Ontario, CA Employment Preemption: Minimum Wage Preemption (2026)

1182.12. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, on and after July 1, 2014, the minimum wage for all industries shall be not less than nine dollars ($9) per hour, and on and after January 1, 2016, the minimum wage for all industries shall be not less than ten dollars ($10) per hour. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the minimum wage for all industries shall not be less than the amounts set forth in this subdivision, except when the scheduled increases in paragraphs (1) and (2) are temporarily suspended under subdivision (d). (1) For any employer who employs 26 or more employees, the minimum wage shall be as follows: (A) From January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017, inclusive,—ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per hour. (B) From January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018, inclusive,—eleven dollars ($11) per hour. (C) From January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, inclusive,—twelve dollars ($12) per hour. (D) From January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, inclusive,—thirteen dollars ($13) per hour. (E) From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, inclusive,—fourteen dollars ($14) per hour. (F) From January 1, 2022, and until adjusted by subdivision (c)—fifteen dollars ($15) per hour. (2) For any employer who employs 25 or fewer employees, the minimum wage shall be as follows: (A) From January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018, inclusive,—ten dollars and fifty cents ($10.50) per hour. (B) From January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, inclusive,—eleven dollars ($11) per hour. (C) From January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, inclusive,—twelve dollars ($12) per hour. (D) From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, inclusive,—thirteen dollars ($13) per hour. (E) From January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, inclusive,—fourteen dollars ($14) per hour. (F) From January 1, 2023, and until adjusted by subdivision (c)—fifteen dollars ($15) per hour. (3) For purposes of this subdivision, “employer” means any person who directly or indirectly, or through an agent or any other person, employs or exercises control over the wages, hours, or working conditions of any person. For purposes of this subdivision, “employer” includes the state, political subdivisions of the state, and municipalities. (4) Employees who are treated as employed by a single qualified taxpayer under subdivision (h) of Section 23626 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, as it read on the effective date of this section, shall be considered employees of that taxpayer for purposes of this subdivision. (c) (1) Following the implementation of the minimum wage increase specified in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b), on or before August 1 of that year, and on or before each August 1 thereafter, the Director of Finance shall calculate an adjusted minimum wage. The calculation shall increase the minimum wage by the lesser of 3.5 percent and the rate of change in the averages of the most recent July 1 to June 30, inclusive, period over the preceding July 1 to June 30, inclusive, period for