Law Office of Mark B. Palmer

The City of Los Angeles has rent control. Los Angeles rent control laws only apply to residences, not commercial spaces. 

The significance of rent control laws is that a tenant in a rent controlled unit (i.e.: apartment) has many more rights than a tenant in a non-rent controlled unit. There are two main categories of those rights.

[1] Limits on rent increases.

For a non-rent controlled unit, a landlord can often raise the rent without limits, provided the landlord gives the tenant the proper notice (and the tenant does not have a fixed term lease).  There are some restrictions, but not many. However, in a rent controlled unit, the landlord may only raise the rent on an existing tenant by certain increments set pursuant to the Los Angeles rent control laws. 

[2] Eviction controls.

For a Los Angeles rent controlled unit, a landlord can only evict a tenant for “just cause”. With few exceptions (such as discrimination or, in some cases, retaliation), a landlord may evict a tenant in a non-rent controlled unit for no basis (provided the tenant does not have a fixed term lease). In a Los Angeles rent controlled unit, a landlord may only evict a tenant for one of the bases listed in the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance.

Most residential rental units built in Los Angeles before October 1, 1978 are rent controlled units. However, there are many exemptions.

If you are a tenant in Los Angeles and you are not sure if your residence is a rent controlled unit, you should check with the Los Angeles Housing Department: (866) 557-RENT [7368].

It is best to visit one of the Los Angeles Housing Department offices to find out if your residence is a rent controlled unit. The Los Angeles Housing Department has several locations:

Central Regional Office: 3550 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90010

East Regional Office: 2215 North Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031

North Regional Office: 6640 Van Nuys Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA 91405

South Regional Office: 690 Knox Street, Suite 125, Torrance, CA 90502

West Regional Office: 3415 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 150, Los Angeles 90034

Mark Ridley-Thomas Constituent Service Center: 8475 S. Vermont Avenue, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles 90044

San Pedro Satellite Office: 638 S. Beacon Street, Suite 601, San Pedro 90731

Los Angeles Rent Control Laws

For a link to the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which is Chapter XV of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, click here.

Mark Palmer specializes in Los Angeles rent control laws. He is a Los Angeles tenants’ lawyer for unlawful detainer actions (eviction cases), rent control disputes, and most Los Angeles tenants’ rights matters.

You can call Mark Palmer at (310) 260-6199. Or, to send an e-mail, click here.