Landlord Compliance · Just Cause Ordinance · Los Angeles County
What Does the Los Angeles Just Cause Ordinance Require Before an Eviction?
Justin Borges, DRE #01940318 · 11 min read · Updated July 26, 2026
The Los Angeles Just Cause Ordinance (JCO) requires a landlord to have a legally valid reason before ending a residential tenancy, for rentals not already covered by the older Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). The JCO splits reasons into two buckets, at-fault and no-fault, sets minimum notice periods for each, and generally requires relocation assistance when the reason is no-fault. It does not, on its own, cap the rent amount; that job usually falls to the statewide Tenant Protection Act instead.
Sources: Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) Just Cause Ordinance program; California Civil Code §1947.12 (AB 1482).
What You Will Learn
- What Is the Los Angeles Just Cause Ordinance?
- Which Los Angeles Properties Does the Just Cause Ordinance Cover?
- What Counts as an At-Fault Reason to Evict Under the Los Angeles JCO?
- What Counts as a No-Fault Reason to Evict Under the Los Angeles JCO?
- How Much Notice Must a Los Angeles Landlord Give Under the JCO?
- Does the Just Cause Ordinance Cap Rent Increases in Los Angeles?
- Does the JCO Require Relocation Assistance in Los Angeles?
- How Is the JCO Different From the RSO in Los Angeles?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Los Angeles Just Cause Ordinance?
The Just Cause Ordinance took effect citywide in January 2023 and extended a valid-reason requirement for eviction to Los Angeles rentals that were not already covered by the older Rent Stabilization Ordinance, including most single-family homes, condominiums, and newer apartment buildings (LAHD). Before the JCO, many of those properties could end a month-to-month tenancy with a simple notice and no stated reason at all.
For a Los Angeles landlord, the practical effect is that a written, legally valid reason is now required for essentially every residential eviction in the city, RSO-covered or not. The reasons that qualify, and the process for using them, are what the rest of this guide walks through.
Landlords who bought a newer Los Angeles building specifically to avoid rent control are often surprised the Just Cause Ordinance still applies to how they end a tenancy.
Justin Borges, CA DRE #01940318Which Los Angeles Properties Does the Just Cause Ordinance Cover?
The JCO generally covers Los Angeles residential rentals that are not already covered by RSO, which typically means buildings with a certificate of occupancy on or after October 1, 1978, single-family homes, and condominiums used as rentals (LAHD). Hotels, motels, transient occupancy, and owner-occupied units with roommates or boarders are generally excluded from JCO coverage.
| Property Type | Generally Covered By | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-unit building, certificate of occupancy before Oct. 1, 1978 | RSO | Own set of rent-cap and eviction rules |
| Multi-unit building, certificate of occupancy on/after Oct. 1, 1978 | JCO | No RSO rent cap; AB 1482 may apply instead |
| Single-family home or condo (individual owner) | JCO | Generally exempt from AB 1482 rent cap with proper notice |
| Single-family home or condo (corporate/REIT owner) | JCO, may also trigger RSO/AB 1482 rent cap | Corporate ownership removes the individual-owner exemption |
What Counts as an At-Fault Reason to Evict Under the Los Angeles JCO?
At-fault reasons involve something the tenant did: non-payment of rent, a material lease violation, nuisance behavior that disturbs neighbors, illegal activity on the premises, substantial property damage beyond normal wear and tear, or having unauthorized occupants living in the unit. For an at-fault eviction, a Los Angeles landlord is generally not required to pay relocation assistance.
Documentation matters heavily here. A Los Angeles landlord pursuing an at-fault eviction should keep dated records of the lease violation, late payments, or complaints, since the tenant can and often does contest the stated reason.
What Counts as a No-Fault Reason to Evict Under the Los Angeles JCO?
No-fault reasons in Los Angeles are not tied to anything the tenant did: an owner or qualifying family member moving into the unit, a permanent withdrawal of the property from the rental market under the Ellis Act, permit-approved demolition or substantial renovation requiring vacant possession, or a government agency ordering the unit vacated for health or safety reasons. A no-fault eviction generally triggers a relocation assistance obligation to the displaced tenant.
| Reason Category | Example | Relocation Assistance Generally Owed? |
|---|---|---|
| At-fault | Non-payment, lease violation, nuisance | No |
| No-fault | Owner move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, demolition, government order | Yes |
This article does not print a specific relocation dollar figure, since the current published LAHD schedule could not be independently confirmed at the time of writing. Call LAHD at 1-866-557-7368 for the current relocation assistance amount before serving a no-fault notice.
How Much Notice Must a Los Angeles Landlord Give Under the JCO?
Notice periods are generally reported as 3 days for at-fault reasons such as non-payment or a lease violation, 30 days for a no-fault termination when the tenancy is under one year, and 60 days once the tenancy has reached one year or more. Some no-fault categories, including certain RSO-covered properties, layer additional LAHD filing steps on top of the basic notice period.
Because notice requirements are procedural and unforgiving, a Los Angeles landlord should confirm the exact notice period and any additional filing requirement for the specific reason and property before serving anything, rather than assuming the general rule applies without exception.
Does the Just Cause Ordinance Cap Rent Increases in Los Angeles?
No. The JCO regulates the reasons and process for eviction, not the rent amount. Most JCO-covered Los Angeles rentals are instead subject to the statewide Tenant Protection Act, AB 1482, which limits annual increases to 5 percent plus the regional CPI change, up to a maximum of 10 percent, for properties that are not otherwise exempt (Civil Code §1947.12). A newer Los Angeles building can still be exempt from that cap during its first years under construction-age exemptions, even though JCO eviction protections still apply.
A Los Angeles landlord who assumes "no rent control" because a property sits outside RSO is usually looking at AB 1482's cap instead, just under a different formula and different exemptions.
Does the JCO Require Relocation Assistance in Los Angeles?
Generally yes, for no-fault reasons. The exact dollar amount depends on the tenant's category (standard versus qualified, meaning elderly, disabled, or households with minor children) and how long the tenant has lived in the unit, and LAHD adjusts the schedule periodically. Los Angeles also appears to run a separate relocation schedule specifically for Ellis Act withdrawals, distinct from other no-fault reasons.
Rather than repeat a number that could already be stale, this guide directs Los Angeles landlords to LAHD directly at 1-866-557-7368, or to housing.lacity.gov, to confirm the current figure for the specific tenant category and reason before serving notice.
How Is the JCO Different From the RSO in Los Angeles?
RSO is the older, narrower system: it covers a defined set of pre-1978 Los Angeles buildings and caps both the rent amount and the reasons for eviction. The JCO is newer and broader, covering nearly everything RSO does not reach in the city, but it only regulates eviction reasons and notice, leaving rent caps to AB 1482 where applicable.
A Los Angeles owner with a mixed portfolio, some RSO buildings and some JCO-only properties, needs to track both systems separately, since a rule that is correct for one can be entirely wrong for the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Los Angeles Just Cause Ordinance?
The Just Cause Ordinance (JCO) requires a Los Angeles landlord to have a legally valid reason before ending a residential tenancy, for rentals not already covered by the older Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). It regulates the reasons and process for eviction but does not itself cap the rent amount (LAHD).
Which Los Angeles properties does the Just Cause Ordinance cover?
The JCO generally covers Los Angeles residential rentals not already covered by RSO, including many single-family homes, condominiums, and newer apartment buildings. Hotels, motels, and owner-occupied units with roommates are generally not covered (LAHD).
What is the difference between at-fault and no-fault evictions under the Los Angeles JCO?
At-fault reasons involve tenant conduct, such as non-payment of rent, a lease violation, or nuisance behavior. No-fault reasons are not the tenant's doing, such as an owner move-in, an Ellis Act withdrawal, or a government-ordered vacancy, and no-fault reasons generally trigger a relocation assistance obligation.
How much notice must a Los Angeles landlord give under the Just Cause Ordinance?
Notice periods are generally reported as 3 days for at-fault reasons such as non-payment or a lease violation, 30 days for a no-fault termination when the tenancy is under one year, and 60 days once the tenancy has reached one year or more. Confirm the exact period for your situation with LAHD.
Does the Just Cause Ordinance cap rent increases in Los Angeles?
No. The JCO regulates eviction reasons, not rent amounts. Most JCO-covered Los Angeles rentals are instead capped by the statewide Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), which limits increases to 5 percent plus the regional CPI change, up to a maximum of 10 percent, for buildings that are not otherwise exempt.
Does a Los Angeles landlord owe relocation assistance under the Just Cause Ordinance?
Generally yes, for no-fault reasons such as an owner move-in or an Ellis Act withdrawal. The exact dollar amount depends on tenant category and tenancy length and is adjusted periodically by LAHD, so confirm the current figure at 1-866-557-7368 before serving notice rather than relying on a number found online.
Weighing an Eviction Against a Sale in Los Angeles?
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Related Resources
Navigating a Just Cause Eviction in Los Angeles?
Whether you are working through an at-fault case, a no-fault move-in, or reconsidering the sale of a tenant-occupied Los Angeles property, a clear picture of your compliance position and your property's value is the right first step.
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