RentingOC

Renting in
Orange County.

Learn about what your rights and responsibilities are as a renter or landlord in Orange County.

Renters

Landlords

Common Questions
How much can rent increase each year?

When does an eviction require just cause?

How large can a security deposit be, and
when must it be returned?

What notice is required before a rent
increase or a termination of tenancy?

Answers to your renting questions

California law sets rules for nearly every stage of a residential tenancy. These guides summarize the ones that come up most often, from both the renter's and the landlord's side.

    Rent Increases

    Under the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, annual rent increases at covered properties are limited to 5% plus the change in the cost of living, and never more than 10%. Some properties are exempt.

    Just Cause Evictions

    After 12 months of occupancy, most tenancies can only be ended for a reason the law recognizes — either an at-fault cause like nonpayment of rent, or a limited set of no-fault causes.

    Security Deposits

    Security deposits are generally capped at one month's rent, and any refund with an itemized statement of deductions is due within 21 days after move-out.

    Health & Safety

    Every rental must meet basic habitability standards — working plumbing, heat, hot water, and a unit free of hazards — and the law provides remedies when it doesn't.

    Notices

    Rent increases, entries, and terminations each require written notice with specific timing — 30 or 90 days for rent increases, 24 hours for most entries, and 3 to 90 days for terminations.

    Fair Housing

    State and federal law prohibit housing discrimination based on race, religion, sex, familial status, disability, source of income, and other protected characteristics.

Recent changes in California law

Landlord-tenant law changes nearly every year. These are some of the most significant recent updates covered in the guides.

    Security Deposit Photos

    Under AB 2801, landlords who make deductions must photograph the unit at move-out — and for tenancies beginning on or after July 1, 2025, at move-in — and share the photos with the departing tenant.

    One-Month Deposit Cap

    Since July 1, 2024, security deposits are capped at one month's rent, furnished or unfurnished, with a limited exception for small landlords.

    Eviction Timelines

    AB 2347 gives tenants 10 court days instead of 5 to respond to an unlawful detainer complaint, while streamlining hearings on certain pretrial motions.

Are you a landlord in need of a rental form?

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