Los Angeles: Perpetual State of Emergency

Los Angeles continues to operate in a perpetual “state of emergency.”

Last week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to extend countywide emergency price restrictions through March 29, 2026 — tied to wildfires that occurred 14 months ago.

Under these restrictions, landlords cannot raise rent more than 10% above the rent in effect immediately prior to the declared emergency, even:

• On vacant units

• On new leases

• On units that may otherwise qualify for larger increases under AB 1482

• On properties not otherwise subject to traditional rent control

This effectively imposes countywide pricing constraints regardless of whether a property was directly impacted.

Here’s the economic reality:

When emergency declarations become recurring and open-ended, housing providers adapt defensively. If owners fear future emergency caps could freeze rents at artificially low levels, many will feel compelled to implement maximum allowable increases simply to avoid being locked in below market during the next “emergency.”