CSSA Prevails in Turning Back Price Controls for Self Storage

The CSSA led a coalition, including the SSA, the CA Business Round Table, the CA Business Property Association, and five Sacramento lobbying firms to convince the CA Senate Judiciary Committee that price controls are inappropriate for the self-storage industry. 

As introduced, SB709 would have limited self-storage annual rent increases to the lower of 5% + CPI or 10%. The coalition engaged in numerous meetings with Chairman Tom Umberg, Senator Carolyn Menjivar (author), and other Committee members to successfully negotiate substantive changes to the bill. 

 The CSSA and SSA each testified at the hearing on Tuesday, May 8, resulting in the adoption of disclosure and transparency language in place of price controls, including a provision requiring a maximum monthly rate during the initial 12-month period of the rental agreement. Our coalition opposes the 12-month period and continues to work with the author on further potential modifications to these requirements which, if passed, will be enacted as of January 1, 2026.

 While the outcome is preferable to the original bill, the CSSA maintains that any regulation limiting market-based pricing for self storage is inappropriate and ultimately harmful to both consumers and businesses.  To advocate for our industry in the future, the CSSA is in the process of establishing Political Action Committees (PACs) to better position the industry for the California political arena. We thank those who have already contributed to the Industry Advocacy Fund, which fueled the CSSA’s fight against SB709.  These funds are just the beginning of what will be required to adequately defend the industry from future regulations that will hamper our ability to best serve our customers.

 We are sincerely grateful to those who have supported our efforts and have advocated on our behalf.  As we enter a new era requiring political and public relations initiatives, we ask all members to consider supporting the CSSA’s continuing efforts to defend our industry.