San Diego covered rental units face an 8.2% increase limit through July 2027

San Diego renters and landlords have a new figure to check: For covered rental units, rent increases taking effect from Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, are generally limited to 8.2% during any 12-month period.

The figure comes from California’s Tenant Protection Act schedule, not from a separate 8.2% rent-control ordinance adopted by the City of San Diego. San Diego Housing Commission guidance lists the 8.2% limit for covered units, while the California attorney general’s chart gives the same maximum for San Diego County.

How the 8.2% figure is calculated

The statewide formula allows a rent increase of 5% plus the applicable local cost-of-living measure, subject to a maximum of 10%. For increases beginning during the current San Diego schedule, the local measure is 3.2%, producing an 8.2% maximum.

The limit applies to the total rent increase during a 12-month period. A landlord may not avoid that limit by dividing increases into separate notices. SDHC guidance says increases may occur up to two times in a 12-month period as long as the combined increases remain within the applicable cap.

Which units are covered

The Tenant Protection Act generally covers most California rental housing that is more than 15 years old. The attorney general’s guidance says the statewide caps can include qualifying apartments, certain single-family homes and condominiums owned by corporations, mobilehomes rented from park management, and housing rented by Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipients.

Coverage is not automatic for every rental. Statutory exemptions can depend on the property’s age, ownership, housing type, tenancy circumstances and whether required exemption notices were provided. Some single-family homes, condominiums and newer properties may be exempt, so the unit’s status must be checked before an increase is calculated.

The cap also does not set the initial rent for a new tenant after a previous tenancy ends. Landlords and tenants should instead review the rent charged and any increases during the immediately preceding 12 months.

Written notice matters

For a covered increase, the landlord generally must give the tenant at least 60 days’ written notice before the new rent takes effect. The effective date, the date the notice was delivered and any earlier increase during the same 12-month period all matter.

SDHC guidance says a different notice rule applies to some exempt units. If an exempt-unit increase exceeds 10% of the lowest rent charged during the previous 12 months, at least 90 days’ written notice is required, along with the required tenant notices.

Section 8 units have an additional SDHC process

Landlords participating in the San Diego Housing Commission’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program must take an additional administrative step. Rent-change requests must be submitted to SDHC at least 60 days before the proposed effective date, and the landlord must provide the tenant with the notice required by law.

SDHC evaluates whether the requested rent is reasonable by comparing it with comparable unassisted units, including other units at the property and similar rentals in the surrounding market. The review can consider location, unit size and type, age, quality, amenities, utilities, maintenance and other housing services.

For existing voucher tenants, SDHC says the approved rent may not exceed the rent charged for comparable units occupied by tenants who do not receive rental assistance. A request is not effective merely because the landlord submits it; the rent must follow SDHC’s review and approval process. If approved, SDHC says the change generally becomes effective on the first day of the month after a full 60-day notice, or later when required.

What renters and landlords should check now

A San Diego renter who receives a rent-increase notice for an effective date on or after Aug. 1, 2026, should:

Check whether the unit is covered or exempt.
Compare the proposed increase with the applicable 8.2% maximum.
Review the rent charged and increases imposed during the previous 12 months.
Confirm that the written notice was delivered far enough in advance.
Ask whether a housing program, local rule or exemption creates a different requirement.

Landlords should determine the unit’s coverage status, document the lowest rent charged during the prior 12 months and use the correct notice period. Section 8 landlords working through SDHC must also submit requests in advance and obtain a rent-reasonableness determination.

The 8.2% figure is a statewide Tenant Protection Act limit listed for San Diego County for this annual schedule. It is not a universal cap on every San Diego rental, and the attorney general says its chart is informational rather than legal advice. Tenants or owners with a dispute should review the applicable law and contact the relevant agency or a qualified legal-aid provider.

Sources

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