Rent Control & Tenant Protection Measures

Rent Control

Maximum Permissible Annual Rent Increase

• Landlords may not impose more than one Rent increase for a Covered Rental Unit in any twelve-month (12- month) period.
• The maximum permissible annual rent increase is based on the average annual change in the consumer price index (“CPI change”).
• If CPI change is less than 2%, maximum allowable annual rent increase is 2%.
• If CPI change is more than 5%, maximum allowable annual rent increase is 5%.
• A Landlord may impose a Rent increase that takes effect sooner than twelve (12) months following the date of the latest permitted Rent increase under the Interim Rent Control Ordinance, but the prior increase under Interim Rent Control Ordinance in combination with a rent increase under permanent ordinance may not exceed the maximum allowable annual rent increase under the permanent ordinance.

Exemptions to Rent Control

• Dwelling units expressly exempt from rent control per state or federal law.
• Dwelling units occupied after February 1, 1995.
• Single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes.
• Subdivided interest in a subdivision.
• Government subsidized dwelling units.

Landlords May Re-establish Rents at Market Rates When:

• Tenant voluntarily vacates, with certain limitations.
• Tenant is evicted based on “for cause” grounds.
• Tenant is evicted based on “no fault” grounds, with the following limitation: if vacated for landlord’s relative to move-in, the unit must remain relative’s primary residence for three years.

Landlords May Not Set Rents to Market Rates When:

• Tenant vacates due to landlord harassment.
• Tenant is evicted before the end of their first year (12-month “vesting” period).
• Tenant voluntarily vacates pursuant to a tenant buyout agreement due to untenantable conditions (such as major renovation). 

 Rent Adjustments Exceeding Maximum Allowable Increase

• The City will establish a process for a landlord to request a rent adjustment if they can demonstrate the limitations on rent increases will prevent the Landlord from receiving a fair and reasonable return with respect to the operation of the property. 

Capital Improvement Pass-Through Program

• 50% of the cost of eligible capital improvement projects may be passed-through to tenants, amortized over the useful life of the improvement, with an aggregate cap of the pass through costs not to exceed 3% of tenant’s rent.
• Eligible capital improvement projects include the addition of new capital improvements, but not the renovations or replacement of existing capital improvements.

Rent Registry

• All rental units must be registered with the City.
• Registration must be updated annually, upon a new tenancy, and when there are changes in housing services for the unit.

Tenant Protections

Eviction Protections

• Evictions must be based on “for cause” or “no fault” grounds.
• “For cause” includes failure to pay rent; breach of rental agreement; failure to provide reasonable access to unit; tenant’s use of unit to create a nuisance or for an illegal purpose; tenant was the resident manager who has been terminated.
• “No fault” includes recovery of unit in order to: demolish; remove from rental market; move-in landlord or landlord’s relative, provided they must continue to occupy property for at least 3 years; comply with deed or regulatory restriction; comply with government or other order necessitating the vacancy.
• Tenants protected from eviction include: long-term tenants who are 62 years old or disabled; terminally ill tenants; low-income tenants; tenants with school-aged children protected during the school year.

Exemptions from Eviction Protections

• Eviction protections do not apply within the first 12 months of tenancy (12-month “vesting” period).
• Eviction protections do not apply to units that lack their own bathroom or kitchen facility.

Relocation Assistance

• Three times the greater of current rent in effect or market rent, plus $1000.
• Landlord may deduct past due rent, with the exception of back rent accrued during City’s Residential Tenant Eviction Moratorium period, as well as amounts to cover extraordinary wear and tear.
• “Small Landlords” (defined as those owning 3 units or less within and outside of Culver City) shall only pay 50% of the amount of relocation assistance otherwise due.

Exemptions from the Payment of Relocation Assistance

• Tenant was on notice prior to entering rental agreement that application to subdivide property or convert the building for a condominium, stock cooperative or community apartment project was on filed or approved by the City.
• Landlord’s recover of the unit and eviction of tenant was in compliance with government or court order to vacate due to natural disaster or act of God conditions.

Tenant Protections During Temporary Untenantable Conditions

• Landlord has obligation to take steps to make unit safe for tenant during the work or to relocate tenant to comparable living arrangements.
• If work is anticipated to last for more than 30 days, tenant may voluntarily terminate tenancy and enter into buyout agreement with the landlord.
• If work continues to persist for more than 30 days after projected completion date of the work, tenant may renew their option to voluntarily terminate tenancy and enter into buyout agreement with the landlord.
• Landlords must provide 30 days’ notice prior to construction with shorter period for emergencies.

Tenant Buyout Agreements

• Rules and procedures for a landlord to offer tenant a buyout agreement.

Retaliatory Eviction and Anti-Harassment

• Adoption of local anti-harassment laws

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a residential tenant eviction moratorium (RTEM) was in place that prohibited all evictions of residential tenants through September 30, 2020 (subject to certain limited exceptions).

More details can be found in the August 4, 2020 5th Amended Rules and Implementation Measures(PDF, 778KB) document, in the March 27, 2020 Second Supplement to Public Order, in the April 18, 2020 Eighth Supplement to Public Order, in the May 19, 2020 Twelfth Supplement to Public Order, and in the August 4, 2020 Twenty-Second Supplement to Public Order .

The City's RTEM expired on September 30, 2020.  Due to new state law, AB 3088, any further extension or modification of the City’s RTEM would have no effect until February 1, 2021; therefore, City Council may consider whether to re-establish a local moratorium after February 1st.  Currently, residential eviction protections for the inability to pay rent due to COVID-19-related circumstances are governed by California state law (AB 3088: COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act of 2020), which is not implemented or enforced by the City.  Please review the AB 3088 Factsheet issued by the Governor’s Office for more information regarding the new state law.  

For questions about the residential tenant eviction moratorium, please contact the Housing Division at Residential.Eviction@CulverCity.org or (310) 253-5790.

For information regarding the commercial tenant eviction moratorium, also in effect through March 31, 2021, please visit the Coronavirus Business Information page.

The City caps annual rent increases at an amount tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The maximum allowable increase on rents that take effect during any given month are released monthly, approximately six weeks in advance of the first of each month. The maximum permissible annual rent increase is 2.25% for residential rent increases effective between October 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020, and 2.00% for residential rent increases effective between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2021.

Learn more about how the City calculates the maximum permissible annual rent increase by reading "Guideline/Rule No. 2020-RC01 (Annual Permissible Rent Increases)"(PDF, 386KB) .

What is the Maximum Permissible Rent Increase?

When will the rent cap for increases effective during future periods be announced?

Each month, on the next business day after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes the CPI, the Housing Division will publish on its Rent Control/Tenant Protections webpage the maximum permissible rent increase for rent increases that are effective in the month that is approximately six weeks after the published increase. For example, on November 13, 2020, the City will publish the rent cap for increases effective January 1 - 31, 2021, and on December 11, 2020, the City will publish the rent cap for increases effective February 1 - 28, 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes a schedule in advance of the CPI publishing dates for the upcoming year.

• Rent Control Ordinance(PDF, 9MB)
• Tenant Protections Ordinance(PDF, 10MB)
• Guideline/Rule No. 2020-RC01 Annual Permissible Rent Increases(PDF, 386KB)

Residential Rental Registry and Rent Registration Certificate

The permanent rent control ordinance extended existing Rental Unit Rent Registration certificates issued under the temporary rent control ordinance until August 31, 2021 (see section 15.09.230). Landlords will be required to register units under the new permanent regulations. The first deadline for registration is July 31, 2021, and each July 31^st thereafter. The City will send out information about how to reregister under the permanent regulations in early 2021.  Please sign-up for email updates from the City to ensure you’re notified.

• Rental Unit Registration Portal

Rent Control Notice: A Required Posting

All landlords must post the Rent Control Ordinance Notice in a conspicuous location in the common area, at the entry or entries to the building or units, or other similar location or locations as necessary to provide tenants a reasonable opportunity to view the notice, at all properties where a Rent Registration Certificate is required (see CCMC 15.09.230(B)(5)). The one-page form will be written in both English and Spanish and provides tenants with information about Rent Control in Culver City.  The form will be posted here when available.

Tenant Buyouts

• Tenant Buyout Agreement Disclosure Notice(PDF, 82KB)

Application for Rent Adjustment

Landlords may use the following form to apply to increase rents beyond the maximum increase permitted by the Rent Control Ordinance.

• Application for Rent Adjustment(PDF, 9MB)

Capital Improvement Cost Recovery Application

The application for Capital Improvement Cost Recovery will be posted soon, when available.

Other Information

• CA Department of Consumer Affairs: A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities

Tenant Buyouts

• Tenant Buyout Agreement Disclosure Notice(PDF, 82KB)

Other Information

• CA Department of Consumer Affairs: A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities

• Stay Housed L.A. County is a countywide initiative to provide legal assistance and support for tenants facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Stay Housed L.A. County website provides tenants with useful information about their rights, workshops for residents who need legal assistance, and other support. Stay Housed L.A. County is a partnership between the County of Los Angeles, legal aid groups and community-based organizations to provide emergency support to tenants in need. Virtual Know Your Rights workshops will also be offered by participating community organizations to provide L.A. County residents with critical information about permanent and emergency tenant protections that can help tenants facing eviction or other challenges related to their rental housing. Community organizations will provide targeted ongoing support to help tenants with case management support.