Rent Control: Petaluma vs Sonoma
How do rent control rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Sonoma, CA?
Petaluma and Sonoma have similar restriction levels.
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma County
Petaluma does not have a local rent-control ordinance. Statewide California Civil Code §1947.12 (AB 1482, Tenant Protection Act) caps annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI (max 10%) for covered units.
View full Petaluma rules →Sonoma, CA
Sonoma County
Unincorporated Sonoma County does NOT have a local rent control ordinance. The 2024 Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance (Ord. 6496) added eviction protections but did not adopt a local rent cap. The only annual rent-increase cap covering most Sonoma County tenants is California's statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), codified at Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12, which limits increases to 5% + the regional CPI, with a 10% hard ceiling.
View full Sonoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Civil Code §1947.12 (AB 1482) | - |
| Cap | 5% + CPI (max 10%/yr) | - |
| Local Rent Control | None | - |
| Local Rent Cap | - | None — state law only |
| Governing Law | - | Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 (AB 1482) |
| Annual Cap | - | 5% + regional CPI, max 10% |
| CPI Region | - | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward MSA |
| 2025–26 Cap | - | 7.7% |
| Sunset Date | - | January 1, 2030 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Petaluma FAQ
Does this apply to all rentals?
Most multifamily and certain single-family rentals are covered; review the exemption notice.
Sonoma FAQ
Does Sonoma County have rent control?
No. Sonoma County has never adopted a local rent control ordinance, and the 2024 Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance (Ord. 6496) addresses just-cause evictions only, not rent caps. The only annual cap is California's statewide AB 1482 (Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12).
How much can my landlord raise rent in Sonoma County right now?
For units covered by AB 1482, the cap for the August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026 period is 7.7% (5% + the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward CPI). Exempt units — buildings under 15 years old, single-family homes owned by non-corporate landlords with proper disclosure, etc. — have no cap.
Who enforces AB 1482 in Sonoma County?
Nobody on the county side. There is no rent board. A tenant who's been charged an unlawful increase can sue in small claims court under Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12(h) to recover the overage, or raise it as a defense in any unlawful detainer based on the excess rent.
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