The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a countywide eviction moratorium in response to the January wildfires, prohibiting evictions for qualifying tenants through July 31, 2025, while discussions on rental assistance funding for unpaid landlords continue.
Despite efforts to refine the measure, an amendment aimed at improving the ordinance failed in a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Holly Mitchell in support. Supervisors Janice Hahn, Lindsay Horvath and Hilda Solis voted against truly helping those in need and failing to protect property owners. The board has committed to further discussions on rental assistance and funding allocations in follow-up meetings.
How the moratorium works
Unlike the COVID-era eviction moratorium, this measure:
- Protects income-eligible tenants who lost at least 10% of their income due to wildfire-related job loss, business closure, or other direct financial impacts.
- Requires tenants to self-certify financial hardship under penalty of perjury and submit documentation within seven days of rent being due.
- Grants a 12-month repayment window, meaning back rent must be paid by July 31, 2026.
What landlords should know
- Landlords retain the right to challenge fraudulent hardship claims if they believe a tenant’s self-certification is false.
- Landlords cannot automatically apply payments toward past-due rent unless the tenant provides written consent, which may complicate collection efforts.
- The moratorium applies countywide, overriding local eviction rules, including those in the city of Los Angeles.
CAA’s advocacy leads to key changes
The California Apartment Association successfully pushed for modifications to the proposal, shortening its duration and ensuring that landlords retain legal recourse against fraudulent claims. CAA continues to advocate for fully funded rental assistance programs to mitigate financial strain on housing providers.
While the county has established a $32 million fund to aid those impacted by the fires, rental assistance remains under discussion, and its availability for landlords remains uncertain.
What’s next?
CAA will continue engaging with county officials to secure funding for rental assistance and streamline repayment processes. The association is also preparing insight papers to help landlords understand the new rules and their rights under the moratorium.
Housing providers with questions can contact CAA for further guidance.
