Rent Control in Maywood

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1. Overview of Rent Control in Maywood

Maywood is a small, densely populated city in southeastern Los Angeles County, bordered by Huntington Park, Bell, and Vernon. With a largely working-class, renter-majority population, Maywood has long faced housing affordability pressures common to the southeast LA Metro corridor. In response, the Maywood City Council adopted the City of Maywood Rent Stabilization Ordinance (Ordinance No. 23-07), which took effect on September 22, 2023, making Maywood one of the newer California cities to establish a local rent control framework.

The ordinance caps annual rent increases at the lesser of 4% or the local Consumer Price Index (CPI). A companion measure, Ordinance No. 23-11 (effective October 25, 2023), established just-cause eviction protections, preventing landlords from terminating tenancies without a legally recognized reason. Together, these ordinances provide Maywood renters with protections that go beyond California's baseline statewide law.

Renters in units not covered by the local ordinance — such as those built on or after February 1, 1995, or in single-family homes and condominiums — may still have protections under California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which caps rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (no more than 10% total) and requires just cause for eviction in qualifying units statewide.

2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Maywood?

Maywood's Rent Stabilization Ordinance applies to rental units that meet all of the following criteria:

• The unit was built before February 1, 1995 (properties built in 1994 or earlier are covered; properties built in 1995 may be covered only if construction was completed before February 1, 1995)
• The unit is in a multi-unit residential rental property
• The unit is used as a primary residence

The following unit types are exempt from the local ordinance:

• Single-family homes
• Condominiums
• Townhomes and townhouses
• Units built on or after February 1, 1995 (Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act exemption)
• Units in owner-occupied properties of two units or fewer (subject to local verification)

Renters in exempt units should check whether AB 1482 applies to their unit. AB 1482 covers most California rental units built more than 15 years ago that are not already subject to a stricter local ordinance, excluding single-family homes (unless the owner provides a specific exemption notice), condominiums sold separately, and units owned by small landlords (REITs, corporations, or certain LLC structures trigger coverage). AB 1482 caps increases at 5% plus local CPI (max 10%) and requires just cause for eviction after 12 months of tenancy.

3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases

Under Ordinance No. 23-07, annual rent increases for covered units are capped at the lesser of 4% or the applicable local Consumer Price Index (CPI). The City of Maywood determines the allowable increase based on April CPI data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

The current applicable cap is 3.0% for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, based on April 2025 CPI figures. This rate will be recalculated each year and announced by the City.

Key rules governing rent increases include:

• Landlords may only impose one rent increase per 12-month period per covered unit
• The increase cap applies to the unit's base rent; landlords may not add new fees or charges to circumvent the cap
• There is no explicit banked increases provision under the ordinance — landlords who do not take a full annual increase cannot automatically carry unused amounts forward (confirm with the City)
• Certain capital improvement pass-throughs or operating cost increases may be petitioned through the City's administrative process

Landlords must ensure the unit is registered with the City's rental registry before imposing any rent increase. Unregistered units may not be eligible to collect rent increases.

4. Just Cause Eviction Protections

Ordinance No. 23-11, effective October 25, 2023, requires landlords to have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate a tenancy for any covered unit. Maywood's just-cause protections apply to tenants who have resided in a covered unit for at least 12 months.

At-fault just-cause reasons (tenant has done something to justify eviction) include:

• Nonpayment of rent
• Breach of a material lease term after written notice
• Nuisance or damage to the unit
• Illegal activity on the premises
• Refusal to sign a renewal lease on similar terms
• Assignment or subletting without landlord consent

No-fault just-cause reasons (tenant is not at fault) include:

• Owner move-in (landlord or qualified family member intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence)
• Withdrawal of the unit from the rental market (Ellis Act)
• Substantial rehabilitation or renovation requiring the tenant to vacate
• Government order requiring vacancy

For no-fault evictions, landlords are required to pay relocation assistance to displaced tenants. The amount and conditions of relocation assistance are specified in the ordinance — tenants facing no-fault eviction should contact the City's Community Development Department immediately to confirm the applicable amount.

Renters in units not covered by the local ordinance may still be protected under AB 1482, which requires just cause for eviction after 12 months of tenancy in qualifying statewide-covered units and mandates one month's rent as relocation assistance for no-fault evictions.

5. Local Rules and Special Protections

Rental Registry Requirements

Maywood's Rent Stabilization Ordinance requires all rental property owners — both covered and exempt — to register their units with the City. Key registration requirements include:

• Initial registration was due by February 1, 2024
• Annual recertification must be completed each year between January 1 and January 31
• Registration fee: $90 per covered unit; $63 per exempt unit
• Property owners must also obtain a City of Maywood business license to legally conduct rental business in the city

Filing a Petition

Tenants or landlords may file petitions with the City of Maywood's Community Development Department to dispute rent increases, request exemptions, or seek hearings on alleged ordinance violations. Tenants who believe their landlord has imposed an unlawful rent increase or is attempting an unlawful eviction should document all communications and contact the City promptly.

Anti-Harassment Protections

The ordinance prohibits landlords from harassing tenants to induce them to vacate, including reducing or eliminating services, threatening tenants, entering units without proper notice, or retaliating against tenants for asserting their rights under the ordinance. Tenants who experience harassment should report it in writing to the City's Community Development Department and keep records of all incidents.

Landlord Obligations

Covered landlords must provide tenants with written notice of their rights under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Any rent increase notice must comply with the ordinance's cap, and landlords must be current on registration before imposing increases.

6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources

Use RentCheckMe's address checker to look up whether your specific Maywood unit is covered by the local Rent Stabilization Ordinance or by California's AB 1482 statewide protections.

For official guidance and to file petitions or complaints, contact the City of Maywood Community Development Department — the administering body for Ordinance No. 23-07 and No. 23-11 — at cityofmaywood.gov.

Additional tenant resources:

• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Free civil legal services for low-income Angelenos, including eviction defense and tenant rights advice.
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents, with dedicated tenant rights programs.
• Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; offers tenant hotlines and local organizing resources.
• Housing Is Key — California's official housing resource hub (call 833-430-2122 for referrals to local assistance programs).

7. Resources for Maywood Tenants

• City of Maywood Community Development Department — Administers Maywood's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (No. 23-07) and just-cause eviction ordinance (No. 23-11). File petitions, register units, and report violations here.
• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) — Free civil legal services for low-income Angelenos, including eviction defense, rent dispute representation, and tenant rights counseling.
• Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid for LA County residents, with programs specifically focused on housing stability and tenant rights.
• Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization offering a tenant hotline, know-your-rights resources, and local organizing support.
• Housing Is Key — California's official housing assistance hub. Call 833-430-2122 for referrals to rental assistance, legal aid, and housing counseling programs.

8. Important Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws and CPI-based caps change annually; the figures cited here reflect information available as of May 2026. Renters and landlords should verify current requirements directly with the City of Maywood Community Development Department and consult a qualified attorney or local legal aid organization — such as the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles or Bet Tzedek Legal Services — for advice specific to their situation.

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