Please note that there are several upcoming California employment law and wage compliance developments that take effect beginning July 1, 2026.

Please keep the following information on your radar:

• Local minimum wage increases

Several California cities and counties are scheduled to increase their local minimum wage rates on July 1, 2026. These changes may apply if you have employees working in cities such as Alameda, Berkeley, Emeryville, Fremont, Los Angeles, Malibu, Milpitas, Pasadena, San Francisco, Santa Monica, or in certain hotel locations in Long Beach, Los Angeles, Glendale, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood.

• Healthcare worker minimum wage increases

Certain covered healthcare workers are scheduled to see minimum wage increases beginning July 1, 2026. The applicable rate depends on the type of healthcare facility and may range from $19.28 to $25 per hour.

• San Diego hospitality minimum wage

Covered hospitality employers in the City of San Diego, including certain hotels, event centers, and amusement parks, will have new minimum wage requirements starting July 1, 2026. The starting rates are expected to be $19 per hour for hotels and amusement parks and $21.06 per hour for event centers.

• Posting and employee notice requirements

Some local wage changes may also require updated workplace postings and written notices to covered employees. If a notice is required, it may need to be posted where employees work and provided to current employees and new hires.

• California privacy rule updates

New California Consumer Privacy Act regulations have also been finalized. While some major compliance deadlines remain in the future, 2026 is a good time for covered employers to review whether these rules apply, particularly if the business uses employee data, automated decision-making tools, or systems that may affect hiring, scheduling, performance management, or other employee-related decisions.

July 1, 2026 California Local Minimum Wage Changes

The following local minimum wage rates are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026:

• Alameda: $17.76
• Berkeley: $19.61
• Emeryville: $20.34
• Fremont: $18.05
• Glendale hotels with 60 or more guest rooms: $25.00
• Long Beach hotels with 100 or more guest rooms: $26.50
• Los Angeles City: $18.42
• Los Angeles City hotels with 60 or more guest rooms: $25.00 with health benefits
• Los Angeles City hotels with 60 or more guest rooms: $29.25 without health benefits
• Unincorporated Los Angeles County: $18.47
• Malibu: $17.91
• Milpitas: $18.50
• Pasadena: $18.57
• San Francisco: $19.61
• Santa Monica: $18.47
• Santa Monica hotels: $25.00
• West Hollywood hotels: $20.87

If you have any questions or would like advice regarding how these changes may affect your company, please contact us or call our office at (714) 972-2333.