The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance Tuesday raising the unpaid rent threshold for evictions from one month to two months of Fair Market Rent in unincorporated communities.
The ordinance, proposed by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda L. Solis, will take effect in 30 days following final approval. The measure applies to unincorporated areas under the county's direct jurisdiction, home to approximately 1 million residents.
"This is a modest but necessary increase," Hahn said. "With this additional month, I hope we can give renters some breathing room while not putting the entire burden on landlords who also depend on rental income to pay their own bills."
The county enacted its Rent and Tenant Protections Ordinance in 2022 to stabilize housing, prevent displacement and reduce homelessness risk among renters, particularly during periods of economic instability. The modified ordinance raises the threshold to two months of unpaid Fair Market Rent as established annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which varies by unit size and ZIP code.
"In the face of inhumane federal actions and ongoing threats to immigrant families, the County has taken concrete steps to protect renters," said Board Chair Solis. "These are not symbolic gestures, but real action that meets the needs of those impacted."
Hahn and Solis cited the impact of recent federal immigration enforcement actions across the county, with some communities experiencing decreased economic activity in addition to families losing breadwinners and businesses losing customers and employees.
The ordinance will be enforced by the county's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs through its Housing and Tenant Protections bureau. Landlords are required to provide copies of any Notice of Termination served to tenants as well as proof of service to the department.
"While we are taking action today in the communities under our jurisdiction, every city in LA County can put in place their own tenant protection ordinances," Hahn added.
Edited by SMDP Staff