Insights·Rental Law

Is My Single-Family Rental Exempt From Rent Control? It Depends Which Law

AB-1482, LA County's RSTPO, Pasadena's Measure H, and Baldwin Park's ordinance each treat a single-family home differently. Here's what decides whether your SGV rental is covered.

October 20, 2026

  1. Covered: California
  2. Covered: LA County
  3. City of LA
  4. Covered: SGV city

Applies to: State, county, and city rules, compared for single-family rentals in the SGV.

Note: This post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Which law applies to a specific property, and whether it's exempt, depends on the parcel's jurisdiction and facts. Consult a licensed California real estate attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

The short answer

Whether your rented house is exempt depends on where it is. Every SGV rental starts with the state law, AB-1482. Some areas add a local rule on top:

  • Pasadena: Measure H, a city rule.
  • Baldwin Park: a city rent ordinance.
  • Altadena and other unincorporated county areas: the county's rule, called the RSTPO.
  • Pomona: a city ordinance this site hasn't covered yet. Ask the City of Pomona.
  • Any other SGV city: AB-1482 only.

Each law has two rules:

  • The rent cap limits how much you can raise the rent.
  • The eviction rule means you need a reason the law allows to end a tenancy.

A house can be exempt from one rule and still covered by the other.

LawRent cap on a houseEviction rule on a house
AB-1482 (state)Exempt if it passes three testsExempt if it passes three tests
LA County RSTPOExemptApplies
Pasadena Measure HExempt if it's the only home on the lotApplies
Baldwin Park ordinanceExemptUnclear

A parcel listed as "single-family" by the county assessor doesn't settle any of this.

What decides it under each law

  • AB-1482: A house or condo that passes three tests skips the rent cap. Passing them also lifts the eviction rule. The AB-1482 recap walks through each test.
  • County RSTPO: A house or condo is exempt from the rent cap. The eviction rule still applies, and the county calls these units "partially covered."
  • Pasadena Measure H: A house is exempt from the rent cap only if it's the only home on the lot. The eviction rule applies to nearly every rental, houses included.
  • Baldwin Park: A home with its own title, one that can be sold by itself, is exempt from the rent cap. That covers a house, a condo, or a townhome, but not a unit in an apartment building. Whether the eviction rule reaches a house is unclear. Ask the city.

Renting out an ADU or rooms while you live there

Selling with a tenant in place

Each law has a list of reasons you can use to end a tenancy. Here is what each list says about selling:

  • AB-1482: Selling isn't on the statute's list of just causes.
  • County RSTPO: Selling isn't on DCBA's published list of just causes.
  • Pasadena: The city's tenant FAQ says a sale or change in ownership isn't a just cause.
  • Baldwin Park: This piece hasn't checked the city's own list. Ask the city.

Why there are layers

How it affects each side

Who to contact

  • Landlords and renters can get answers from these offices for free. Start with the layer that covers your parcel.
  • State (AB-1482): LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA) (both). Counselors explain state and county rent rules and offer free mediation. Phone: (800) 593-8222. Email: rent@dcba.lacounty.gov. Website: dcba.lacounty.gov/rentstabilizationprogram. The state's yearly cap for each region is posted at oag.ca.gov/rentcaps.
  • County (Altadena and other unincorporated areas): DCBA Rent Stabilization Program (both). Runs the county rent rules. Landlords register units and pay the yearly fee at rentregistry.dcba.lacounty.gov. Phone: (800) 593-8222. Walk-in in Altadena: Altadena Community Center, 730 E. Altadena Dr., Altadena, CA 91001, Fridays only, phone (626) 398-6174.
  • Pasadena: Rent Stabilization Department (both). Runs Measure H, including the landlord rental registry and rent petitions. Phone: (626) 744-7999. Email: rentstabilization@cityofpasadena.net. Website: cityofpasadena.net/rent-stabilization. Office: 199 S. Los Robles Ave., Suite 350, Pasadena, CA 91101.
  • Baldwin Park: City of Baldwin Park rent stabilization program (both). Answers rent control questions, including the yearly landlord registration form and the rent posting rule. Email: rso@baldwinparkca.gov. Phone: (626) 960-4011, ext. 462. Website: baldwinpark.com/399.
  • Any other SGV city. Most have no local rent rule, so AB-1482 applies. Use the state contacts above, or ask your city hall's housing office. Pomona has its own rent ordinance, so Pomona owners and renters should ask the city. Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, East Pasadena, and East San Gabriel are unincorporated county areas, so the county contact above applies there.
  • Free legal help: Stay Housed L.A. (renters). Free legal help and eviction defense for LA County renters who qualify. Phone: (888) 694-0040. Website: stayhousedla.org.
  • Housing Rights Center (both). Free housing counseling and fair housing help across LA County, including SGV cities. Phone: (800) 477-5977. Website: housingrightscenter.org.

Note on official inquiries: SGV Housing provides independent market intelligence and regulatory analysis for information only. We are not a government agency, a housing authority, or legal counsel. For official rent increase decisions, dispute filings, or registration questions, contact your local housing department directly, using the official contacts above.

Before you act

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and every property is different. Before you act, talk to a licensed California real estate attorney. For tax questions, also talk to a CPA.

Sources & References

All articles

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Adding an ADU in the City of LA Can Put a Pre-1978 House Under Rent ControlAB-1482 Statewide Rent Cap: Who's Covered, Who's Exempt