A Los Angeles County proposal that would have forced housing providers to wait three months before pursuing evictions for nonpayment of rent failed to advance today after opposition from the California Apartment Association and rental housing providers.

The motion, introduced by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, sought to raise the county’s nonpayment eviction threshold to three months of fair market rent and apply it across all cities by relying on the county’s emergency declaration. CAA warned supervisors that the proposal would have delayed rent recovery and forced housing providers to absorb extended periods of nonpayment. The proposal did not move forward after failing to receive any support from the Board of Supervisors.

The outcome prevents a countywide expansion of eviction restrictions that housing providers warned would have significantly delayed rent recovery, increased financial strain on rental operations and reduced housing access across Los Angeles County.

A separate, more limited proposal approved for further consideration earlier this month remains pending. That action directed county counsel to draft an ordinance increasing the nonpayment eviction threshold from one month to two months, but only in the county’s unincorporated areas. Any such ordinance would require an additional vote before taking effect.

CAA opposed both proposals, cautioning that requiring housing providers to absorb multiple months of unpaid rent without compensation would destabilize rental operations and undermine the ability to maintain housing. The association urged supervisors to focus instead on targeted rental assistance programs that address short-term financial hardship without imposing blanket eviction delays.

“We’re grateful to all of the local housing providers who submitted letters, made phone calls and spoke at the meeting,” said Fred Sutton, CAA’s senior vice president of local public affairs. “When housing providers mobilize and speak out directly to their elected officials, it makes a difference.” 

The Board of Supervisors is expected to revisit the unincorporated-area proposal at a future meeting.