Alameda Rent Increase Cap Rises to 2.7% This Year
The city's Rent Program set the new cap for older buildings, effective September 1 through next August.
By The Alameda Pulse
Alameda's Rent Program has set this year's rent increase cap at 2.7% for rent-controlled apartments in Alameda, CA, effective September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027. The cap applies to buildings with two or more units built before February 1995.
- Rate: 2.7%, the Annual General Adjustment for 2026-2027
- Effective: September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027
- Who it covers: Buildings with two or more units built before February 1995
- How it's calculated: 70% of the Consumer Price Index change for the 12 months ending April 2026
- Where to ask questions: The Alameda Rent Program office at 950 W. Mall Square, Room 172
It's not automatic. Landlords still have to give proper written notice before raising rent, and 2.7% is a ceiling, not a guarantee that your rent goes up by that much. But if you've been wondering how much your landlord can legally ask for this year, this is the number.
How much can my rent go up this year in Alameda?
If you live in a rent-controlled unit, your landlord can raise the rent by up to 2.7% this year. The Alameda Rent Program sets that number every year with a fixed formula: 70% of the change in the Consumer Price Index over the 12 months ending in April. This year that math worked out to 2.7%, good from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027.
Which apartments does the 2.7% cap apply to?
It only applies to buildings with two or more units built before February 1995. That covers a lot of Alameda's older apartment stock, from Victorians near the West End that got carved into flats to the postwar buildings around Park Street and Webster Street.
What if my apartment isn't rent-controlled?
Newer buildings and most single-family rentals fall under Assembly Bill 1482, the state's rent cap law, instead. That cap is 8.8% for the year running August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, more than three times the local number. It's a big reason Alameda built its own rent program in the first place: without it, older buildings would be stuck with the much higher state cap too.
What happens next
The 2.7% cap took effect September 1 and runs through next August. If you think your landlord raised your rent by more than that, or you're not sure which cap covers your building, you can call the Rent Program at 510-747-7520 or email rentprogram@alamedaca.gov. The office keeps regular hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, though City Hall West doesn't take walk-ins on Fridays.
It's one more number that shapes what it costs to live here. For more on the cost of living in Alameda, see our local news coverage, including Alameda's minimum wage increase to $17.76 an hour.
