Los Angeles renters living in rent-controlled apartments are heading into 2026 with new protections against rising housing costs. Mayor Karen Bass has signed the first major overhaul of the city's Rent Stabilization Ordinance in nearly 40 years, lowering the maximum annual rent increase and eliminating certain additional charges that landlords have been allowed to impose.
The changes, approved by the Los Angeles City Council in December and signed by Bass on December 23, will take effect February 2, 2026.
For tenants already struggling with the cost of living, the new rules could provide greater predictability when planning their household budgets.
How Los Angeles Rent Control Is Changing
Under the previous Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) formula, annual rent increases could range from 3% to 8%, depending on inflation.
The revised formula lowers that range to 1% to 4%, with annual adjustments based on 90% of the applicable Consumer Price Index rather than the full inflation rate.
That doesn't mean landlords can automatically raise rents by 4%. The allowable percentage will still depend on inflation and the amount authorized by the Los Angeles Housing Department.
For the current period, July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the city's allowable annual increase remains 3%.
The new ordinance also removes provisions allowing landlords to add an extra 1% for gas and another 1% for electricity when those utilities are provided by the property owner.
Together, these changes are intended to make rent increases more predictable and reduce the possibility of additional charges pushing a household's rent higher.
Families Will No Longer Face Certain Increases for Adding Dependents
Another significant change involves families whose household circumstances change.
Under the previous ordinance, landlords could impose an additional rent increase when certain dependents were added to an existing tenancy.
The new law eliminates the provision allowing an additional 10% increase for dependents, including children and older family members who join a household under qualifying circumstances.
For families caring for relatives or welcoming a child, the change removes a potential financial penalty tied to their household's growth.
Mayor Bass described the changes as part of a broader effort to make Los Angeles more affordable.
The mayor has emphasized that families should not have to choose between meeting basic household expenses and maintaining stable housing.
City Councilmember Hugo Soto-MartÃnez, who joined Bass and tenant advocates for the signing, also praised the legislation as a way to help residents remain in the communities where they work and live.
Which Los Angeles Apartments Are Covered?
The new protections apply to rental units covered by the City of Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
Generally, the RSO covers qualifying rental properties first built on or before October 1, 1978. Certain newer units that replace demolished rent-controlled housing may also be covered.
Not every rental in Los Angeles falls under the ordinance. Newer apartments and other exempt properties may instead be subject to different protections, including California's statewide Tenant Protection Act.
The city's rules also shouldn't be confused with those governing unincorporated Los Angeles County or neighboring cities such as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood, which have separate housing regulations.
Tenants can research their property's status through the city's ZIMAS property lookup or contact the Los Angeles Housing Department for confirmation.
A Significant Change for Long-Term Renters
Rent control plays an important role in Los Angeles, where many residents have remained in the same apartments for years or even decades.
Although an annual increase of a few percentage points may seem modest, those increases become more substantial as monthly rents rise. For households living on fixed incomes or managing already-tight budgets, even a relatively small increase can be difficult to absorb.
The revised ordinance doesn't freeze rents or eliminate allowable increases. It does, however, lower the upper limit under the city's annual adjustment formula and remove specific additional charges.
City officials are also examining ways to address deferred maintenance and other challenges affecting smaller rental property owners.
With the February 2 effective date approaching, landlords and tenants will need to understand how the revised ordinance applies to their rental agreements and future rent adjustments.
For more information about rent stabilization coverage and allowable increases, visit the Los Angeles Housing Department or call (866) 557-7368.
Sources
Original news report: Beverly Press/Park Labrea News, January 1, 2026, page 9, "New tenant protections become law in Los Angeles." Read the original newspaper edition.
Official announcement: Office of Mayor Karen Bass, December 23, 2025. Mayor Bass Enacts New Tenant Protections.
City records: Los Angeles City Clerk, Council File 23-1134, Ordinance No. 188795. View legislative records.
