Torrance Rent Increase Rules 2026: Notice and the 8.7% Cap
If you own a rental in Torrance, two separate rules decide how you raise rent in 2026: how much you may increase it (the AB 1482 cap) and how much notice you must give (California Civil Code §827). For most covered units, the maximum increase taking effect on or after August 1, 2026 is 8.7%, and any increase of 10% or less needs 30 days' written notice. Here is how both rules work, with worked examples.
Quick Answer
2026 cap: For increases effective August 1, 2026 or later, the Los Angeles-area AB 1482 maximum is 8.7% (5% + 3.7% CPI), according to LA County DCBA.
Notice period: 30 days' written notice for increases of 10% or less in a 12-month period; 90 days for more than 10% (Civil Code §827).
12-month look-back: Both the cap and the notice rule count all increases over the prior 12 months, not just the newest one.
Two increments max: A covered unit's rent can be raised in no more than two steps in any 12-month period (Civil Code §1947.12).
Torrance has no local rent control: State law generally governs, but confirm your parcel is inside city limits.
Rule 1: How Much You Can Raise Rent (AB 1482)
The Tenant Protection Act of 2019, codified at Civil Code §1947.12, limits annual increases on covered units to 5% plus the regional change in the cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower. The CPI used for increases taking effect on or after August 1 is the April-to-April change for the current year. For the Los Angeles metro area, LA County DCBA reports that effective August 1, 2026, the cap is 8.7%.
Two details catch owners off guard:
The base is the lowest rent in the past 12 months. The cap is measured against the lowest gross rental rate charged at any time during the 12 months before the increase.
The cap runs through July 31, 2027. A new CPI figure will set the cap for increases effective on or after August 1, 2027. AB 1482 itself is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2030.
Which Torrance rentals are exempt?
Not every unit is covered. Common exemptions under §1947.12 include:
Newer buildings: Housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years (a rolling window).
Single-family homes and condos: Property that can be sold separately from any other unit, if it is not owned by a REIT, a corporation, or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant has received the required written exemption notice.
Owner-occupied duplexes: A duplex where the owner lives in one unit from the start of the tenancy.
We covered the single-family and condo notice in detail in our earlier article on the AB 1482 exemption notice for Torrance homes and condos. If that notice was never given, assume the cap applies.
Rule 2: How Much Notice You Must Give (Civil Code §827)
For month-to-month tenancies, Civil Code §827 sets the notice period based on the size of the increase, counting all increases in the prior 12 months together:
10% or less: at least 30 days' written notice before the new rent takes effect.
More than 10%: at least 90 days' written notice.
The notice must be in writing and can be delivered personally or by mail. Many owners deliver in person or add extra days when mailing so there is no argument about timing. For tenants on a fixed-term lease, rent generally cannot change mid-term unless the lease allows it.
Note that a covered unit under AB 1482 can never legally go above 10% in 12 months, so the 90-day rule mainly matters for exempt properties, such as a single-family home where the exemption notice was properly given.
Worked Examples for 2026
Example 1: Covered fourplex, one increase
Current rent is $3,000, unchanged for 12 months, and the increase takes effect November 1, 2026. Maximum increase: $3,000 × 8.7% = $261, so the new rent can be up to $3,261. Because 8.7% is under 10%, 30 days' written notice is enough.
Example 2: Two increases in 12 months
Rent was $2,500 (the lowest in the past year). The owner raised it 4% in February 2026, to $2,600, and now wants another 5% in December, to $2,730. Measured from the $2,500 base, that is a 9.2% total, which exceeds the 8.7% cap. The second step can bring rent to no more than $2,717.50 ($2,500 × 1.087).
Example 3: Exempt single-family home
A Torrance house owned by an individual, with a properly delivered exemption notice, rents for $4,000. The owner plans a 12% increase to $4,480. AB 1482's cap does not apply, but because the increase is over 10%, the owner must give at least 90 days' written notice.
Before You Send a Rent Increase: A Short Checklist
Confirm jurisdiction. A Torrance mailing address does not always mean the property is inside city limits. Unincorporated LA County has its own rent ordinance, which DCBA says caps most fully covered units at 1.919% through June 30, 2027.
Confirm coverage. Check the certificate of occupancy date and ownership structure, and whether an exemption notice was given.
Add up the last 12 months. Include every increase, and start from the lowest rent charged in that window.
Check the lease. A fixed-term lease usually locks the rent until it ends.
Put it in writing. State the current rent, the new rent, and the effective date, and keep proof of delivery.
Think beyond the maximum. A smaller increase that keeps a reliable tenant can cost far less than a vacancy and turnover.
Why owners work with Blue Current Estates
Blue Current Estates Co. (CA DRE #02317199) is a Torrance-based brokerage and property management company led by broker Manabu Kagiyama (DRE #01891208). You work directly with the broker, not a call center. We track the CPI cap, look-back math and notice timing for every home we manage, and we care for every home as if it were our own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I raise rent in Torrance in 2026?
For most units covered by AB 1482, the maximum for increases taking effect on or after August 1, 2026 is 8.7% (5% plus the Los Angeles-area CPI of 3.7%), measured over any 12-month period. Exempt properties are not subject to the cap.
How much notice do I need for a rent increase in California?
At least 30 days' written notice if the increase, combined with any other increases in the prior 12 months, is 10% or less. More than 10% requires at least 90 days' notice.
Can I raise rent twice in one year?
Under AB 1482, a covered unit's rent can be increased in no more than two increments over a 12-month period, and the combined total still cannot exceed the cap.
Does Torrance have its own rent control?
Torrance has not adopted a local rent stabilization ordinance. Its 2019 tenant-protection chapter was temporary and intended to bridge the gap until AB 1482 took effect in 2020, so the state rules generally apply.
Is my single-family rental exempt from the AB 1482 cap?
It can be, if it is separately alienable, is not owned by a REIT, a corporation, or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant has received the required written exemption notice. Without that notice, the exemption is not available.
Get a Free Rental Analysis for Your Torrance Property
Not sure what rent your property can support, or whether your next increase is compliant? Request a free rental analysis, or call (310) 243-6564 to talk it through directly with the broker.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with an attorney or the relevant city.
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