Cudahy Rent Control Guide: 3% Rent Cap, Just Cause Eviction and Selling a Rental

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Cudahy caps rent increases at 3% and requires just cause and three months of relocation pay

Cudahy adopted its own rent stabilization and tenant protections ordinances in 2023. Here is what they cover, what a no-fault eviction costs an owner, and what to know before selling a rental.

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Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Cudahy rent control at a glance

Local laws	Rent Stabilization Ordinance, Chapter 5.13 (Ordinance 736), and Tenant Protections Ordinance, Chapter 5.14 (Ordinance 737), both effective July 7, 2023
Rent cap	One increase per 12 months of no more than the change in CPI, or 3%, whichever is lower
Current cap	3% for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, per the California Attorney General
Just cause	Applies after a tenant has lived in a unit for 12 months, including units outside the rent cap
No-fault relocation	Three times the monthly rent, plus one more month for a qualified tenant
City office	Housing Division, 323-773-5143, RSO@cityofcudahyca.gov

How the Cudahy rent cap works

Cudahy is one of the few small cities in Los Angeles County with its own rent stabilization law.

Chapter 5.13 of the municipal code lets an owner raise rent on a covered unit once in any 12-month period, by no more than the change in the Consumer Price Index or 3 percent, whichever is lower.

The California Attorney General’s chart lists the current maximum at 3 percent for the period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

A city agenda item posted for July 21, 2026 describes the same formula and the March-to-March CPI measure, and it also refers to a possible amendment of the maximum in that section, so confirm the current figure with the Housing Division before you serve a notice.

A “covered rental unit” is any rental unit not designated exempt under Section 5.13.040 of the code.

The city’s notice form says covered units are protected from increases above the cap, while every tenant who has lived in a unit for 12 months is protected by the just cause rules even if the unit is not covered by rent stabilization.

State law still applies on top: the Civil Code 1947.12 cap of 5 percent plus CPI is higher than Cudahy’s 3 percent, so the local limit is the one that controls on covered units.

Required notices and disclosures

Cudahy requires a written notice of tenant rights from the owner whenever a rental agreement is signed, whenever one is renewed and whenever the owner serves a notice of a rent increase or decrease on a covered unit.

The city publishes a form for that purpose, which both landlord and tenant sign. An owner who skips the form has not complied with the code, and a tenant can raise the omission in an eviction case.

Just cause eviction in Cudahy

Chapter 5.14 says an owner may not end a tenancy of a unit that a tenant has occupied lawfully for 12 months or more unless the owner shows either an at-fault or a no-fault reason.

The notice must state the reason in reasonable detail, follow the notice rules in Civil Code Sections 1946 through 1946.5, and be filed with the city’s Community Development Department within five days after it is served, with a proof of service signed under penalty of perjury.

At-fault reasons include nonpayment of rent, breach of a material lease term after written notice and a chance to cure, waste, nuisance or illegal use, refusal to sign a substantially similar renewal, unauthorized subletting, refusing the owner access, and failure to leave after a resident manager’s employment ends.

One detail matters for small owners: the city lets an owner evict for nonpayment only when the amount due exceeds one month of the HUD Fair Market Rent for the Los Angeles metro area for a unit of the same size, and the notice must state the number of bedrooms.

No-fault reasons are demolition, withdrawing the unit from the rental market under the Ellis Act, an order from a government agency or court that requires the unit to be vacated, and recovering the unit for the owner or the owner’s family member as a principal residence.

For an owner move-in, the family member must move in within 90 days and stay at least three years, the owner must give 60 days’ written notice and tell the city who will occupy the unit, and the owner cannot use this reason against a long-term tenant who is 62 or older, disabled, terminally ill or low-income unless the incoming occupant is in the same situation.

A tenant removed this way has a right of first return if the owner or relative stops living there within three years.

Relocation assistance and buyouts

Every no-fault termination in Cudahy carries relocation assistance equal to three times the tenant’s monthly rent at the time the notice was served.

If any tenant in the unit is 62 or older, disabled, has a dependent child under 18, meets the lower-income limit or has lived there five years or more, all tenants share one additional month of rent.

The owner pays half within 15 days of serving the notice and the balance within five business days after the tenant moves out. A tenant cannot waive this right.

If an owner offers a buyout, the city requires a written disclosure on its approved form that says the tenant may refuse, may consult an attorney and may cancel within 30 days.

The tenant must get the proposed agreement at least 45 days before it is signed, and the owner must file the signed agreement with the city within 10 days. Violations can lead to administrative fines, civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, and misdemeanor charges.

The state rules that apply in Cudahy

State law sets the floor everywhere in California. Under Civil Code 1947.12, a covered owner may not raise rent more than 5 percent plus the local change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, in any 12-month period.

The Attorney General’s chart lists that cap as 8.7% for Los Angeles County for increases that start between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027, and the same office notes that the section applies to most rental housing more than 15 years old.

Owners of a single-family home or condominium are exempt only if the owner is not a real estate investment trust, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant received the written exemption notice the statute requires.

Newer buildings with a certificate of occupancy issued in the last 15 years are also outside the cap.

The same statute family requires just cause to end a tenancy once a tenant has lived in a covered unit for 12 months (or 24 months if another adult was added).

Under Civil Code 1946.2, no-fault reasons such as an owner move-in or a substantial remodel require the owner to pay relocation help equal to one month of rent or waive the final month. Senate Bill 567 tightened the owner move-in and remodel rules in 2024. Read the statute itself, or ask a landlord-tenant attorney, before serving any termination notice.

Selling a rented Cudahy house

A buyer takes a rented property with the lease and the tenant’s protections attached.

In Cudahy that includes the rent cap, the 12-month just cause rule and the relocation formula, so a buyer who wants vacant possession has to price in three months of rent plus any added month, and has to be able to meet the owner move-in conditions.

A buyer who plans to keep the tenant mostly wants the rent ledger and the signed rights notices. Sale alone is not one of the city’s just causes.

Our statewide guide to selling a tenant-occupied home explains the general process, and a cash sale with the tenant in place avoids serving any termination notice.

Documents to gather before you talk to a buyer

The signed lease or month-to-month agreement, plus addenda and each tenant’s move-in date.
A rent ledger showing the amount and effective date of every increase.
Copies of every notice you served: rent increases, entry notices, cure or termination notices.
Any notices, registrations or disclosure forms the city requires, with proof of delivery.
The security deposit amount and where it is held.
Open repair requests, code complaints or inspection reports on the property.
The signed Cudahy notice of rights for each lease signing, renewal and rent increase.

How to sell a house in Cudahy

Confirm whether your unit is covered or exempt under Chapter 5.13 and Chapter 5.14.
Gather the lease, rent ledger and the signed Cudahy rights notices.
Request a no-obligation cash offer as-is.
Decide whether the buyer keeps the tenant or you follow the just cause, filing and relocation rules for a vacant sale.
Close on your timeline with no repairs or commissions.

More local pages: We Buy Houses in Cudahy, Los Angeles County hub, and our California guides.

Own a rented Cudahy property? Get a cash offer and sell with or without the tenant.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Cudahy rent increase limit?

One increase in a 12-month period of no more than the change in CPI or 3 percent, whichever is lower. The Attorney General lists 3 percent for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Confirm the current figure with the city’s Housing Division.

Does Cudahy require just cause to evict?

Yes. After a tenant has lived in a unit for 12 months, the owner needs an at-fault or no-fault reason stated in the notice, even if the unit is not covered by the rent cap.

How much relocation pay does Cudahy require?

For a no-fault termination, three times the monthly rent, plus one more month if a qualified tenant lives in the unit. Half is due within 15 days of the notice and the balance within five business days after the tenant leaves.

Do I have to file a termination notice with the city?

Yes. The code requires a copy of the notice and a signed proof of service within five days after the notice is served on the tenant.

Can I evict a Cudahy tenant to sell the house?

Selling is not a listed just cause. You can sell with the tenant in place, or use a no-fault reason such as owner move-in, which has its own conditions and a three-month relocation payment.

Who do I call with a Cudahy rent question?

The Housing Division at 323-773-5143 or RSO@cityofcudahyca.gov.

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Sources

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.