California Apartment Association advocacy and member turnout helped keep Claremont’s City Council from advancing a local rent control ordinance this month — the second time in three years the city has rejected the idea.

The outcome means Claremont rental housing owners continue to follow the rent caps set in the state’s Tenant Protection Act, AB 1482, as the city rejected a more restrictive local rent cap and registry.

CAA’s government affairs team engaged directly with Claremont City Council members ahead of the July 14 meeting, where staff presented a report on local rent control and a possible rent registry, urging the council to receive and file the report and keep Claremont under the AB 1482 rent caps, rather than adopt local price caps. Several housing providers also attended and gave public comment opposing a local rent ordinance.

The council took no further action to pursue a local ordinance or registry after the report.

In 2023, the council voted down a rent control ordinance as part of a broader package of tenant-focused proposals. This year’s report grew out of an April council meeting, where Mayor Jennifer Stark asked staff to study rent stabilization policies in Pasadena, Pomona, Culver City, Baldwin Park, Inglewood, Los Angeles and unincorporated Los Angeles County. CAA noted that Los Angeles County rents were already at a four-year low when the mayor moved to revisit rent control and a registry.

Claremont already has a just-cause eviction ordinance, an anti-harassment ordinance and a temporary housing stabilization and relocation program — rules that already address tenant needs without a rent cap or registry. Tenant advocates have addressed the council at nearly every meeting for more than five years urging officials to adopt rent control.

CAA encouraged City Council members to continue focusing on targeted, effective tenant support programs such as direct rental assistance. CAA will remain vigilant and continue to advocate on behalf of rental housing providers in Claremont and other cities across California.