Perris, a fast-growing city in western Riverside County, has no local rent control ordinance. California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) is the only rent and eviction protection available to eligible renters here.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most pre-2011 rentals (rolling 15-year rule); single-family homes and condos are exempt under Costa-Hawkins
5% + Riverside metro CPI, maximum 10% per year (approximately 8.8% for 2025 in most CA regions)
AB 1482 requires just cause for eviction after 12 months of tenancy
Perris sits in the western Inland Empire, in Riverside County, roughly midway between Riverside and Temecula along the I-215 corridor. Once a small agricultural and railroad town, Perris has grown rapidly into a logistics hub and bedroom community, with a population exceeding 85,000. The city's relatively affordable rents compared to coastal Southern California have drawn working-class families and commuters, but rising demand has pushed rents upward and left many renters without a local safety net.
Unlike cities such as Los Angeles or San Jose, Perris has never enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. The only rent and eviction protections available to Perris renters come from California's statewide AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act of 2019. AB 1482 caps annual rent increases for eligible units and requires landlords to show just cause before evicting a long-term tenant. However, many common rental types in Perris — including single-family homes, which make up a significant share of the city's rental stock — are exempt from the law.
This article explains which Perris rentals qualify for AB 1482 protections, how much a landlord can legally raise your rent, what counts as just cause for eviction, and where to find help if your rights are being violated.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Perris?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units in Perris that received their certificate of occupancy at least 15 years before the current date. Because this threshold rolls forward each year, units built before approximately 2011 are generally covered as of 2026. The unit must also be used as a primary residence, and the tenant must have lived there for at least 12 months before rent-cap and just-cause protections fully kick in.
Many rentals in Perris fall outside AB 1482's coverage. Common exemptions include:
Single-family homes and condominiums — Exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner has provided a specific written notice waiving this exemption. Because Perris has a large stock of single-family rental homes, this exemption affects a substantial portion of local renters.
Units built within the last 15 years — Any unit that received its certificate of occupancy after approximately 2011 (as of 2026) is not covered, regardless of ownership type.
Owner-occupied duplexes — If the property owner lives in one unit of a two-unit building, the tenant in the other unit is exempt.
Corporate-owned single-family homes — REITs, corporations, or LLCs that own single-family homes generally cannot claim the SFH exemption; those tenants may be covered by AB 1482.
Government-subsidized affordable housing — Units with their own rent restrictions through programs like Section 8 project-based contracts or tax-credit regulatory agreements are exempt because stricter rules already apply.
Transient or hotel accommodations — Short-term rentals and hotel-style housing are not covered.
Commercial properties — AB 1482 applies to residential tenancies only.
If you are unsure whether your unit qualifies, use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to verify coverage.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
Under AB 1482, landlords of covered units in Perris may raise rent by no more than 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage, with an absolute ceiling of 10% per year. For Perris, the relevant CPI region is the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario metropolitan area (part of the broader Southern California / Inland Empire CPI measurement published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). For most California regions in 2025, this formula works out to approximately 8.8% (5% + roughly 3.8% CPI), though the exact figure depends on the CPI reading at the time of the increase.
Key rules about timing and application:
A landlord cannot impose the first rent increase until a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 consecutive months.
Only one rent increase is permitted in any 12-month period.
Landlords cannot bank or carry over unused increase percentages from prior years. If a landlord skips an increase one year, they cannot double up in a future year.
The cap applies to the base rent. Separately listed utility charges, parking fees, or pet fees that were not part of the original rent may be subject to different treatment, but landlords cannot restructure charges specifically to evade the cap.
If your landlord has raised your rent beyond the allowable amount, you can file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department or seek assistance from Inland Counties Legal Services at inlandlegal.org.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
After a tenant has lived in a covered rental unit in Perris for 12 months (or if any occupant has been on the lease for 24 months), the landlord must have legally recognized just cause to terminate the tenancy under AB 1482. Just cause falls into two categories: at-fault and no-fault.
At-Fault Just Cause
The tenant has done something that justifies termination. Examples include:
Nonpayment of rent
Breach of a material lease term after written notice to cure
Maintaining a nuisance or causing significant damage to the property
Criminal activity on or near the premises
Subletting without the landlord's permission when the lease prohibits it
Refusal to allow the landlord lawful entry after proper notice
Using the unit for an unlawful purpose
No-Fault Just Cause
The tenant has done nothing wrong, but the landlord has a legitimate reason to reclaim the unit. Examples include:
Owner or family move-in — The owner or a qualifying family member intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
Ellis Act withdrawal — The landlord is permanently taking the building off the rental market
Substantial remodel — Work requires permits and the unit must be vacated for at least 30 days
Demolition of the unit
Relocation Assistance for No-Fault Evictions
When a landlord terminates a tenancy under a no-fault just-cause reason, AB 1482 requires the landlord to provide the tenant with one month's rent as relocation assistance, or waive the final month's rent. This payment must be made within 15 calendar days of serving the notice to vacate. If the landlord fails to provide relocation assistance, the eviction notice may be deemed void.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Perris has no local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The City of Perris has not enacted any municipal tenant protection law that goes beyond what California state law requires. This means there is no local rent board, no local registry of rental units, no additional caps on rent increases, and no expanded just-cause eviction standards beyond AB 1482.
A key reason California cities like Perris face limits on what they can enact locally 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, or condominiums — even if a city council wanted to pass stronger protections. Given Perris's relatively newer housing stock and high proportion of single-family rental homes, Costa-Hawkins significantly limits the practical scope of any local ordinance the city could theoretically adopt.
In practice, this means that Perris renters whose units are exempt from AB 1482 — particularly those renting single-family homes — have no cap on how much their landlord can raise the rent and no protection against termination without cause. The City of Perris Housing Division and the Riverside County Housing Authority administer affordable housing programs and may be able to assist renters in finding alternative housing or navigating emergency rental assistance, but they do not adjudicate rent disputes or enforce tenant protection laws. Tenants seeking enforcement of AB 1482 rights must self-enforce by sending written objections to their landlord, filing complaints with state agencies, or pursuing civil claims through the courts — ideally with the help of legal aid.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Start by checking whether your specific address qualifies for AB 1482 protections using the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com. Enter your address to see whether your unit is likely covered based on its age, type, and ownership structure.
For personalized legal help and other tenant resources in Perris and Riverside County:
Inland Counties Legal Services (ICLS) — Free civil legal services for low-income residents of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including eviction defense and tenant rights advice. inlandlegal.org
City of Perris Housing Division — Information on local affordable housing programs and housing assistance. cityofperris.org/housing
Riverside County Housing Authority — Administers Section 8 vouchers and other housing programs for Riverside County residents. rivcoha.org
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; offers a tenant rights hotline and educational resources. tenantstogether.org
Housing Is Key — California's state rental assistance and eviction prevention hotline. Call 833-430-2122 or visit housingiskey.com.
7. Resources for Perris Tenants
Inland Counties Legal Services — Free civil legal help for low-income Riverside and San Bernardino County residents, including eviction defense and tenant rights.
City of Perris Housing Division — Local housing programs, affordable housing information, and housing assistance resources for Perris residents.
Riverside County Housing Authority — Administers Section 8 housing choice vouchers and affordable housing programs throughout Riverside County.
Tenants Together — California statewide renter advocacy organization offering a tenant rights hotline and policy resources.
Housing Is Key — California state program for rental assistance and eviction prevention; call 833-430-2122 for help.
8. Important Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws and CPI figures change regularly, and the information here may not reflect the most current legal developments. RentCheckMe makes no guarantee of accuracy or completeness. If you have a specific legal question about your tenancy in Perris, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Inland Counties Legal Services.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Perris has never enacted a local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The only rent increase limits and eviction protections available to Perris renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019). Renters whose units are exempt from AB 1482 — such as those in single-family homes — have no rent cap under current law.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Perris?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise your rent by a maximum of 5% plus the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario metro area CPI, with an absolute cap of 10% per year. For 2025, this works out to approximately 8.8% for most California regions. Only one increase per 12-month period is allowed, and the first increase cannot occur until you have lived in the unit for 12 months.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Perris?
AB 1482 applies to most residential rentals in Perris that received their certificate of occupancy before approximately 2011 (15 or more years ago as of 2026). However, single-family homes, condominiums, units in owner-occupied duplexes, and newly constructed buildings are generally exempt. Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific unit.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Perris?
If you have lived in a covered unit for 12 or more months, your landlord must have a legally recognized just cause under AB 1482 to terminate your tenancy — either an at-fault reason (like nonpayment of rent) or a no-fault reason (like owner move-in). For no-fault evictions, the landlord must pay you one month's rent as relocation assistance. If your unit is exempt from AB 1482, such as a single-family home, no-cause terminations are permitted with appropriate notice.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Perris?
Contact Inland Counties Legal Services at inlandlegal.org for free legal help if you are low-income. You can also call the Housing Is Key hotline at 833-430-2122 or reach out to Tenants Together at tenantstogether.org for guidance on your rights. The City of Perris Housing Division (cityofperris.org/housing) can point you toward local housing assistance programs, though it does not adjudicate rent disputes.
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