What Is the Relocation Fee for a No-Fault Eviction in California?
California landlords must pay relocation assistance for every no-fault eviction on a covered tenancy. Under AB 1482, that is at least two months' rent for tenancies under two years and three months' rent for longer tenancies. In the City of Los Angeles, RSO-covered properties on the Rent Stabilization Ordinance may owe up to $27,400 depending on tenant status and length of tenancy.
What Is a No-Fault Eviction in California?
A no-fault eviction ends a tenancy for reasons that have nothing to do with what the tenant did or did not do. The tenant paid rent on time, followed the lease, and caused no trouble. The landlord is ending the tenancy anyway, for the landlord's own reasons. That is why the law requires a financial cushion: the tenant is being displaced through no fault of their own.
California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482, Civil Code §1946.2) took effect January 1, 2020 and established "just cause" eviction protections for most long-term renters in the state. The law divides just causes into two categories.
At-Fault Just Cause
- Non-payment of rent
- Lease violation after written notice
- Nuisance or criminal activity
- Subletting without permission
- Refusal to renew lease on the same terms
No-Fault Just Cause
- Owner or family member move-in
- Substantial remodel (30+ days, permits required)
- Demolition of the unit
- Withdrawal from rental market (Ellis Act)
At-fault evictions do not trigger a relocation fee. The tenant violated the agreement, so the law does not require a financial payment when the landlord ends the tenancy for cause. No-fault evictions are the opposite: the landlord is exercising their legal right to take back the property, and the law requires them to compensate the tenant for that displacement.
In California, there are exactly four no-fault just cause grounds under Civil Code §1946.2(b)(2). Every one of them requires the landlord to pay relocation assistance if the tenancy is covered.
California's Statewide Relocation Fee Under AB 1482
California Civil Code §1946.2 sets the floor for every no-fault eviction in the state. If a property is covered by AB 1482, the landlord owes relocation assistance regardless of the tenant's income or other circumstances. There is no means test. There is no paperwork the tenant has to file. The obligation is automatic.
SB 567 (signed September 30, 2023, effective April 1, 2024) increased the required amounts and tightened the requirements. Under the current statute, the calculation is based on how long the tenant has lived in the unit.
Source: (CA Civil Code §1946.2, as amended by SB 567, effective April 1, 2024). The "months of rent" is based on the tenant's actual monthly rental rate at the time of termination.
The landlord has two ways to satisfy this obligation. First, they can pay the tenant a direct cash payment equal to the required amount within 15 calendar days of serving the written termination notice. Second, they can waive the final month's rent instead. If the waiver option is chosen, the waiver must cover the full amount owed. For a tenant with two or more years of tenancy, waiving only one month's rent does not satisfy a three-month obligation.
The payment amount is based on the tenant's actual monthly rent. A tenant paying $2,800 per month who has lived in the unit for 30 months is owed three months' rent: $8,400. That check must be delivered or mailed within 15 days of the day the notice is served.
Does AB 1482 Apply to Your Property?
AB 1482 covers a wide swath of California rentals, but not all of them. Before calculating any relocation fee, both landlords and tenants need to confirm whether the property is actually covered. If it is not covered by AB 1482, a local ordinance may still apply and in some cases requires even higher amounts.
The law requires that the tenant have at least 12 continuous months of lawful occupancy at the property before just cause protections kick in. For newer tenancies under 12 months, the landlord can terminate without cause and without a relocation fee, as long as a local ordinance does not provide otherwise.
- Multi-unit apartment buildings 15+ years old
- Single-family homes without a proper exemption notice
- Tenant with 12+ months continuous lawful occupancy
- Non-exempt rental statewide in California
- Single-family home or condo with written exemption notice in lease
- Buildings issued certificate of occupancy within last 15 years
- Owner-occupied duplexes (owner in one unit)
- Deed-restricted affordable housing
- Student dormitories
- LA City RSO units (built before Oct. 1, 1978, 2+ units)
- LA City Just Cause Ordinance (built before Feb. 1, 1995)
- LA County unincorporated RSTPO units
- Other cities with stronger local protections (Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills)
- Tenancy under 12 months (no local just-cause ordinance)
- Property fully exempt from both AB 1482 and local ordinance
- At-fault eviction (non-payment, lease violation, nuisance)
- Voluntary lease non-renewal by tenant
A critical point for Los Angeles investors: if your property is covered by the LA City Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), the RSO governs the relocation fee, not AB 1482. The RSO provides higher amounts. You do not get to choose the lower state figure simply because AB 1482 also technically covers the tenancy. Local law prevails when it is more protective of the tenant.
How Much Is the Relocation Fee in Los Angeles?
If your property is in the City of Los Angeles and covered by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, the relocation fee is set not by the tenant's rent but by an annual schedule published by the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD). The amounts are substantially higher than the state minimum and are divided based on the tenant's classification and the length of their tenancy.
LAHD adjusts the schedule annually, effective July 1 each year. The figures below reflect estimated amounts for the 2026-27 cycle based on secondary sources citing LAHD bulletins. Always verify the current schedule directly at housing.lacity.gov before serving any termination notice, as the July 2026 figures may differ from prior-year amounts.
| Tenant Classification | Tenancy Under 3 Years | Tenancy 3 Years or More |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified tenant Elderly 62+, disabled, low-income, or family with minor children |
$23,150 | $27,400 |
| Eligible tenant (non-SFD) All other tenants in multi-unit buildings |
Varies by unit type | Varies by unit type |
| Eligible tenant (SFD, natural-person owner) Single-family dwelling owned by an individual |
~$11,000 | ~$14,400 |
Source: Secondary sources citing LAHD Relocation Assistance schedule (LAHD, 2026) for the 2026-27 cycle; figures corroborated via multiple industry sources. These figures must be verified before serving any notice. Contact LAHD directly or visit housing.lacity.gov/rental-property-owners/relocation-assistance-information (note: automated access may be restricted; call LAHD at (866) 557-7368 for the current cycle). Amounts adjust annually each July 1.
These figures apply to all no-fault just cause evictions on RSO-covered properties, including owner move-in, substantial remodel, demolition, and withdrawal from the rental market. The Ellis Act has a separate relocation schedule under a different section of the LAMC. If you are pursuing an Ellis Act withdrawal, confirm the correct schedule with LAHD, as the dollar amounts and procedures differ from ordinary RSO no-fault relocation.
Payment timing is the same as under state law: within 15 days of serving the written termination notice. Under the LA RSO, the landlord may also pay via a designated escrow account if payment arrangements are made in advance with LAHD.
Qualified vs. Eligible Tenants: How LA City Classifies Them
The difference between a Qualified and an Eligible tenant under the LA RSO is not a technicality. It is the difference between a $14,400 relocation payment and a $27,400 relocation payment for a tenant who has been in the unit for three or more years. Getting the classification wrong means either underpaying (which voids the notice) or overpaying when you did not have to.
LAHD makes this determination through a phone interview with the tenant. When the landlord serves a no-fault termination notice on an RSO-covered unit, LAHD initiates contact with the tenant to conduct the interview. The landlord cannot self-determine the classification.
- 62 years of age or older
- Physically or mentally disabled
- Terminally ill
- Household includes a minor child
- Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI)
Only one condition must apply. AMI is set annually by HUD (HUD, 2026) for the LA metro area.
- All tenants covered by RSO who do not meet any Qualified criteria
- No income test required
- No age or disability requirement
- Still entitled to relocation assistance, just at a lower rate
The "Eligible" category is not a lesser protection. It is simply the baseline RSO requirement for tenants who are not in a protected class.
The LAHD phone interview process takes time. Landlords planning a no-fault eviction should not assume the payment can be calculated quickly. Contact LAHD before serving the termination notice so the process begins with enough lead time to meet the 15-day payment deadline after the notice is served.
When Does the Landlord Have to Pay?
Both California state law and the LA City RSO require payment within 15 calendar days of serving the written termination notice. This is not 15 business days. It is 15 calendar days from the date the notice is personally delivered or, if mailed, from the date of mailing plus allowed mail days.
Serve the written termination notice
The 15-day payment clock starts the day the notice is personally delivered to the tenant or placed in first-class mail. The notice itself triggers the obligation, regardless of whether the tenant acknowledges receipt.
Determine the correct amount (LA RSO: contact LAHD first)
For AB 1482 properties, calculate two or three months of the tenant's actual rent. For LA RSO properties, contact LAHD before serving the notice so the interview process begins and the classification is ready when payment is due.
Deliver payment within 15 days
Payment by check, cashier's check, or via LAHD-approved escrow. The tenant is not required to accept cash. Under the RSO, the landlord may arrange escrow with LAHD as an alternative to a direct lump-sum payment.
Alternative: waive final month's rent before or at the time of notice
The landlord may satisfy the obligation by waiving the last month's rent instead of paying cash. The waiver must cover the full amount. For a three-month obligation on a unit renting for $3,000/month, waiving one month's rent ($3,000) does not satisfy a $9,000 obligation.
One practical issue comes up often: the landlord serves the notice, then misses the 15-day window because they are arranging funds, dealing with the LAHD process, or simply not tracking the deadline. A missed payment is not a minor procedural error. Under Civil Code §1946.2, a notice served without timely relocation payment is void. The tenant can ignore it. The landlord has to start over.
What Happens If the Landlord Refuses to Pay?
California law does not treat non-payment of relocation assistance as a minor procedural defect. The consequences are designed to make non-payment not worth the risk.
- The notice of termination is void. The tenant does not have to vacate. If an unlawful detainer lawsuit is filed, the tenant can raise the failure to pay as a complete defense.
- The tenant can sue for actual damages. This includes costs of finding a new home, moving costs, and any rental differential if the tenant has to pay more at a new place.
- Civil penalty of one month's rent. Under Civil Code §1946.2, if the violation is willful, the tenant may recover a civil penalty equal to one month's rent in addition to actual damages.
- Punitive damages for bad faith. If the landlord's conduct is found to be in bad faith, courts can award punitive damages on top of compensatory damages.
- Attorney's fees. California law allows the prevailing tenant to recover attorney's fees in successful relocation assistance claims, making it economically viable for tenants to sue even when the individual dollar amount is modest.
- LAHD enforcement (LA City RSO). In Los Angeles, LAHD has authority to take administrative enforcement action against landlords who fail to comply with RSO relocation requirements.
Landlords sometimes try to avoid the relocation fee by arguing the unit is exempt from AB 1482 or that the eviction is at-fault rather than no-fault. Courts scrutinize these arguments closely when the timing suggests bad faith. A landlord who serves a notice labeled "at fault" but lacks documentation of the alleged violation, or who serves notice immediately after a tenant complains about habitability, faces significant legal exposure.
From a real estate transaction standpoint, unpaid relocation obligations can become a cloud on title or a latent liability the buyer inherits. When I represent buyers of tenant-occupied multifamily in Los Angeles, confirming that all relocation obligations have been properly handled is part of standard due diligence. Sellers who skip this step often face post-close disputes.
How Relocation Fees Are Adjusted Each Year
The state law relocation fee does not have an annual adjustment mechanism. Under Civil Code §1946.2, the amount is always expressed as a multiplier of the tenant's monthly rent (two or three months). As rents rise, the dollar amount rises automatically. No annual update is needed because the calculation is rent-based, not fixed.
The LA City RSO schedule works differently. LAHD publishes a fixed-dollar schedule that applies to all RSO-covered properties in the City, regardless of the tenant's actual rent. Those fixed amounts are adjusted annually, typically effective July 1 each year, to track cost-of-living changes.
A landlord who plans to serve a no-fault termination notice in late June should confirm whether the new schedule takes effect July 1 before deciding on timing. Serving the notice in June and paying at the prior-year rate may underpay if the schedule increases on July 1 and the payment window extends past that date. When in doubt, check the current LAHD schedule before you serve, not after.
The Ellis Act relocation schedule is maintained separately from the ordinary RSO no-fault relocation schedule. The dollar amounts, adjustment dates, and procedures differ. If you are planning a full building withdrawal from the rental market under the Ellis Act, contact LAHD to confirm which schedule applies, because using the standard RSO figures for an Ellis Act withdrawal may under-compensate affected tenants.
For tenants, the annual adjustment means that if you receive a no-fault termination notice, verifying which schedule was in effect on the date of service matters. If the landlord used a prior-year figure that is lower than the current-year amount, the payment is deficient. Document the date of service and check the LAHD schedule that was published for that cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Questions About a Tenant-Occupied Property in LA?
Whether you are navigating relocation obligations before a sale or trying to understand what a no-fault eviction means for your building's value, this is something I work through with clients regularly. Licensed since October 2013. $200M+ in career sales. Text or call to talk through your situation.
Justin Borges, Realtor® | DRE #01940318 | The Borges Real Estate Team at eXp Realty
