Moreno Valley, in western Riverside County, has no local rent control ordinance. Renters here rely solely on California's AB 1482 statewide tenant protections for rent caps and just-cause eviction rights.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most pre-2011 multi-unit rentals; single-family homes, condos, and units built in the last 15 years are exempt
5% + Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro CPI, capped at 10% per year (approximately 8.8% for 2025)
After 12 months of tenancy, landlords must have at-fault or no-fault just cause to evict under AB 1482
Moreno Valley sits in the western Inland Empire, roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles in Riverside County. With a population exceeding 215,000, it is one of the largest cities in the Inland Empire and has seen rapid residential growth driven by its relative affordability compared to coastal Southern California markets. The city's housing stock skews heavily toward single-family homes, but a significant share of residents — particularly in apartment complexes along major corridors like Perris Boulevard and Alessandro Boulevard — rent their homes. Rising rents in the Inland Empire over the past decade have put pressure on Moreno Valley's working-class and moderate-income renters.
Moreno Valley has never enacted a local rent control ordinance. Instead, renters here depend entirely on California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019, commonly known as AB 1482. That law limits annual rent increases and requires landlords to have a legally recognized reason — called 'just cause' — before terminating a tenancy that has lasted at least 12 months. While AB 1482 provides meaningful baseline protections, it is narrower in scope than local rent control ordinances found in cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco, and it is self-enforced: there is no Moreno Valley rent board to file a complaint with.
This article explains exactly which Moreno Valley rentals qualify for AB 1482 protections, how much your landlord can legally raise your rent each year, what eviction procedures your landlord must follow, and where to find local legal help if your rights are being violated.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Moreno Valley?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units in Moreno Valley that received their certificate of occupancy at least 15 years before the current date. Because the rule is a rolling 15-year window, units must generally have been built before 2011 to qualify as of 2026. Beyond the age requirement, the property must not fall into one of the statute's exempt categories.
Units exempt from AB 1482 in Moreno Valley:
Single-family homes and condominiums — exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner is a real estate investment trust (REIT), a corporation, or an LLC in which at least one member is a corporation. Tenants in exempt SFHs must receive written notice of this exemption.
Buildings constructed in the last 15 years — any unit with a certificate of occupancy issued in 2011 or later is not covered until the 15-year mark passes.
Owner-occupied duplexes — if the landlord lives in one unit of a two-unit building, the other unit is exempt from AB 1482.
Government-subsidized affordable housing — units subject to deed restrictions or other affordability covenants with their own stricter rent limits (such as Section 8 project-based housing) are excluded.
Transient and hotel occupancies — short-term rentals, hotels, and similar accommodations are not covered.
Dormitories — housing owned and operated by an educational institution is exempt.
If you are unsure whether your unit qualifies, use RentCheckMe's address lookup tool at rentcheckme.com or contact Inland Counties Legal Services for a free assessment.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered units in Moreno Valley, AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the local metropolitan area, with a hard ceiling of 10%. Moreno Valley falls within the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan statistical area, so the applicable CPI is the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area CPI published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Based on recent CPI figures, the allowable increase for most of 2025 is approximately 8.8% (5% + roughly 3.8% CPI), though the exact figure depends on the specific measurement period used. Landlords must calculate the increase using the CPI for the 12-month period ending April 1 of the current year, or they may use the CPI for the most recent 12-month period with data available as of the date of the notice.
Key rules governing rent increases under AB 1482:
A landlord cannot raise the rent during the first 12 months of a tenancy. The cap kicks in only after the tenant has lived in the unit for at least one year.
Landlords may raise the rent no more than twice per 12-month period, but the combined total of those increases cannot exceed the annual cap.
Unused increase capacity does not carry over — a landlord who skipped increases in prior years cannot bank those amounts and apply them all at once in a later year.
Any rent increase must be accompanied by proper written notice: 30 days for increases of 10% or less; 90 days for any increase greater than 10% (though under the cap, increases over 10% are prohibited for covered units).
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a tenant in a covered Moreno Valley unit has continuously and lawfully occupied their rental for 12 months (or, if a second adult was added to the lease, once that second adult has also lived there for 12 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just cause to terminate the tenancy. Without just cause, a notice to quit or eviction filing is invalid.
At-fault just cause reasons (tenant is responsible):
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of a lease term after written notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure
Maintaining, committing, or permitting a nuisance
Committing waste (damage to the property)
Criminal activity on or near the premises that affects the health or safety of others
Unauthorized subletting or assignment of the unit
Refusal to allow lawful entry after proper notice
Using the unit for an unlawful purpose
Failure to vacate after a valid notice to terminate a lease (e.g., end of a fixed-term lease where the tenant was given notice)
No-fault just cause reasons (tenant is not at fault):
Owner move-in — the landlord or a qualifying family member intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
Ellis Act withdrawal — the landlord withdraws all units from the rental market
Substantial remodel — construction requiring permits and necessitating vacancy for at least 30 days
Demolition of the unit
Relocation assistance: For all no-fault evictions, the landlord must provide the tenant with one month's rent as relocation assistance, or alternatively waive the last month's rent. This payment is due at the time the notice to quit is served, not at move-out.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Moreno Valley has no local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The Moreno Valley City Council has not enacted any supplemental tenant protection measures beyond what California state law requires. This means there is no local rent board, no city-run rent registry, and no Moreno Valley-specific complaint process for rent disputes. Tenants cannot file a complaint with the city if a landlord violates AB 1482 — enforcement is left entirely to the tenant through private legal action or assistance from legal aid organizations.
One reason Moreno Valley — and most California cities — lack local rent control is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a state law that prohibits cities from imposing rent control on units built after February 1, 1995, on single-family homes, or on condominiums. Given that a large portion of Moreno Valley's rental housing stock consists of single-family homes and newer apartment complexes, Costa-Hawkins significantly limits the universe of units any potential local ordinance could legally cover.
The City of Moreno Valley does operate a Housing Division that administers federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and some affordable housing programs, but these are not tenant protection programs in the rent control sense. Renters experiencing habitability problems (such as mold, rodent infestations, or broken heating) can contact the city's Code Enforcement Division. For rent disputes and eviction defense, tenants should contact a legal aid organization directly, as the city does not provide that service.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by verifying whether your specific Moreno Valley address is covered by AB 1482 using the RentCheckMe address lookup tool at rentcheckme.com. The tool cross-references permit data and property type to give you a coverage determination for your unit.
Local & regional resources for Moreno Valley renters:
Inland Counties Legal Services — inlandlegal.org — Free civil legal services for low-income renters in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including eviction defense and landlord-tenant advice. Call to schedule an intake appointment.
Moreno Valley Housing Division — moval.org/housing — City housing programs, CDBG resources, and code enforcement referrals for habitability issues.
Riverside County Housing Authority — rivcoha.org — Administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other rental assistance programs for Riverside County residents.
Tenants Together — tenantstogether.org — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; offers tenant hotline referrals, know-your-rights resources, and information on AB 1482.
Housing Is Key — housingiskey.com — California's statewide housing assistance portal. Call 833-430-2122 for information on rental assistance programs and eviction prevention resources.
7. Resources for Moreno Valley Tenants
Inland Counties Legal Services — Free civil legal services for low-income renters in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including eviction defense and AB 1482 guidance.
Moreno Valley Housing Division — City of Moreno Valley housing programs, affordable housing resources, and code enforcement referrals for habitability complaints.
Riverside County Housing Authority — Administers Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and rental assistance programs for eligible Riverside County residents.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization with know-your-rights resources, AB 1482 explainers, and tenant hotline referrals.
Housing Is Key — California statewide portal for rental assistance and eviction prevention. Call 833-430-2122 for direct support.
8. Important Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws and CPI figures change frequently, and the applicability of AB 1482 to any specific unit depends on facts that require individual analysis. If you are facing an eviction, a disputed rent increase, or another landlord-tenant issue, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a local legal aid organization as soon as possible.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Moreno Valley has never enacted a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Renters in Moreno Valley are protected only by California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which provides rent caps and just-cause eviction protections for qualifying units. There is no Moreno Valley rent board and no city-level complaint process for rent disputes.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Moreno Valley?
For units covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise your rent by no more than 5% plus the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area CPI, with an absolute maximum of 10% per year. For most of 2025, that translates to approximately 8.8%. Your landlord cannot raise your rent at all during the first 12 months of your tenancy, and unused increases from prior years cannot be banked and applied later.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Moreno Valley?
AB 1482 covers most Moreno Valley apartment units whose certificate of occupancy was issued before 2011 (the rolling 15-year rule means this threshold advances each year). Single-family homes, condos, units built in the last 15 years, and owner-occupied duplexes are generally exempt. Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific unit, or call Inland Counties Legal Services for a free assessment.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Moreno Valley?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482 and you have lived there for at least 12 months, your landlord must have a legally recognized just cause to evict you — either an at-fault reason (such as nonpayment of rent or a lease violation) or a no-fault reason (such as owner move-in or substantial remodel). For no-fault evictions, the landlord must pay you one month's rent as relocation assistance. Tenants in exempt units — such as single-family homes or newer buildings — do not have these protections.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Moreno Valley?
Inland Counties Legal Services (inlandlegal.org) provides free legal help for low-income renters in Riverside County, including eviction defense and AB 1482 advice. You can also contact Tenants Together (tenantstogether.org) for tenant rights resources or call Housing Is Key at 833-430-2122 for rental assistance referrals. Because Moreno Valley has no local rent board, these outside organizations are your primary avenue for dispute resolution.
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