City of Palm Springs Rent Control

The City of Palm Springs has had some form of rent control in place since 1980. However, due to changes to the ordinance over the years, very few rental properties are still subject to the ordinance. However, properties not under local rent control may be subject to California’s Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482).

• Click here to access the City’s Rent Control webpage. 
• Click here to learn more about the Rent Review Commission.

Read more about the local rent control in Palm Springs...

The Palm Springs Rent Control Ordinance was a voter approved initiative first adopted in 1980. The current version of the ordinance limits rents to seventy-five percent (75%) of the increase in the consumer price index and requires landlords to reduce rents if they reduce “base year” services (the base year is defined as 1979). The ordinance also limits the number of rent increases to one per year. The ordinance guarantees landlords, under the provision of filing a petition for hardship increase with the Rent Review Commission, a fair return on their investment. Simply put, whatever the net operating income was in 1979, the landlord is entitled to make fifty percent (50%) more today.

In 1990, a second initiative was passed that added specific provisions, including:

• Landlords required to annually register and pay fees;
• Rent increases prohibited when property is not registered;
• Increased tenants' damages when property is in violation of the ordinance;
• “Waivers” (waiving tenant’s rights under rent control) no longer valid;
• Mobile home park owners are required to pay relocation costs in the event eviction is the result of an owner undertaking a change of use; and
• Landlord’s expenses previously allowed in filing petitions for hardship rent increases changed.

In 1994 a third Initiative passed, adding provisions as follows:

• Vacancy Decontrol on all units except those in mobile home parks; and
• Eviction Control.
• Residents of apartments who still live in the unit since 1994 remain under Rent Control.

Exemptions

• Units built after April 1979;
• Those that rented for more than $450 in 1979;
• Units owned or subsidized by a governmental agency;
• Hotels;
• Buildings consisting of four units or less containing one unit occupied by the Owner as his/her primary residence; and
• Rents on certain Indian Lands

The landlord shall pay for each rental unit subject to the provisions of this chapter an initial registration fee according to the following schedule:

The city council may, from time to time by resolution, require a renewal registration of each rental unit. The resolution may set a renewal registration fee, set a surcharge on the rent of each unit subject to the renewal registration, and provide appropriate penalties for failure to register rental units.