LA County Supervisors Approve Eviction Protections for Fire Victims
Los Angeles, CA – On Tuesday, February 25, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to protect renters and small business owners who have been financially impacted by the wildfires that hit in January.
The resolution was crafted after the Board directed the County Counsel’s Office to draft it in their previous meeting. The resolution was approved with a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining.
It provides eviction protections for tenants across the county who have suffered financial hardship due to the wildfires. To qualify, tenants must have signed up for relief programs, unemployment benefits, or emergency assistance, and experienced at least a 10% loss in monthly income.
Under the new resolution, landlords cannot charge late fees, interest, or other penalties on rental debts. However, landlords are allowed to challenge a tenant’s eligibility for these protections, free of charge.
This measure will remain in effect until July 31, although an earlier proposal aimed to extend the protection until January 31, 2026. The Board also directed the CEO and Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to develop a financial plan for a $10 million fund, which will be managed by a third-party sponsor to support affected tenants and landlords.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who introduced the motion, referred to the resolution as a “narrowly targeted eviction protection” that addresses the broad impact of the fires, which affected not only residents but also businesses and workers.
“Even before the fires, the LA housing market was in crisis,” Horvath said. “Los Angeles is one of the most unaffordable areas in the nation, with an unhoused population of more than 75,000 people, and more people are falling into homelessness faster than we can re-house them.”
Supervisor Holly Mitchell expressed concerns at the initial vote about the potential overlap with a previous fund she advocated for, which was meant to assist workers and businesses impacted by the fire. On Tuesday, Mitchell criticized the resolution’s language, stating it misled the public by indicating protections for anyone impacted by the fires, when they were only available to those who lost income.
Mitchell suggested amendments requiring tenants to prove their unemployment, tenancy, and efforts to achieve economic stability. Horvath opposed the amendments, arguing that adding extra layers of bureaucracy would prevent those in need from accessing support. She highlighted that individuals living in the U.S. without legal status were already reluctant to seek help, and imposing additional requirements could discourage them from reaching out for assistance.
