Landlords in the City of Los Angeles face some of the most complex and heavily regulated rent control and eviction laws in the country. The Law Office of Aaron Kohanim is here to help landlords navigate these regulations with precision, compliance, and strength. Whether you are preparing to serve a notice, respond to tenant claims, or defend your rights in court, our office ensures every step aligns with the strict requirements of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC). Below is a Los Angeles Rent Control Checklist.
Evictions in Los Angeles are not just about the California Code of Civil Procedure. Landlords must also comply with additional city-level requirements under the Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (LARSO) and the Just Cause Ordinance (JCO). A single procedural misstep—such as failing to post required disclosures or accept rent improperly—can lead to dismissal of your case.
A VIOLATION OF ANY OF THE BELOW ITEMS IS A CAUSE FOR THE CASE TO BE DISMISSED
Property Subject to Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance (LARSO)
1. Register the Property Annually – Submit a registration or renewal application for each rental unit subject to the RSO. Pay the annual registration fee by February 28 each year. Provide rent amount, tenancy, and emergency contact information to the Department. LAMC 151.05(A), (B), (J)
2. LAMC 151.05A – No landlord shall demand or accept rent for a rental unit without first SERVING a copy of a valid registration or annual registration renewal statement (LAHD Yearly Registration Statement) on the tenant of that rental unit.
a. Must be done each year upon receiving the statement from LAHD.
SERVING is defined as: the notice may be given either by personal delivery to the tenant or by deposit in the United States Mail in a sealed envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the tenant to be notified at his or her residence address.
(It is recommended, but not required to mail the annual registration statement via certified mail and take a picture. Keep a copy for your records)
b. The registration must also be posted on the property in a conspicuous place, such as the lobby, the mailbox, or high traffic location.
3. LARSO Notice Disclosure – The following document must be posted on the property in a conspicuous place, such as the lobby, the mailbox, or high traffic location.
4. LAMC 151.04 (C) – It shall be unlawful for any landlord or landlord’s agent to demand or require an electronic funds transfer or online internet payment as the exclusive method of payment of rent, security deposits, surcharges or other housing service fees.
5. LAMC 161.352 – Effective January 1, 2022, owners of all buildings subject to inspection shall pay a regulatory fee per unit per year. This fee shall be known as the “Systematic Code Enforcement Program Fee“. LAMC 903.3.2 – The tenant may assert as an affirmative defense to any unlawful detainer action that the landlord has failed to pay required fees pursuant to this article.
6. LAMC 151.11 – Unlawful Increase of Rent. A tenant may refuse to pay any rent in excess of the maximum rent or maximum adjusted rent permitted pursuant to this chapter or regulations or orders adopted hereunder or as further permitted by this chapter or by ordinance. Lawful rent increase chart. All rent increases are in accordance with the Los Angeles Housing Department.
7. LAMC 151.06.2 – Interest on Security Deposit. A tenant is to be given the unpaid accrued interest on security deposit in the form of either a direct payment or a credit against rent. The landlord must choose between the two (2) methods of payment and must notify the tenant in writing of his/her choice. The landlord may choose to pay the accrued interest on a monthly or yearly basis.
a. Contact our law firm for a form to be used for your Tenants.
All Los Angeles Residential Properties
8. City of LA Renters Protection Notice – The following document must be posted on the property in a conspicuous place, such as the lobby, the mailbox, or high traffic location.
9. Notice of Eviction Submission – All notices to terminate a tenancy for all rental units subject to City’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) and the Just Cause Ordinance (JCO) must be filed with the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) within three (3) business days of service on the tenant per Los Angeles Municipal Code 151.09.C.9 & 165.05.B.5.
10. Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance – Tenant Harassment shall be defined as a landlord’s knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific tenant or tenants that causes detriment and harm, and that serves no lawful purpose. LAMC 45.34
a. Harassing the Tenant is an affirmative defense
11. Source of Income of Rent Payment – It is unlawful to reject payment of a tenant based on the source of income. Any lawful source of income, rental assistance, subsidy, or financial aid from any person, including but not limited to a federal, state or local government, or non-profit or charitable agency, whether paid directly to the program participant, landlord or his or her representative, including but not limited to the Section 8 voucher program. LAMC 45.65.
a. Rejecting any money is an affirmative defense.
12. LAMC 162.09 – A property that is currently in the Rent Escrow Account Program. (LA City Habitability Program). In any action by a property owner/landlord to recover possession of a residential unit, the tenant may raise the fact of payments into a REAP escrow account as an affirmative defense in the same manner as if the payments had been made to and accepted by the property owner/landlord.
13. LAMC 166.03 – Every landlord who serves ANY kind of eviction notice onto a Tenant must serve and attach a copy of Notice of Right to Counsel Program. Failure to do so is an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer. The document must also be posted on the property, as required by other documents stated in this checklist. If a new tenant signs a lease, than the document must also be attached to the lease agreement.
14. Civil Code 1942.4 – A Landlord may not demand rent, collect rent, issues a notice of a rent increase or issue a three day notice to pay rent or quit if the unit is uninhabitable for more than 35 days and inspected by a public officer. That is, if the Health Department or LAHD issues a citation/notice of order to comply, than the citation MUST be cleared before proceeding with an unlawful detainer. Failure to do so is an affirmative defense and unlimited attorney fees for the Defendant. Upon clearance and a closing letter from the public officer, can the Landlord proceed with an eviction notice.
15. Register the Property Annually – Submit a registration or renewal application for each rental unit subject to the Just Cause Ordinance (“JCO”). Pay the annual registration fee by February 28 each year. Provide rent amount, tenancy, and emergency contact information to the Department. LAMC 165.10(A).
a. If you already complied with #1 above, you do not need to repeat again.
16. LAMC 165.10(B) – No landlord shall demand or accept rent for a rental unit without first SERVING a copy of a valid registration or annual registration renewal statement (LAHD Yearly Registration Statement) on the tenant of that rental unit.
a. Must be done each year upon receiving the statement from LAHD.
SERVING is defined as: the notice may be given either by personal delivery to the tenant or by deposit in the United States Mail in a sealed envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to the tenant to be notified at his or her residence address.
(It is recommended, but not required to mail the annual registration statement via certified mail and take a picture. Keep a copy for your records)
b. The registration must also be posted on the property in a conspicuous place, such as the lobby, the mailbox, or high traffic location.
c. If you already complied with #2 above, you do not need to repeat again.
At the Law Office of Aaron Kohanim, we represent landlords and understand the unique challenges you face. As a member of the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, California Apartment Association, and Apartment Association, Southern California Cities, Attorney Kohanim stays at the forefront of housing policy, legal trends, and legislative changes.
Contact the Law Office of Aaron Kohanim today to schedule a consultation. You can call us at (310) 861-7506. If you prefer to send a quick message, visit our Contact Us page.
The response above is not intended as legal advice. This response does not create an attorney-client relationship. Legal questions can only be fully answered through consultation with an attorney to whom you give full and accurate details. It is highly recommended that you seek advice from an attorney by setting up a confidential meeting. All who read this answer should not rely on the answer to govern their conduct.
**This checklist is active as of the date of this posting stated above. The City of Los Angeles enagages in hyper-regulation thus reguarly updating its laws. Please contact the office to confirm if this list is currently up to date.