Law Office of Mark B. Palmer

The City of West Hollywood has rent control. West Hollywood 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 West Hollywood rent control laws. 

[2] Eviction controls.

For a West Hollywood 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 West Hollywood rent controlled unit, a landlord may only evict a tenant for one of the bases listed in the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Ordinance.

Most residential rental units built in West Hollywood before July 1, 1979 are rent controlled units. However, there are many exemptions.

If you are a tenant in West Hollywood and you are not sure if your residence is a rent controlled unit, you should check with the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization and Housing Department, located at:

West Hollywood Rent Stabilization and Housing Department

8300 Santa Monica Boulevard

First Floor

West Hollywood, California 90069

(323) 848-6450

West Hollywood Rent Control Laws

The West Hollywood rent control laws are known as the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Ordinance.

For a link to the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which is Title 17 of the West Hollywood Municipal Code, click here.

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

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