http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/when-rent.shtml
RENT CONTROL
Some California cities have rent control ordinances, that limit or prohibit rent increases. Some of these ordinances specify procedures that a landlord must follow before increasing a tenant's rent, or that make evicting a tenant more difficult for a landlord. Each community's ordinance is different.
For example, some ordinances allow landlords to evict tenants only for "just cause." Under these ordinances, the landlord must stat and prove a valid reason for terminating a month-to-month tenancy. Other cities don't have this requirement.
Some cities have boards that have the power to approve or deny increases in rent. Other cities' ordinances allow a certain percentage increase in rent each year. Because of recent changes in state law, all rent control cities now have "vacancy decontrol." This means that the landlord can re-rent a unit at the market rate when the tenant moves out voluntarily or when the landlord terminates the tenancy for nonpayment of rent.
Some ordinances make it more difficult for owners to convert rentals into condominiums.
Some kinds of property cannot be subject to local rent control. For example, property that was issued a certificate of occupancy after February 1995 is exempt from rent control. Beginning January 1, 1999, tenancies in single family homes and condos are exempt from rent control if the tenancy began after January 1, 1996.90
A rent control ordinance may change the landlord-tenant relationship in other important ways besides those described here. Find out if you live in a city with rent control. (See the list of cities with rent control in Appendix 2.) Contact your local housing officials or rent control board for information. You can find out about the rent control ordinance in your area (if there is one) at your local law library,91 or by requesting a copy of your local ordinance from the city or county clerk's office. Some cities post information about their rent control ordinances on their Web site (for example, information about Los Angeles' rent control ordinance is available at
www.lacity.org/lahd/).