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Beverly Hills Tenant Rights

A Two-Chapter Ordinance — And the More Common Chapter Has No Ceiling on Rent Increases

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Renting in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills has one of the more structurally unusual rent stabilization ordinances in California, split into two separate chapters of the Municipal Code that apply based on when your building was built and what your original move-in rent was. Chapter 5 covers a small number of older tenancies — buildings from before September 20, 1978 where the initial rent was $600 or less — and offers a true ceiling on annual increases. Chapter 6 covers the vast majority of Beverly Hills rentals, roughly 97% of covered households, and works differently: rather than a ceiling, it sets a floor. The city significantly reformed Chapter 6 in 2017 and 2018, ending at-will "no-just-cause" eviction and adding relocation fees that didn't exist before. Understanding which chapter applies to your unit — and that Chapter 6's "floor" structure means increases are not actually capped the way most rent control ordinances work — is essential to understanding your real protections here.

📋 Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) — Chapters 5 and 6

Enacted Original ordinance dates to the 1970s-80s; Chapter 6 substantially reformed in 2017-2018 to add just cause and relocation fees
Annual Rent Cap Chapter 5: capped at the LESSER of 8% or CPI. Chapter 6: NO ceiling — increases are the GREATER of 3% or CPI (currently 3.27% for Sept 2025–Aug 2026)
Governing Code Beverly Hills Municipal Code Chapter 5 (§4-5) and Chapter 6 (§4-6)

What Units Are Covered?

The RSO applies to most residential properties with 2 or more units. Which chapter governs your tenancy depends on two facts: when the building received its certificate of occupancy, and what your rent was when you first moved in. Chapter 5 (older, stronger protections): building built before September 20, 1978 AND initial move-in rent was $600 or less per month. Chapter 6 (most common, about 97% of covered households): building built before February 1, 1995 AND initial move-in rent was more than $600 per month.

How the Rent Cap Works

This is the detail most Beverly Hills tenants get wrong: Chapter 6, which covers the overwhelming majority of rental households in the city, does not have a ceiling on rent increases the way most rent control ordinances do. Instead, it sets a floor — landlords may raise rent by whichever is greater, 3% or the change in the Los Angeles-Orange County CPI. In a high-inflation year, a Chapter 6 tenant could see a larger increase than tenants in cities with a hard percentage cap. Chapter 5 works the more conventional way, capping increases at whichever is lower: 8% or CPI. Landlords under either chapter may also petition the city for an increase above these figures if they can demonstrate they aren't receiving a "just and reasonable return" on the property, based on net operating income principles, capital improvements, increased property taxes, or legally mandated expenditures.

Key Rules

  • ✓ Landlords must register every covered unit annually with the Rent Stabilization Division, and must re-register whenever a unit is re-rented after a vacancy or when management or ownership changes
  • ✓ If a unit is not properly registered, the landlord cannot legally collect or impose any rent increase
  • ✓ Only one rent increase is permitted per 12-month period, with 30 days' written notice
  • ✓ Any lease provision attempting to waive a tenant's rights under the RSO is void as against public policy (BHMC §4-5-103)
  • ✓ Failure to provide a legally required written notice can trigger a $500 administrative penalty against the landlord
  • ✓ A landlord may charge current market rate as the new base rent only if the prior tenant voluntarily vacated — if the unit was vacated involuntarily (through eviction), different rent-setting rules apply

Common Exemptions

  • ✗ Single-family homes
  • ✗ Most condominiums
  • ✗ Buildings with a certificate of occupancy issued on or after February 1, 1995 (though AB 1482 may still apply)
  • ✗ Hotels, motels, and boarding houses renting to transient guests for stays under 30 days
  • ✗ Nonprofit dwelling units and government-owned or managed units

🛡 Beverly Hills Just Cause Eviction Protections (Chapters 5 and 6)

Enacted Chapter 5 has long barred no-cause eviction; Chapter 6 added just cause protections through 2017-2018 reforms, ending decades of at-will termination
Applies After Immediate for RSO-covered units under both chapters

All RSO-covered units, under either chapter, now require a legally valid just cause reason for eviction — this was a major and relatively recent change for Chapter 6 tenants, who could be evicted without cause as recently as 2016.

⚠ At-Fault Just Causes

  • • Nonpayment of rent
  • • Violation of a material lease term
  • • Nuisance — conduct substantially interfering with the health, safety, comfort, or enjoyment of the landlord or other tenants
  • • Illegal use of the unit, including drug-related activity
  • • Disruptive tenant conduct — requires the landlord to issue a written warning first, then apply to the Rent Stabilization Program for a hearing before eviction

📋 No-Fault Just Causes

  • • Owner or qualifying family member (spouse, children, or parents) move-in, with 90 days' written notice
  • • Major remodel — requires a full one-year notice, Rent Stabilization Division pre-approval, and a minimum per-unit repair cost (roughly $7,000 for a studio, $15,000 for a two-bedroom)
  • • Condominium conversion
  • • Redevelopment
  • • Withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act) — requires specific filings with both the city and county before a notice can be issued

💰 Required Relocation Assistance

  • $ Relocation fees are owed only for no-fault, involuntary terminations — not for evictions based on tenant fault, and not when a tenant voluntarily vacates
  • $ Fee amounts are based on unit size and are recalculated annually each July 1st — check beverlyhills.org/relocationfees for the current year's figures
  • $ An additional $2,000 is added if the household includes a senior citizen (62+), a person with a disability, or a minor child
  • $ Senior or disabled tenants cannot be evicted for an owner/relative move-in if a comparable unit is available elsewhere on the property
  • $ Instead of paying the relocation fee, a landlord may offer a truly comparable replacement unit (same size, price, location, and amenities) plus moving costs — a tenant cannot unreasonably refuse a genuinely comparable offer

⭐ Beverly Hills-Specific Protections You Won't Find Everywhere

Two Chapters, Two Very Different Rent Formulas

Most renters assume "rent control" means a hard ceiling on increases. In Beverly Hills, that's only true for Chapter 5 — a small legacy category covering pre-1978 buildings with very low original rents. The much more common Chapter 6, covering about 97% of RSO households, actually has no ceiling: your landlord can raise rent by whichever is greater, 3% or CPI. In a high-inflation year, that could mean a bigger increase than you'd see in a city with a true percentage cap.

From No-Cause Eviction to Just Cause in Just a Few Years

As recently as 2016, Chapter 6 tenants in Beverly Hills could be evicted without any cause at all, given proper notice. Reforms adopted in 2017 and 2018 ended that entirely, added mandatory relocation fees where none existed before, and brought Chapter 6 tenants much closer to parity with the stronger protections Chapter 5 tenants already had. If you're relying on older information about Beverly Hills rent control, it may describe rules that no longer apply.

Free Legal Consultations Through Bet Tzedek

The City of Beverly Hills directly funds free legal consultations for income-eligible residents through Bet Tzedek Legal Services — a formal city-nonprofit partnership that many renters aren't aware of. If your household is moderate income or below, this is a genuinely free resource worth using before you assume you need to pay for an attorney.

Major Remodel Evictions Require a Full Year's Notice

Beverly Hills sets an unusually long notice period for major remodel evictions under Chapter 6 — a full year, not the 60 days typical elsewhere — plus advance approval from the Rent Stabilization Division and a minimum dollar threshold for the renovation cost per unit. This gives tenants significant lead time to plan and to challenge a remodel eviction that doesn't meet the ordinance's specific requirements.

Disruptive Tenant Evictions Require a City Hearing First

Unlike a standard nuisance eviction, Beverly Hills requires landlords to go through a specific extra step before evicting someone for "disruptive" conduct: first issue a written warning, then formally apply to the Rent Stabilization Program for a hearing. A landlord who skips straight to eviction without this process may not have properly established just cause.

🏛 Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Division

Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30am–5:30pm (City Hall hours; call ahead to confirm Rent Stabilization Division availability)

What the Rent Board Can Help You With (Free):

✓ Determining whether your tenancy falls under Chapter 5, Chapter 6, or neither
✓ Annual rent increase verification and registration status lookup
✓ Just cause eviction notice compliance review
✓ Relocation fee calculation for the current fiscal year
✓ Disruptive tenant hearing applications (landlord-initiated, city-administered)
✓ Free mediation services for landlord-tenant disputes
✓ Referrals to Bet Tzedek for free legal consultations (income-eligible Beverly Hills residents)
Contact the Rent Stabilization Division to verify which chapter — if any — covers your unit
Look Up Your Unit →

🆓 Free Legal Aid in Beverly Hills

Bet Tzedek Legal Services Free legal consultations for income-eligible Beverly Hills residents, city-funded partnership
Legal Aid Foundation of LA (LAFLA) Free civil legal aid, eviction defense
Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Division Free counseling and mediation services
LA County DCBA Consumer protection for issues outside RSO coverage

✊ Tenant Organizations in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills Renters Alliance Local tenant organizing and detailed RSO education and history
Visit →
LA Tenants Union Countywide tenant organizing with Westside presence
Visit →
Tenants Together Statewide tenant rights hotline and education
Visit →

🏛 Eviction Court in Beverly Hills

LA Superior Court — West Hollywood / Beverly Hills Courthouse

📍 9355 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Beverly Hills unlawful detainer cases are filed at the Beverly Hills courthouse. Self-help center available. 10 business days to respond after service (AB 2347, 2025). Confirm with the Rent Stabilization Division whether Chapter 5, Chapter 6, or AB 1482 alone governs your specific unit before responding to any notice.

⚠ Critical Deadline: You have 10 business days to file a written response after being served with a summons (AB 2347, effective January 2025). Missing this = automatic judgment against you.
Court Website →

Common Questions for Beverly Hills Renters

It depends on your unit. Under AB 1482 (the Tenant Protection Act), most California landlords can only raise rent once per year, by a maximum of 5% plus local CPI — and never more than 10% total. For the current cycle (August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026), the effective cap in most Bay Area counties is around 6.3%, and in Los Angeles County around 6.9%. A 20% increase almost certainly violates this cap for covered units. AB 1482 applies to most multi-family buildings older than 15 years, but does NOT cover single-family homes or condos where the owner has given proper written notice, or buildings built in the last 15 years. Check your unit at tenantprotections.org. If you are covered, send a written dispute to your landlord immediately — paying the increase without objecting can be treated as acceptance. Many cities (LA, SF, Oakland, Santa Monica) have even stricter local rent caps.
No — a 3-day notice is NOT a court order and you do not have to leave. It is the first step in a legal process. If you pay the full amount owed within the 3-day period, the eviction stops entirely. If you do not pay, your landlord must then file an Unlawful Detainer (UD) lawsuit in court. After you are served with the court summons, you now have 10 business days to file a written response (AB 2347 extended this from 5 days starting January 1, 2025). Only a judge can order you to leave — not your landlord. Do not ignore the summons or you will get a default judgment automatically.
Under California Civil Code §1950.5, landlords can only deduct for cleaning that brings the unit back to the condition it was in when you moved in — not to make it cleaner. They cannot charge for professional cleaning if you left it reasonably clean. Under AB 2801 (effective 2025), landlords must now take photos before and after any cleaning or repairs, and must provide itemized receipts for work over $125. If they failed to follow these requirements, they forfeit their right to deductions entirely. Send a written demand letter disputing the specific deductions. If unresolved, file in small claims court — you can recover the deposit plus up to 2x the amount as a bad faith penalty, plus court costs.
No. California Civil Code §1954 requires landlords to give at least 24 hours written notice before entering for non-emergency purposes, and entry must be during normal business hours (8am–6pm, or agreed hours). Verbal notice is not sufficient — it must be in writing (a text message counts). The only exception is a genuine emergency (fire, flood, gas leak). Repeated unauthorized entries constitute landlord harassment under Civil Code §1940.2. Send your landlord a written letter citing §1954 and demanding they stop. If it continues, document every incident with dates and times, and consult a tenant attorney — you may be entitled to damages.
You have options, but stopping rent cold is risky without legal guidance. Visible mold that poses a health risk is a substandard condition under California Health & Safety Code §17920.3 and your landlord must remediate it. Your safest options are: (1) File a code enforcement complaint with your city or county — this triggers a formal inspection and puts your landlord on legal notice; (2) Repair and deduct — hire a licensed contractor and deduct costs from rent (up to one month's rent, twice per year); (3) Rent withholding into a separate trust account for severe conditions — but consult an attorney first; (4) Sue for damages including rent reduction during the uninhabitable period. Always document with dated photos and send repair requests by certified mail.
Only under very specific conditions. Under AB 1482, "substantial remodel" is a valid no-fault just cause, BUT the landlord must: (1) give you 60 days written notice (if you have lived there 1+ year); (2) pay you relocation assistance equal to one month's rent; (3) the renovation must require permits and be so substantial that you cannot safely occupy the unit during work. Cosmetic upgrades do not qualify. After the work is complete, you typically have the right to return at your original rent. "Ellis Act" evictions (taking the building off the rental market entirely) have even stricter rules. If your landlord claims renovation but the work is minor, this may be a pretextual eviction — contact a tenant attorney immediately.
Lack of heat is a serious habitability violation — California law requires landlords to maintain heating that can reach at least 70°F in living areas. Before withholding rent, take these steps in order: (1) Send a written repair request by text or email AND certified mail; (2) Give your landlord a "reasonable time" to fix it — for heating in cold weather, 24-72 hours is reasonable; (3) File a code enforcement complaint if they don't respond; (4) Use the repair-and-deduct remedy — buy space heaters or hire a contractor, deduct from rent (up to one month's rent). Outright rent withholding should be done carefully, with money held in a separate account, and ideally with an attorney's guidance. Never withhold silently — always notify your landlord in writing.
No. Landlords cannot unilaterally add new fees during an existing lease period without your written consent. Any fee not specified in your signed lease agreement is unenforceable. Common illegal fees include: convenience fees for online payment, administrative fees, move-in/move-out fees beyond the security deposit limit, and excessive late fees (California generally limits late fees to 5-6% of rent). Respond in writing stating that you do not accept the new fee and that it is not part of your lease agreement. If your landlord threatens eviction over the fee, do not pay it without legal advice — an eviction based on a disputed illegal fee is itself potentially illegal.
If you have lived in the unit for less than one year, your landlord must give 30 days written notice. If you have lived there for one year or more, they must give 60 days written notice. However — if your unit is covered by AB 1482 (most multi-family buildings over 15 years old), your landlord also needs a valid "just cause" to end your tenancy after 12 months of residency. You cannot be evicted without cause just because you are month-to-month in a covered unit. Many cities (LA, SF, Oakland, Berkeley, Santa Monica) have even stronger protections. Check your local ordinance.
No — it has been illegal in California since 2020. SB 329 expanded the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to prohibit landlords from refusing to rent based on "source of income," which explicitly includes Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers, VASH vouchers, and other government rental assistance. Advertising "No Section 8" is also illegal. If a landlord refuses your voucher, you can: (1) File a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) at calcivilrights.ca.gov — free, within 2 years; (2) File a complaint with HUD; (3) Sue civilly for damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees. You can also file with your local fair housing agency.
Owner move-in (OMI) evictions are a valid no-fault just cause under AB 1482, but they come with strict requirements. The landlord or a qualifying family member must actually intend to live there as their primary residence, must move in within 90 days of your departure, and must live there for at least 12 consecutive months. You must receive 60 days written notice (if 1+ year tenancy) and relocation assistance of one month's rent. If the landlord does NOT move in, or moves out within 12 months, you may have a right to return at your original rent AND damages. OMI fraud — evicting a tenant pretextually — is illegal and increasingly prosecuted, especially in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
As of January 1, 2025 (AB 2347), you now have 10 business days from the date you were served the Unlawful Detainer summons to file a written response with the court — extended from the previous 5-day deadline. This is one of the most critical deadlines in California tenant law. Missing it means automatic judgment against you and the sheriff can remove you without a trial. You do not need a lawyer to file a response, but getting one dramatically improves your outcome. File your response (Form UD-105) at the courthouse that issued the summons. Many courthouses have self-help centers, and many counties have free legal aid for eviction defense.
This is illegal landlord harassment and potentially extortion. Under California Civil Code §1940.35, it is unlawful for a landlord to threaten to report a tenant's immigration status to coerce them into vacating, paying money, or waiving any legal rights. Violators face actual damages, punitive damages, a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per violation, and attorney fees. Your immigration status does NOT affect your California tenant rights — you have full protections regardless of documentation status. Document the threat (text, email, or write down what was said with the date). Then contact a tenant attorney or legal aid organization immediately. This is a strong case.
California has a strong "duty to mitigate" rule — your landlord is legally required to make reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit after you leave. If they find a new tenant immediately, you owe nothing for the remaining term. You only owe rent for the period the unit is actually vacant while the landlord is actively trying to re-rent it. You do NOT automatically owe 4 months of rent. To protect yourself: give written notice as early as possible, offer to cooperate with showings, keep records of your departure date and the unit's condition, and follow up to confirm re-rental. Breaking a lease for specific reasons (domestic violence, uninhabitable conditions, active military duty) carries additional legal protections under California law.
Your landlord is in violation of California law. Under Civil Code §1950.5, landlords must return your security deposit — along with a written itemized statement of any deductions and copies of receipts — within 21 calendar days of you vacating. Missing this deadline means they forfeit their right to make ANY deductions and owe you the full deposit back. Under AB 2801 (2025), they must also provide photos of any claimed damage. Send a written demand letter immediately via certified mail stating the deadline has passed, demanding full return, and citing Civil Code §1950.5. If they still do not respond, file in small claims court — the limit is $12,500 and you can claim the full deposit plus up to 2x the withheld amount as a bad faith penalty.
No. Beginning January 1, 2026, California law requires landlords to include all mandatory fees in the advertised rent price upfront. Any optional services or add-on charges must be clearly disclosed before you sign — no surprise "junk fees" after the fact. This applies to fees for trash, parking, amenities, administrative costs, or any other recurring charge. If your landlord is adding fees that were not disclosed at lease signing, those fees are not enforceable. Send a written objection immediately citing the 2026 fee disclosure requirement. If your landlord threatens eviction over an undisclosed fee, contact a tenant attorney — an eviction based on an illegal fee is itself likely unlawful.
Yes — as of 2026, California law now requires landlords to provide a working stove and refrigerator in most rental homes as part of the implied warranty of habitability. This is a new standard that went into effect in 2026, making appliance provision a legal baseline rather than a lease negotiation point. If your landlord fails to provide or maintain a working stove or refrigerator, you can: (1) send a written repair/replacement request; (2) file a code enforcement complaint with your city or county; (3) use the repair-and-deduct remedy (up to one month's rent) if they fail to act within a reasonable time. Note that some shared or exempt housing types may be excluded — contact your local legal aid organization for guidance on your specific situation.
No. Under AB 1414, which took effect in 2025, California landlords are prohibited from requiring tenants to use a particular internet service provider. If your landlord is bundling a mandatory internet subscription into your rent or lease, you have the right to opt out. If they violate this provision, you can deduct the cost of your own internet subscription directly from your rent payment. This law was passed specifically in response to bulk billing arrangements where landlords received kickbacks from ISPs while forcing tenants into overpriced plans with no choice. Send your landlord written notice citing AB 1414 and your intent to deduct if they continue charging for a mandatory ISP subscription.