Culver City Rent Control Guide: Rent Stabilization, Eviction Protections and Selling a Rented Home

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Own a rental in Culver City? Know the rent cap before you sell

Culver City caps annual rent increases and limits evictions for many older rentals. This guide summarizes the city’s rules and what they mean when you sell, with official sources.

Call or Text (424) 435-2326

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

What Culver City calls rent control

Culver City adopted permanent rent control and tenant protection ordinances that took effect on October 30, 2020. On January 12, 2026, the City Council adopted clarifying amendments and renamed the Rent Control Ordinance the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. Those changes took effect on February 11, 2026.

The city runs the program through its Housing Services Division, so rules, forms and the current rent cap are posted on the city’s own site rather than set by the state.

Two ordinances work together. The Rent Stabilization Ordinance limits annual rent increases. The Tenant Protections Ordinance limits evictions, requires relocation help in no-fault cases, and covers harassment and uninhabitable conditions. The second one reaches more units than the first.

Which Culver City rentals are covered

Rent cap applies	Parcels with two or more rental units built on or before February 1, 1995.
Tenant protections apply	Most rental units, including some that are exempt from the rent cap. Tenants still get notice rules, relocation help for displacement from repairs, and harassment protections.
Exempt from the rent cap	Single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes; units with a certificate of occupancy or built after February 1, 1995; subdivided interests; government-subsidized units; units exempt under state or federal law.
No eviction protections	Units in the first 12 months of a tenancy, and units that share a bathroom or kitchen with the landlord.

If you are not sure which bucket your property falls in, the city’s Housing Services Division answers coverage questions at (310) 253-5790 or Rent.Control@CulverCity.org. Do this before you price or list the property, because coverage changes what a buyer can charge.

The annual rent cap

The cap follows the Consumer Price Index. According to the city, if the CPI change is under 2% the allowed increase is 2%, and if it is over 5% the allowed increase is 5%. For increases effective June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, the city lists the maximum permissible increase as 3.25%. A landlord may not impose more than one increase in any 12-month period unless the city approves a rent adjustment.

Before an increase can take effect the landlord must give written notice under California Civil Code section 827 and the unit must be registered with the city. The city says increases issued without proper notice or registration may be invalid.

A landlord who can show the cap prevents a fair and reasonable return can apply for a rent adjustment, and eligible capital improvements can be passed through in part: the city says 50% of the cost may be passed to tenants over the improvement’s useful life, with the total pass-through limited to 3% of the tenant’s rent.

Registration and fees

Every rental unit must be registered each year by July 31, including units exempt from the rent cap that still receive tenant protections.
The registration fee is $177 per rental unit effective July 1, 2026, with a $15 per property fee when ownership changes.
After a 30-day grace period, a 20% penalty is added on the first of each month past due, up to 100%.
The city does not refund registration fees, even if the unit leaves the rental market or the property is sold.

Eviction rules and relocation money

Evictions must be for cause or no fault. For-cause grounds include nonpayment, breach of the rental agreement, refusing reasonable access, nuisance or illegal use, and a terminated resident manager. No-fault grounds include demolition, removing the unit from the rental market, a landlord or eligible relative moving in, and complying with a government order or recorded restriction.

For no-fault evictions the landlord pays relocation assistance equal to three times the greater of the current rent or HUD’s small area fair market rent, plus $1,000.

For an owner or relative move-in, a small landlord who owns three units or fewer pays 50% and must file a certification with the city.

Certain tenants are protected from owner move-in evictions, including long-term tenants who are 62 or older or disabled, terminally ill tenants, low-income tenants, and households with school-age children during the school year.

What this means when you sell

The city says that selling a property is not grounds for eviction if a tenant has lived there continuously and lawfully for 12 months or more. So a buyer of a covered building generally inherits the tenants and the rent cap.

A new owner who wants to move in must follow the city’s eligibility application and pay relocation help, and may not re-set rents to market in several situations the city lists, such as when a tenant leaves because of harassment or is evicted in the first year.

Practical steps for a seller with tenants:

Confirm whether the building is covered by the rent cap, the tenant protections, or both.
Make sure every unit is registered and the annual fee is paid; the city’s change-in-ownership fee applies when the owner updates the registration.
Collect each unit’s current rent, last increase notice and lease so a buyer can verify the numbers.
Do not serve a termination notice to clear the building for sale without checking the city’s eviction rules; a defective notice can be unenforceable and costly.
Compare a traditional listing with an as-is cash sale that keeps the tenants in place.

How AB 1482 fits in

The state’s Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) caps increases at 5% plus the regional CPI change, up to 10%, and requires just cause after 12 months of tenancy. The city says it administers only its own program, and that AB 1482 may apply to tenants who do not receive the city’s protections. The state law is scheduled to expire on January 1, 2030.

Where to get help

The Housing Services Division is on the second floor of City Hall at 9770 Culver Boulevard. Tenants can reach the Bet Tzedek Tenant Advocacy Legal Clinic funded by the city. Owners should confirm current fees, forms and the cap with the city before acting.

How to sell a house in Culver City

Confirm whether the building is covered by the rent cap, tenant protections or both.
Check that every unit is registered with the city and fees are paid.
Gather leases, rent rolls and the last increase notices.
Request a free cash offer and compare it with a listing’s net proceeds.
Choose your closing date; tenants can usually stay in place.

Own a Culver City rental you want to sell as-is? Get a cash offer.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Culver City have rent control?

Yes. Culver City has a permanent Rent Stabilization Ordinance, formerly called the Rent Control Ordinance, that limits annual rent increases for parcels with two or more units built on or before February 1, 1995.

What is the maximum rent increase in Culver City?

The city lists 3.25% for increases effective June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The cap is tied to the CPI, with a floor of 2% and a ceiling of 5%.

Are single-family homes covered by Culver City rent control?

No. Single-family homes, condominiums and townhomes are exempt from the rent cap, though they may still receive tenant protections and must be registered if rented.

Can I evict tenants to sell my Culver City property?

The city says selling is not grounds for eviction when a tenant has lived in the unit continuously and lawfully for 12 months or more.

How much is the Culver City rental registration fee?

$177 per unit, effective July 1, 2026, due by July 31 each year, plus a $15 per property fee on a change in ownership.

Can I sell a Culver City rental with tenants in place?

Yes. Many owners sell as-is with tenants staying. Confirm registration is current and collect lease and rent records for the buyer.

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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.