations listed above.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Compton has no local rent control ordinance or rent stabilization program. The only rent increase protections available to Compton renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which applies to eligible multi-unit buildings built 15 or more years ago. Single-family homes and condos are excluded from that law under Costa-Hawkins.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Compton?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482, your landlord may raise your rent by no more than 5% plus the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI, up to a maximum of 10% in any 12-month period. For 2025, that cap is approximately 8.8%. Your landlord must also wait until you have lived in the unit for at least 12 months before imposing any increase under AB 1482.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Compton?
AB 1482 covers most multi-unit residential rentals in Compton where the building received its certificate of occupancy before approximately 2011 (the 15-year rolling cutoff as of 2026). It does not cover single-family homes, condos, units built within the last 15 years, or owner-occupied duplexes. Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com or contact LAFLA to confirm your unit's coverage status.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Compton?
Not if you have lived in a covered AB 1482 unit for 12 or more months. After that threshold, your landlord must have a legally recognized just cause — such as nonpayment of rent, lease violation, owner move-in, or Ellis Act withdrawal. For no-fault evictions, you are entitled to one month's rent as relocation assistance. Compton has no additional local just-cause protections beyond AB 1482.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Compton?
Because Compton has no local rent board, tenants must seek help through legal aid organizations. The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (lafla.org) and the Housing Rights Center (housingrightscenter.org) both provide free assistance to Compton renters. You can also call the statewide Housing Is Key hotline at 833-430-2122 or use RentCheckMe's address lookup at rentcheckme.com to understand your AB 1482 coverage before reaching out.
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