Rent Control in Corona

Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.

1. Overview of Rent Control in Corona

Corona sits at the western edge of Riverside County, straddling the 91 and 15 freeways in a stretch of the Inland Empire that has absorbed significant population growth as renters priced out of Orange County and Los Angeles have moved east. The city's housing stock is heavily skewed toward single-family homes and newer apartment complexes built to absorb that growth — factors that shape which tenants actually receive state-level rent protections.

Unlike Los Angeles, West Hollywood, or Santa Ana, Corona has never enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. The state's Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — commonly called AB 1482 — is the only rent increase cap and just-cause eviction protection available to qualifying Corona renters. That law limits annual rent increases to 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a hard ceiling of 10%, and prohibits landlords from evicting tenants without a legally recognized reason after the first 12 months of tenancy.

This article explains who is covered by AB 1482 in Corona, how the rent cap is calculated using the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro CPI, what qualifies as just cause for eviction, and where to find help if your landlord is not complying with the law.

2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Corona?

AB 1482 covers residential rental units whose certificate of occupancy was issued 15 or more years before the current date. Because the rule rolls forward each year, units built in 2011 or earlier are generally covered as of 2026. The unit must also be used as a primary residence.

The following types of housing are exempt from AB 1482 in Corona:

• Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner has provided the tenant with a specific written notice of AB 1482 applicability
• Units built within the last 15 years — any Corona apartment or rental home with a certificate of occupancy issued after 2011 (as of 2026) is exempt
• Owner-occupied duplexes — if the owner lives in one unit of a two-unit building
• Corporate-owned single-family homes with a real estate investment trust (REIT) or corporate entity as landlord — these may be covered even if the property is a single-family home; tenants should verify ownership type
• Government-subsidized affordable housing — units governed by stricter affordability covenants or Section 8 project-based contracts operate under separate rules
• Transient and hotel occupancies — short-term rentals and hotel rooms are not covered

If you are unsure whether your Corona rental qualifies, use the address lookup tool at RentCheckMe.com to check your unit's coverage status.

3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases

For Corona rentals that qualify under AB 1482, landlords may raise rent by a maximum of 5% plus the percentage change in the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with an absolute cap of 10% per year. The relevant CPI region for Corona is the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan Statistical Area, published annually by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For 2025, the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro CPI increase was approximately 3.8%, making the allowable AB 1482 rent increase cap roughly 8.8% (5% + 3.8%) for most covered units in Corona. This figure can shift year to year as CPI data is updated.

Additional rules landlords must follow:

• 12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot impose any AB 1482-regulated rent increase until a tenant has lived in the unit for at least 12 months.
• No banking of increases: Landlords cannot skip a year and then apply two years' worth of increases at once. Each 12-month period has its own cap.
• Two increases per year maximum: Landlords may raise rent up to twice in any 12-month period, but the combined total cannot exceed the annual cap.
• Written notice required: A rent increase of 10% or less requires 30 days' written notice; any increase over 10% (which is never permitted under AB 1482 for covered units) would require 90 days' notice.

Increases above the AB 1482 cap are unlawful for covered units. If your landlord raises your rent beyond the allowable amount, you can refuse to pay the excess and seek remedies through the courts or legal aid.

4. Just Cause Eviction Protections

Once a tenant has lived in a covered Corona rental unit for 12 months (or 24 months if there are multiple adults on the lease and at least one has lived there for 24 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate the tenancy under AB 1482.

At-Fault Just Cause

At-fault reasons place responsibility on the tenant and do not require the landlord to pay relocation assistance:

• Nonpayment of rent
• Material breach of the lease (after the tenant has been given written notice and an opportunity to cure)
• Maintaining a nuisance or causing substantial damage to the property
• Illegal use of the unit
• Refusal to sign a lease renewal on substantially similar terms
• Criminal activity on or near the premises that affects other residents or neighbors
• Subletting without the landlord's permission in violation of the lease
• Failure to vacate after providing written notice of intent to vacate

No-Fault Just Cause

No-fault reasons allow the landlord to end the tenancy for reasons unrelated to tenant behavior. In these cases, the landlord must pay the tenant one month's rent as relocation assistance (or waive the final month's rent, which accomplishes the same thing):

• Owner or qualifying family member move-in — the landlord or an immediate family member intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
• Withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act) — the landlord is removing the unit from the rental market entirely
• Substantial remodel — the landlord intends to perform renovations requiring permits that cannot be safely completed with a tenant in place (cosmetic repairs do not qualify)
• Demolition of the unit

If a landlord claims owner move-in but re-rents the unit within 12 months, the former tenant may have a claim for wrongful eviction. Tenants who receive a no-fault eviction notice should consult a legal aid attorney before vacating.

5. Local Rules and Special Protections

Corona has no local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The City of Corona has not enacted any municipal tenant protections beyond what state law requires, and there is no local rent board, no rent registry, and no city-administered mediation program for rent disputes.

This is partly a consequence of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a state law that significantly restricts what cities can do. Even if Corona's city council wanted to enact local rent control, Costa-Hawkins would prohibit them from applying it to single-family homes, condominiums, or any unit built after February 1, 1995. Given that a large share of Corona's rental inventory consists of single-family homes and post-1995 construction, a local ordinance would cover a relatively narrow slice of renters.

In practice, this means AB 1482 is the only rent increase cap or just-cause eviction protection available to Corona renters. Tenants must self-enforce these rights — there is no city agency that proactively audits rent increases or investigates landlord violations. If your landlord raises rent above the AB 1482 cap or attempts to evict you without just cause, your options are to send a written objection, file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (for retaliation or discrimination), or pursue a civil claim in Riverside County Superior Court.

The City of Corona's Housing Division does administer some programs, including housing rehabilitation assistance and referrals to affordable housing resources. Contact them at coronaca.gov/housing for information on available programs.

6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources

Use RentCheckMe.com's address lookup tool to check whether your specific Corona rental unit is covered by AB 1482 based on its age, type, and ownership structure. Coverage is not always obvious, and checking your address takes only a few seconds.

If you need additional help, the following organizations serve Corona renters:

• Inland Counties Legal Services — free civil legal aid for low-income residents of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including tenant rights matters. inlandlegal.org
• Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — connects tenants with attorneys for consultations on housing matters. riversidecountybar.org
• Riverside County Housing Authority — administers housing assistance programs including Section 8 vouchers for eligible residents. rivcoha.org
• Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; offers tenant rights guides and organizing resources. tenantstogether.org
• Housing Is Key — California's statewide housing assistance hotline for renters and landlords: housingiskey.com or call 833-430-2122
• City of Corona Housing Division — local housing programs and referrals. coronaca.gov/housing

7. Resources for Corona Tenants

• Inland Counties Legal Services — Free civil legal aid for low-income residents of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including tenant rights and eviction defense.
• Riverside County Housing Authority — Administers Section 8 housing choice vouchers and affordable housing programs for Riverside County residents, including Corona.
• Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering tenant rights guides, AB 1482 resources, and organizing support.
• Housing Is Key — California's official statewide housing assistance hotline (833-430-2122) for renters facing rent increases, eviction, or housing instability.
• City of Corona Housing Division — City of Corona's official housing resources page, including rehabilitation assistance and affordable housing referrals.

8. Important Disclaimer

The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws and CPI figures change annually; always verify current figures with the California Civil Rights Department or a licensed attorney. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, consult a qualified housing attorney or contact a legal aid organization in Riverside County before taking action.

Frequently Asked Questions