AB 1543 Would Help Keep Mobile Home Residents Housed
California Assembly Bill 1543 introduced by Assemblymember Quirk-Silva in the 2026 Regular Legislative Session seeks to establish caps for rent increases in mobile home parks in CA. Most such residents currently face unlimited rent increases.
Current CA Civil Code § 798.17 explicitly exempts mobile home parks from any city, county, or city-and-county ordinance that establishes a maximum amount a landlord may charge for rent. Generally, under current state law, mobile home park space rentals are broadly exempt from local Rent Stablization Ordinances (RSOs), with specfic exceptions dependent upon the type of leas and age of trailer construction. (see Los Angeles County’s RSO for unincorporated areas of the county for spaces constructed on or before January 1, 1990 only)
Some cities and counties (Fremont, San Luis Obispo County) have enacted specific local ordinances have caps on annual rent increases but do not set hard caps on them like most RSOs.
Key Provisions of AB 1543
1. Statewide Rent Increase Cap
The bill amends Civil Code § 798.30.5 to limit how much park management can raise space rents over any 12-month period. The cap is set at the lower of:
- 5% of the lowest gross rental rate charged during the preceding 12 months, OR
- 3% + CPI: 3% plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the appropriate metropolitan area [1][2].
2. Limit on Frequency of Increases
Homeowners maintaining tenancy cannot be subjected to more than two rent increases within any 12-month period [1][2]. This prevents parks from circumventing the annual cap by issuing multiple small hikes throughout the year.
3. Application to New Tenancies
For new tenancies (where no prior homeowner remains in lawful possession), management may set an initial unrestricted rental rate. However, once that tenancy begins, the annual caps apply immediately [1][2]. If a local jurisdiction has stricter limits on new tenancy rates, those local rules still apply.
4. Geographic Scope and CPI Calculation
- The bill applies to all mobile home parks in California, not just those in cities with existing rent control ordinances.
- It specifies which CPI-U index to use based on the park’s location (e.g., San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, etc.). For areas not explicitly listed, the nearest applicable metropolitan index is used [2].
- Increases taking effect before August 1 use the CPI change from the prior calendar year; those after August 1 use the most recent available CPI data [2].
How This Helps Mobile Home Residents
- Predictability and Stability: Currently, unless a city has its own specific mobile home rent stabilization ordinance, residents can face arbitrary and steep rent hikes. AB 1543 provides a predictable ceiling, shielding residents from sudden financial shocks.
- Protection Against Inflation Spikes: By tying part of the cap to CPI, the bill ensures rent increases reflect actual inflation rather than speculative market pressures or profit maximization unrelated to cost of living.
- Equity Across Jurisdictions: Many rural or unincorporated areas lack local rent control laws, leaving residents vulnerable. This state-level standard ensures baseline protections for all mobile home owners, regardless of their city’s political landscape.
- Reduced Displacement Risk: High rent increases are a leading cause of displacement in mobile home parks. Capping increases helps long-term residents afford to stay in their homes and communities.
Important Notes
- Status: As of July 2026, this bill was introduced in the 2025–2026 session. Its current legislative status (passed, vetoed, or pending) should be verified via the California Legislature website, as search results only provide the text as introduced. To track the status of this bill, sign up for email notifications HERE (click on “Track Bill): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1543#
- Existing Local Laws: The bill does not preempt stricter local ordinances. Cities with existing mobile home rent stabilization programs (e.g., Fremont, San Luis Obispo County) will continue to enforce their rules if they are more protective of tenants.
Citations:
[1] https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1543
[2] https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1543/id/3299943