Simi Valley, in eastern Ventura County at the foot of the Santa Susana Mountains, has no local rent control ordinance — California's statewide AB 1482 is the only rent protection available to most renters here.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most multi-family rentals with certificates of occupancy issued before 2011 (rolling 15-year rule); single-family homes and condos are exempt under Costa-Hawkins
5% + LA Metro CPI, capped at 10% per year — approximately 8.8% for 2025
After 12 months of tenancy, landlords must have a legally recognized at-fault or no-fault reason to evict
Simi Valley sits in the southeastern corner of Ventura County, bordered by the cities of Los Angeles to the east and Thousand Oaks to the west. With a population of roughly 130,000, it is one of Ventura County's largest cities and functions primarily as a suburban bedroom community for workers commuting into the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles. The city's housing stock leans heavily toward single-family homes, which historically kept rents lower than coastal Ventura County cities — but rising demand and limited multi-family inventory have pushed rents significantly higher over the past decade.
Simi Valley has never enacted a local rent stabilization ordinance. California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — commonly called AB 1482 — provides the only rent increase limits and eviction protections available to qualifying renters. Because so much of Simi Valley's housing stock consists of single-family homes and condominiums, a large share of renters falls outside AB 1482's coverage entirely, making it especially important for tenants here to understand exactly what the law covers.
This article explains which Simi Valley rentals are covered by AB 1482, how the rent cap is calculated using the Los Angeles metro CPI, what just-cause eviction protections apply, and where to find legal help in Ventura County and the broader region.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Simi Valley?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units in Simi Valley that meet all of the following conditions: the unit's certificate of occupancy was issued at least 15 years before the date of any rent increase (meaning units built before approximately 2011 as of 2026, with that cutoff advancing each year), and the unit is not otherwise exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act or another statutory carve-out.
The following types of rentals are exempt from AB 1482 and have no rent cap protections:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded by 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. Owners of exempt SFH and condos must serve tenants a written exemption notice.
Units built within the last 15 years — any unit with a certificate of occupancy issued on or after January 1, 2011 (as of 2026) is exempt; this cutoff advances by one year every January.
Owner-occupied duplexes — where the property owner lives in one of the two units on the same parcel.
Dormitories, hotels, and transient housing — short-term and transient occupancies are not covered.
Government-subsidized affordable housing — units governed by their own regulatory agreements (such as Section 8 project-based units) that already impose stricter rent limits are exempt from the AB 1482 cap.
Certain non-profit and government-owned housing — units owned or operated by government entities or non-profits subject to independent affordability restrictions.
Given that single-family rentals make up a disproportionately large share of Simi Valley's rental market compared to denser urban areas, many renters in this city should verify their unit type carefully before assuming AB 1482 applies to them.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered units, AB 1482 limits annual rent increases to 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum cap of 10% per year. Simi Valley falls within the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metro CPI region, which is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For 2025, the LA metro CPI is approximately 3.8%, making the allowable cap roughly 8.8% for most covered Simi Valley units. This figure changes each year as CPI fluctuates.
Key rules governing rent increases under AB 1482:
12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot impose an AB 1482-compliant increase until a tenant has resided in the unit for at least 12 months.
Maximum two increases per year: Landlords may raise rent up to twice in any 12-month period, but the combined total of those increases cannot exceed the annual cap.
No banking of unused increases: If a landlord does not raise rent in a given year, they cannot carry forward or accumulate that unused percentage into a future year.
Notice requirements: A rent increase of 10% or less requires 30 days' written notice; any increase above 10% (which is prohibited under AB 1482 for covered units) would require 90 days' notice under Civil Code § 827.
Tenants who believe their landlord has exceeded the AB 1482 cap have no local rent board to file a complaint with in Simi Valley. Enforcement is self-directed — tenants must send a written demand, withhold the excess amount, or pursue remedies through small claims court or with the assistance of a legal aid organization.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months (or, if there are multiple co-tenants, once at least one tenant has lived there for 24 months), the landlord must have a legally recognized just cause reason to terminate the tenancy under AB 1482.
At-fault just cause reasons (tenant is responsible; no relocation assistance required):
Failure to pay rent
Material breach of the lease after written notice to cure
Committing or permitting a nuisance on the property
Criminal activity on or near the premises that affects the health or safety of others
Subletting without the landlord's written permission in violation of the lease
Refusal to sign a lease renewal on materially similar terms after being offered one
Refusal to allow the landlord lawful entry after proper notice
Using the unit for an unlawful purpose
No-fault just cause reasons (tenant is not at fault; relocation assistance required):
Owner or qualified family member move-in — landlord or an immediate family member intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
Withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act) — landlord removes all units in the building from the rental market
Substantial remodel — demolition or renovation requiring permits and vacating the unit for at least 30 days
Demolition — landlord obtains a permit to demolish the unit
Relocation assistance: For any no-fault eviction, the landlord must provide the tenant with one month's rent as relocation assistance, or alternatively waive the final month's rent. This payment must be made before or at the time the tenant vacates.
As with rent increases, there is no local enforcement board in Simi Valley. Tenants facing improper eviction proceedings should contact a legal aid organization promptly, as response deadlines in unlawful detainer cases are short — often as few as 3 to 5 business days.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Simi Valley has no local rent stabilization or rent control ordinance. The City of Simi Valley has not enacted any municipal law capping rents, requiring just-cause evictions beyond AB 1482, or establishing a local rent board or mediation program. AB 1482 is the sole rent protection framework available to qualifying Simi Valley renters.
One reason California cities like Simi Valley cannot simply enact broader local rent control is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a state law that prohibits local rent control ordinances from covering single-family homes, condominiums, or units built after February 1, 1995. Because a large portion of Simi Valley's rental stock consists of single-family homes and newer construction, any hypothetical local ordinance would be substantially constrained by Costa-Hawkins regardless.
The City of Simi Valley does maintain a Housing Division that administers federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) programs, first-time homebuyer assistance, and housing rehabilitation programs. The Simi Valley Housing Authority provides Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to qualifying low-income residents. Neither program provides rent control enforcement or tenant mediation services. Renters seeking help with a landlord dispute are directed to regional legal aid organizations rather than any city-run tenant services office.
The Ventura County Human Services Agency operates emergency rental assistance and housing stability programs at the county level that may be available to Simi Valley residents facing eviction or housing insecurity.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Use RentCheckMe's address lookup tool to check whether your specific Simi Valley rental unit qualifies for AB 1482 protections based on building age, unit type, and ownership structure. Not all addresses will qualify, and confirming your coverage status before a dispute arises is the most effective first step.
The following organizations provide housing assistance and tenant legal services to Simi Valley renters:
Legal Aid Foundation of Ventura County — free civil legal services for low-income Ventura County residents, including tenant rights, eviction defense, and housing disputes. This is the primary legal aid resource for Simi Valley renters.
Ventura County Bar Association — lawyer referral service and directory for Ventura County; can connect tenants with attorneys who handle landlord-tenant matters.
Ventura County Human Services Agency — county-administered emergency rental assistance, housing navigation, and social services programs available to Simi Valley residents.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides tenant education, referrals, and organizing resources.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — free legal aid including tenant rights representation; serves LA County residents and may assist Simi Valley renters given the city's proximity to the LA metro.
Housing Is Key — California's statewide housing assistance hotline: 833-430-2122. Call for referrals to rental assistance programs and housing counselors.
7. Resources for Simi Valley Tenants
Legal Aid Foundation of Ventura County — Free civil legal services for low-income Ventura County residents, including eviction defense and tenant rights matters.
Ventura County Human Services Agency — County-level emergency rental assistance, housing stability programs, and social services available to Simi Valley residents.
Tenants Together — California's statewide renter advocacy and education organization with resources on AB 1482 and tenant rights.
Bet Tzedek Legal Services — Free legal aid including tenant rights representation, serving the greater LA metro area including Ventura County border communities.
Housing Is Key — California's statewide housing assistance hotline (833-430-2122) for rental assistance referrals and housing counseling.
8. Important Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, CPI figures, and local programs change frequently — always verify current rules with a qualified attorney or legal aid organization before taking action. If you are facing eviction or a significant rent increase in Simi Valley, contact the Legal Aid Foundation of Ventura County or another qualified legal service provider as soon as possible.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Simi Valley has no local rent stabilization ordinance and no city rent board. The only rent increase protections available to Simi Valley renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which applies to qualifying multi-family units that are at least 15 years old. Single-family homes and condominiums — which make up a significant share of Simi Valley's rental market — are exempt under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Simi Valley?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise rent by a maximum of 5% plus the Los Angeles metro CPI, capped at 10% per year — roughly 8.8% in 2025. The increase can only be applied after you have lived in the unit for at least 12 months, and landlords cannot bank unused increases from prior years. If your rental is a single-family home or condo, AB 1482 does not apply and your landlord can generally raise rent to market rate with proper advance notice.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Simi Valley?
AB 1482 applies if your unit received its certificate of occupancy before approximately 2011 (the rolling 15-year cutoff advances each year), is not a single-family home or condo, and is not owner-occupied in a duplex or otherwise exempt. Because Simi Valley has a high proportion of single-family rentals and newer apartment construction, a meaningful share of renters here fall outside AB 1482's coverage. Use RentCheckMe's address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific unit's status.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Simi Valley?
If you have lived in a covered unit for at least 12 months and AB 1482 applies to your rental, your landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate your tenancy — either an at-fault reason (like nonpayment of rent) or a no-fault reason (like an owner move-in). For no-fault evictions, the landlord must pay you one month's rent as relocation assistance. If your rental is exempt from AB 1482, California's standard 30- or 60-day notice rules apply and no just-cause requirement exists.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Simi Valley?
The Legal Aid Foundation of Ventura County (lavclaw.org) is the primary free legal resource for low-income Simi Valley renters facing eviction or illegal rent increases. The Ventura County Bar Association (vcba.org) can refer you to private tenant attorneys. For statewide referrals and rental assistance, call the Housing Is Key hotline at 833-430-2122 or visit housingiskey.com. Because Simi Valley has no local rent board, all disputes must be resolved through the courts, legal aid, or direct negotiation with your landlord.
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