Rent Control in Daly City

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1. Overview of Rent Control in Daly City

Daly City sits on the northern edge of San Mateo County, directly bordering San Francisco and sharing much of its dense, working-class urban character. With a population of roughly 104,000 and a long history as a gateway community for Filipino American, Latino, and immigrant families, Daly City has one of the highest renter shares of any city in San Mateo County — estimated at over 50% of households. The housing stock is dominated by mid-century apartment buildings, duplexes, and row homes built in the 1950s through 1980s, many of which fall squarely within AB 1482's coverage window.

Despite its proximity to San Francisco — which has one of California's most robust local rent control systems — Daly City has enacted no local rent control ordinance of its own. California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) is the primary protection available to Daly City renters. AB 1482 caps annual rent increases and requires landlords to have a legally valid reason before evicting a tenant who has lived in the unit for 12 months or more.

This article explains which Daly City rentals are covered by AB 1482, how the rent increase cap is calculated using the Bay Area Consumer Price Index, what counts as just cause for eviction, and where Daly City tenants can turn for help enforcing their rights.

2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Daly City?

AB 1482 covers residential rental units in Daly City that meet two conditions: (1) the building received its certificate of occupancy at least 15 years ago, and (2) the unit is not otherwise exempt. Because the 15-year rule is rolling, units that were built in 2011 or earlier are generally covered as of 2026. Units completed in 2012 or later will age into coverage as the years pass.

The following types of Daly City rentals are exempt from AB 1482 and have no rent increase cap or just-cause eviction requirement:

• Single-family homes and condominiums — exempted by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the landlord has not provided the required written exemption notice
• Units built within the last 15 years — any building that received a certificate of occupancy after 2011 (as of 2026) is not yet covered
• Owner-occupied duplexes — where the owner lives in one of the two units
• Corporate-owned single-family homes — SFHs owned by a real estate investment trust (REIT), corporation, or LLC with a corporate member are not exempt and are covered by AB 1482
• Government-subsidized affordable housing — units subject to deed restrictions or affordability covenants with stricter independent rules
• Transient and hotel occupancy — short-term rentals, hotels, and motels

If you are unsure whether your unit is covered, use RentCheckMe's address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific address.

3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases

For Daly City rentals covered by AB 1482, annual rent increases are capped at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage, with an absolute maximum of 10% per year. Daly City falls within the San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward metropolitan area CPI region, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For 2025, the Bay Area CPI figure has been approximately 3.8%, meaning the effective cap for most covered Daly City units is roughly 8.8% (5% + 3.8%). Landlords should verify the current CPI figure with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) before issuing any increase notice.

Key rules governing rent increases under AB 1482:

• 12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot raise rent under AB 1482 until a tenant has lived in the unit for at least 12 months.
• Once per 12-month period: Only one increase is permitted per 12-month window, not per calendar year.
• No banking of unused increases: If a landlord skips a year's increase, they cannot stack or carry forward unused amounts to a future year.
• Proper notice required: Increases of 10% or less require 30 days' written notice; increases above 10% (which AB 1482 prohibits for covered units) would require 90 days.

A landlord who charges more than the AB 1482 cap has violated the law, and the tenant may be entitled to a refund of the excess amount. Tenants can seek help from Bay Area Legal Aid or another tenant advocate to recover overcharges.

4. Just Cause Eviction Protections

Once a tenant has lived in an AB 1482-covered Daly City unit for 12 months (or 24 months if there are multiple adult tenants and at least one has lived there for 12 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate the tenancy.

At-fault just cause (tenant is responsible; no relocation assistance owed):

• Nonpayment of rent
• Breach of a material lease term after written notice to cure
• Maintaining a nuisance or causing significant damage to the unit
• Refusing to allow the landlord lawful entry after proper notice
• Using the unit for an unlawful purpose
• Subletting without the landlord's permission when prohibited by the lease
• Failure to renew a lease on substantially the same terms

No-fault just cause (tenant is not at fault; relocation assistance is owed):

• Owner move-in: The owner, or a qualifying family member, intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
• Ellis Act withdrawal: The landlord is removing all units in the building from the rental market
• Substantial remodel: The unit requires permits for work that cannot be done with a tenant present and will take more than 30 days
• Demolition: The building will be demolished pursuant to a permit

Relocation assistance: For any no-fault eviction under AB 1482, the landlord must pay the tenant one month's rent as relocation assistance, or waive the final month's rent. This payment is due at the time the notice to vacate is served.

Daly City has no local just-cause ordinance extending these protections beyond what AB 1482 provides. Tenants in exempt units (SFHs, condos, newer buildings) have no statutory just-cause protection and can be asked to vacate at the end of a lease term with proper notice.

5. Local Rules and Special Protections

Daly City has no local rent control ordinance. The city council has not enacted any rent stabilization program, rent board, or local tenant protection law beyond what California state law requires. This means there is no Daly City rent board to file complaints with, no local registration system for landlords, and no city-administered mediation process for rent disputes.

A significant reason California cities like Daly City cannot enact broad local rent control is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535). Costa-Hawkins prohibits local rent control ordinances from covering units built after February 1, 1995, single-family homes, and condominiums. Given that much of Daly City's newer housing stock would fall outside any permissible local ordinance, and given the political will required to administer a rent board, the city has opted not to enact local rent control for older units either.

In practice, this means Daly City renters must rely entirely on AB 1482 for rent increase and eviction protections — and because AB 1482 is a state law with no local enforcement agency, tenants must self-enforce their rights or seek outside legal help. There is no city office to call if a landlord violates AB 1482; tenants typically must send a written demand letter, file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department for retaliation issues, or pursue the matter in Small Claims or Superior Court.

The Daly City Housing Division (dalycity.org/housing) administers certain housing programs including Section 8 vouchers and affordable housing assistance, but it does not enforce AB 1482 or mediate private landlord-tenant disputes. The San Mateo County Human Services Agency (smchsa.org) may have referrals for emergency rental assistance or housing counselors.

6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources

Use RentCheckMe's address lookup to check whether your specific Daly City rental is covered by AB 1482 based on building age and unit type. Enter your address to get an instant eligibility summary.

Additional resources for Daly City tenants:

• Bay Area Legal Aid — baylegal.org — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants, including representation in eviction cases and AB 1482 enforcement matters. Serves San Mateo County residents.
• Centro Legal de la Raza — centrolegal.org — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant communities in the Bay Area, including tenant rights counseling and eviction defense.
• Tenants Together — tenantstogether.org — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; offers a tenant hotline, self-help guides, and referrals to local legal aid.
• San Mateo County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — smcba.org — Connects San Mateo County residents with licensed attorneys for a reduced-fee initial consultation, including landlord-tenant matters.
• Daly City Housing Division — dalycity.org/housing — City programs including Section 8, affordable housing applications, and housing counselor referrals.
• Housing Is Key — housingiskey.com — California's statewide rental assistance and eviction prevention hotline: 833-430-2122.

7. Resources for Daly City Tenants

• Bay Area Legal Aid — Free civil legal services for low-income Bay Area tenants in San Mateo County and surrounding counties, including eviction defense and AB 1482 enforcement.
• Centro Legal de la Raza — Free legal services for low-income Latino and immigrant Bay Area residents, including tenant rights counseling, eviction defense, and housing advocacy.
• Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering a tenant hotline, educational resources, and referrals to local legal aid organizations.
• Daly City Housing Division — City of Daly City housing programs including Section 8 vouchers, affordable housing applications, and referrals to housing counselors.
• Housing Is Key — California's statewide rental assistance and eviction prevention program. Call 833-430-2122 for help with rent debt and housing stability resources.

8. Important Disclaimer

This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws and CPI figures change frequently; the information here reflects our best understanding as of May 2026 but may not reflect the most current law or local developments. Every tenancy is different, and whether AB 1482 applies to your specific unit depends on facts that require individual analysis. If you have a rent dispute, received an eviction notice, or believe your landlord has violated the law, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a legal aid organization in your area before taking action.

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