Own a rental home or condo that’s exempt from California’s rent caps?
That exemption may not protect you from the emergency rent restrictions now in effect.
On September 30, 2026, San Diego County declared a countywide emergency ahead of anticipated storms and flooding. That declaration triggered local anti-price-gouging rules affecting rental housing—even properties normally exempt from statewide rent control.
Here’s what you need to know before sending a rent increase or advertising your next vacancy:
The emergency limit is generally 10%. The County’s ordinance restricts increases in rents advertised, offered, or charged to existing and prospective tenants, with limited exceptions. The initial restriction lasts 30 days and can be extended. Separate pricing rules apply to homes that weren’t rented or advertised during the preceding year.
Already covered by AB 1482? Your lower cap still applies. For covered San Diego County properties, the current limit is 8.2% over a 12-month period. The emergency restriction does not give you permission to raise it to 10%.
A vacant property deserves the same attention. These restrictions reach asking rents for prospective tenants, too. Before you put a new price on the listing, check the property’s rental history and the applicable limits.
You bought a rental property to build income. A preventable pricing mistake can put that income at risk.
At Rancho Coastal Properties, we help owners work through rental pricing, lease renewals, and the details that are easy to overlook when you’re managing a property yourself.
Thinking about raising the rent or listing your rental? Let’s talk before you put a number in writing.
Visit RanchoCoastalProperties.com to get in touch.
