Long Beach — Los Angeles County's second-largest city and a major port hub — has no local rent control ordinance. Renters in eligible units are protected only by California's statewide AB 1482 Tenant Protection Act.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most pre-2011 multi-family rentals; 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 for eviction after 12 months of tenancy
Long Beach sits at the southern end of Los Angeles County, bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Port of Long Beach — one of the busiest cargo ports in the nation — and a dense mix of urban neighborhoods from Bixby Knolls to Cambodia Town to the Alamitos Beach corridor. With a population of roughly 460,000 and a renter majority in many ZIP codes, Long Beach has one of the most active rental markets in Southern California. Despite persistent advocacy from tenant groups, the city has never enacted a local rent control ordinance.
California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) fills part of that gap. For qualifying renters — generally those in multi-family buildings whose certificate of occupancy was issued 15 or more years ago — AB 1482 limits annual rent increases and requires landlords to state a legally valid reason before pursuing eviction. These are statewide rules enforced without a local rent board; tenants must know their rights and act on them independently.
This article explains exactly which Long Beach rentals are covered, how much rent can be raised under the Los Angeles Metro CPI formula, what counts as just cause for eviction, and where to get free or low-cost legal help in the Long Beach area.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Long Beach?
AB 1482 applies to a Long Beach rental unit if it meets all of the following: the building's certificate of occupancy was issued at least 15 years ago (as of 2026, that generally means before 2011 — but the cutoff rolls forward each January 1), the tenant has lived in the unit for at least 12 months, and the unit is not otherwise exempt. The 15-year rule is calculated from the date of the certificate of occupancy, not from when the building was marketed or when you moved in.
The following categories of Long Beach rentals are exempt from AB 1482:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner has provided a written notice that AB 1482 applies
Units built within the last 15 years — any building whose certificate of occupancy was issued on or after January 1, 2011 (as of 2026)
Owner-occupied duplexes — where the owner lives in the other unit and the duplex was built before February 1, 1995
Single-family homes owned by a corporation, REIT, or LLC with a corporate member — these entities cannot claim the SFH exemption
Government-subsidized affordable housing — units subject to deed restrictions or affordability covenants with their own rent rules (e.g., Section 8 project-based, tax credit units)
Transient or hotel occupancy — short-term rentals, motels, and similar accommodations
Commercial properties
If you are unsure whether your Long Beach unit qualifies, use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com or contact Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered Long Beach rentals, AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage, with an absolute maximum of 10% in any 12-month period. Long Beach falls within the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area CPI as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For 2025, that CPI figure is approximately 3.8%, making the effective cap roughly 8.8% for most covered units in the area — though the exact figure can shift each year as the BLS updates regional CPI data.
Key rules landlords must follow under AB 1482:
12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot raise rent under AB 1482 until the tenant has lived in the unit for at least 12 months.
No more than two increases per year: Landlords may give up to two rent increases in a 12-month period, but together they cannot exceed the annual cap.
No banking of unused increases: If a landlord skips a year or raises rent by less than the cap, the unused portion cannot be carried forward and added to a future year's increase.
Proper notice required: Increases of 10% or less require 30 days' written notice; any increase over 10% (which would be illegal under AB 1482 for covered units) would require 90 days' notice under general California law.
If your landlord raises your rent beyond the cap, the excess increase is void and unenforceable. You are not required to pay it. Document the notice in writing and contact a legal aid organization if you need help responding.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
After a tenant has lived in a Long Beach rental for 12 months (or if any tenant on the lease has lived there 24 months), AB 1482 requires the landlord to state a legally recognized reason — called just cause — before pursuing an eviction. Without just cause, a landlord cannot terminate a tenancy covered by AB 1482 regardless of whether the lease term has ended.
At-fault just cause reasons (tenant has done something wrong):
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of the lease that has not been cured after written notice
Maintaining, committing, or permitting a nuisance
Unlawful use of the unit (e.g., criminal activity)
Subletting in violation of the lease
Refusal to allow the landlord lawful access to the unit
Using the unit for an unauthorized purpose
Failure to execute a new lease with materially similar terms after the prior lease expires
No-fault just cause reasons (tenant has done nothing wrong, but landlord has a qualifying reason):
Owner or qualifying family member move-in
Withdrawal of the unit from the rental market under the Ellis Act
Intent to demolish the unit or undertake a substantial remodel that requires the unit to be vacant
Government order requiring the tenant to vacate
Relocation assistance: When a landlord terminates a Long Beach tenancy for any no-fault just cause reason under AB 1482, the tenant is entitled to one month's rent in relocation assistance, paid before or at the time the notice to vacate is served. Alternatively, the landlord may waive the final month's rent. If you receive a no-fault eviction notice without this payment or waiver, the notice may be defective — contact an attorney or legal aid immediately.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Long Beach has no local rent control ordinance. The city has considered tenant protections over the years — including discussions of just cause eviction policies — but as of May 2026, no municipal rent stabilization or just cause ordinance is in effect. AB 1482 is the sole rent cap and eviction protection available to eligible Long Beach renters.
A primary reason Long Beach cannot simply enact traditional rent control is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (California Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a state law that prohibits local governments from applying rent control to single-family homes, condominiums, or units built after February 1, 1995. Because a large portion of Long Beach's rental stock falls into these categories — including much of the newer development along the waterfront and in Poly High neighborhoods — any local ordinance would be significantly limited in reach before it even started.
What Long Beach does provide:
The Long Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Services administers code enforcement and can investigate habitability complaints. Landlords are required to maintain rental units in compliance with California's implied warranty of habitability.
Housing Long Beach is a local tenant advocacy organization that tracks policy developments and assists renters with understanding their rights under AB 1482.
Because there is no local rent board, there is no city agency that adjudicates rent disputes or enforces AB 1482. Tenants must self-enforce — meaning if your landlord violates AB 1482, you need to assert the violation yourself, ideally with legal assistance.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by verifying whether your specific Long Beach address is covered by AB 1482 using the RentCheckMe address lookup tool. Enter your address to see the building's age, exemption status, and applicable rent cap — no login required.
If you need additional help, the following organizations serve Long Beach renters:
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Free civil legal services for low-income residents, with staff experienced in tenant rights, unlawful detainer defense, and AB 1482 enforcement throughout Los Angeles County including Long Beach.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents facing eviction, harassment, or rent overcharges, including tenants in Long Beach.
Housing Long Beach — Local tenant advocacy organization with resources on renter rights, AB 1482 guidance, and policy updates specific to Long Beach.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization with resources on AB 1482 and connections to local tenant organizers.
Housing Is Key — California's official renter and landlord assistance portal. Call 833-430-2122 for state-level rental support and referrals.
7. Resources for Long Beach Tenants
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Free civil legal services for low-income residents of Los Angeles County, including tenant rights and eviction defense for Long Beach renters.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County tenants facing eviction, rent overcharges, or landlord harassment, including AB 1482 cases.
Housing Long Beach — Local tenant advocacy organization focused on renter rights, AB 1482 education, and housing policy in Long Beach.
Housing Is Key — California's official state housing assistance portal. Call 833-430-2122 for rental support referrals and information on tenant protections.
8. Important Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and exemption rules change over time — information accurate as of May 2026 may be superseded by new legislation, court decisions, or updated CPI data. If you have a specific legal question about your tenancy in Long Beach, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Los Angeles County.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Long Beach has no local rent control ordinance as of May 2026. The only rent cap protection available to Long Beach renters is California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which applies to qualifying multi-family units built at least 15 years ago. Single-family homes and condos are excluded from any rent cap under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Long Beach?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise your rent by no more than 5% plus the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim area CPI, with a hard cap of 10% in any 12-month period. For 2025, that works out to approximately 8.8%. If your unit is exempt — for example, a single-family home, condo, or building built after 2010 — there is no legal cap on rent increases in Long Beach.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Long Beach?
AB 1482 applies to your Long Beach rental if the building's certificate of occupancy was issued before 2011 (as of 2026), you have lived there for at least 12 months, and the unit is not a single-family home, condo, or new construction. Owner-occupied duplexes and government-subsidized affordable housing are also exempt. Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific unit.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Long Beach?
Not if AB 1482 covers your unit and you have lived there for 12 or more months. After that threshold, your landlord must state a legally recognized at-fault reason (such as nonpayment of rent) or a no-fault reason (such as owner move-in or Ellis Act withdrawal) before pursuing eviction. For no-fault evictions, you are entitled to one month's rent in relocation assistance. If your unit is exempt from AB 1482, California's standard 30- or 60-day notice rules apply without a just-cause requirement.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Long Beach?
The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (lafla.org) provides free civil legal services to low-income Long Beach residents, including AB 1482 enforcement and eviction defense. Bet Tzedek Legal Services (bettzedek.org) also serves LA County tenants at no cost. For general housing questions, contact Housing Long Beach (housinglongbeach.org) or call California's Housing Is Key hotline at 833-430-2122. Because Long Beach has no local rent board, these organizations are your primary point of contact for disputes.
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