Watsonville · State cap (no local rent control)
8.6%
Watsonville has no local rent control, so the statewide AB 1482 cap applies: for increases starting August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, covered rents in Santa Cruz County can rise at most 8.6% in any 12-month period.
The statewide AB 1482 cap for Santa Cruz County ("All Other Counties" on the Attorney General's chart) for increases starting August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027.
Attorney General's chart, "All Other Counties" (increases starting Aug 1 each year).
Source: State of California, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General (Limits on Rent Increases).
| Period | Allowed | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 – Jul 2026 | 7.7% | State of California, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General |
| Aug 2026 – Jul 2027 | 8.6% | State of California, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General |
Recent changes
For increases starting between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027, the Attorney General's chart lists 8.7% (Los Angeles Area), 8.1% (Riverside Area), 8.2% (San Diego Area), 8.8% (San Francisco Area) and 8.6% for all other counties.
Official source: California Attorney General: Limits on Rent Increases ↗
§ 1 · The formula
5% + CPI, max 10% (statewide)
No local rent control applies, so the statewide Tenant Protection Act cap governs: 5% plus the change in the cost of living, up to a maximum of 10%, over any 12-month period. Santa Cruz County isn't one of the four BLS metro areas the Attorney General lists, so it falls under "All Other Counties", which uses the April California CPI from the Department of Industrial Relations. Increases starting August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026 were capped at 7.7%; from August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 it is 8.6%.
Law: California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), Civil Code § 1947.12.
§ 2 · Coverage
§ 3 · Timing
Notice: At least 30 days' written notice for an increase of 10% or less over 12 months (Civil Code § 827); add 5 days if mailed.
Next change: The statewide figure resets for increases starting August 1, 2027, based on April 2027 CPI. The Attorney General's chart lists it once published.
§ 2b · Mobile home park spaces (separate ordinance)
Annual space-rent increases are limited to 70% of the CPI change or 5% of existing rent, whichever is less, and no increase may be imposed without City Manager review.
Source: “No rent increase may be imposed without City Manager review pursuant to this Chapter.”
§ 4 · Sources
“All Other Counties 7.7% 8.6%”
“For all other counties, the change in the cost of living is measured using the April California consumer price index data published by the California Department of Industrial Relations.”
“the notice shall be delivered at least 30 days before the effective date of the increase”
“Housing that has been issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years, unless the housing is a mobilehome.”
“the maximum annual rent increase that may be imposed on any individual space shall be equal to seventy (70%) percent of the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, or a maximum annual rent increase of five (5%) percent of existing rent, whichever is less.”
See something out of date? The methodology page explains how we check figures.
§ 5 · Questions
Watsonville has no local rent control, so the statewide AB 1482 cap applies: for increases starting August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, covered rents in Santa Cruz County can rise at most 8.6% in any 12-month period.
No local rent control applies, so the statewide Tenant Protection Act cap governs: 5% plus the change in the cost of living, up to a maximum of 10%, over any 12-month period. Santa Cruz County isn't one of the four BLS metro areas the Attorney General lists, so it falls under "All Other Counties", which uses the April California CPI from the Department of Industrial Relations. Increases starting August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026 were capped at 7.7%; from August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 it is 8.6%.
Housing issued a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years (mobilehomes excepted). A single-family home or condo whose owner isn't a corporation, a REIT or an LLC with a corporate member, if the tenant got the written exemption notice. An owner-occupied duplex where the owner lived in one unit at the start of the tenancy.
The statewide figure resets for increases starting August 1, 2027, based on April 2027 CPI. The Attorney General's chart lists it once published.
From State of California, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General: “Limits on Rent Increases”, which we last checked on October 17, 2026. Always confirm with the agency before relying on it.
Same state
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