Local code · Los Angeles

Los Angeles — Registration & Compliance

The Los Angeles Registration & Compliance, explained in plain English with the controlling citations.

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Under the City of Los Angeles’ Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), owners must register covered rental units annually, submit an annual rent registry, post required notices, and stay current on fees to lawfully demand or accept rent and to use RSO processes. This page focuses on what the RSO itself requires for registration and compliance; broader land-use and building approvals live on other pages such as the Los Angeles zoning & planning overview and the City’s Processes & Procedures. For general program context, see the main Los Angeles Rent Stabilization (RSO) page.

Core rule in plain English: no landlord may demand or accept rent for an RSO unit unless the unit has a valid, current registration and the tenant has been served the registration statement or it’s conspicuously posted on site. See § 151.05.A .

What the RSO requires for Registration & Compliance

Who must register and when
- If you accept or demand rent for a rental unit subject to the RSO, you must first procure and serve (or conspicuously post) a valid written registration statement; beginning April 30, 1983, you must serve a copy of the valid annual registration renewal on the tenant for that unit (§ 151.05.A ).
- The registration cycle was realigned in 2016: registration statements issued for 2016 were valid through June 30, 2017, and since then, annual renewal statements expire each June 30 (§ 151.05.A.6 ).
- The registration fee is due January 1 each year and becomes delinquent after the last day of February (§ 151.05.B, including Subdivision 5 ).
Annual rent registry
- A landlord must provide rent amount and tenancy information each year on a form prescribed by the Housing Department (LAHD). The information is due annually by the last day of February. Registration is complete only when all outstanding registration fees have been paid and all required rent and tenancy information, including emergency contact information, has been provided (§ 151.05.J.1 ).
- If the Department finds deficiencies, it will provide written notice and allow 15 calendar days to respond; a landlord may appeal a deficiency notice within ten calendar days, and LAHD must issue a written appeal decision within 30 calendar days (§ 151.05.J.2–3 ).
- Practice tip: use LA’s Rent Registry and Billing portals to complete both steps—pay/obtain your annual registration certificate and submit registry data—see LAHD’s rent registry resources .
Fees and surcharges
- Annual registration fee: the amount specified in § 151.05.B.5 is currently set at 38.75 dollars per rental unit, due January 1 and delinquent after the last day of the following month (§ 151.05.B.5 ).
- Tenant surcharge for the registration fee: if you timely paid all annual registration fees and completed the rent registry for the year, you may pass through one‑twelfth of 50% of the annual registration fee to the tenant each month, with 30‑day notice as described in Civil Code § 827 (RSO authorization; effective Jan 1, 2020) (§ 151.05.B, Subd. 5 and related surcharge provisions in Subsection F; ordinance updates summarized in the code text ).
- Systematic Code Enforcement Program (SCEP) surcharge: after paying SCEP fees, landlords may pass through to the tenant 1/12 of 50% of the annual SCEP fee each month; this only applies if all SCEP charges are paid (§ 151.05.1.D–E and final paragraph; cross-referencing § 161.903.2 and § 161.352 for fee administration ).
Required on‑site posting
- For every property that must procure a registration statement, the landlord must post an LAHD‑prescribed notice about the RSO and Department contact information in a conspicuous place (e.g., building lobby, near common mailbox, or at a public entrance). The notice must be in English and Spanish and other languages as required by the Department (§ 151.05.I ).
Exclusions and non-registration declarations
- If a landlord believes a unit is excluded from RSO registration, the landlord must file a written declaration of exclusion with supporting documents. If no declaration is submitted by the last day of January, the unit is deemed subject to the RSO and fees are non-refundable (§ 151.05.G ).
- If claiming the unit is vacant to avoid registration, the landlord must record and provide a notice against the property declaring the unit will remain vacant and secure the unit against unauthorized entry (§ 151.05.G ).
Consequences of non‑compliance
- It is unlawful to demand or accept rent without first procuring and serving/ posting a valid registration statement (§ 151.05.A ).
- Late payment penalty: a landlord who fails to pay the registration or renewal fee as required is delinquent and must pay a penalty equal to 150% of the fee per subject rental unit (§ 151.15 ). Failure to post the required RSO notice after Department notification may accrue $250 per day fines beginning on the eighth day after notice (§ 151.15 ).
- REAP/SCEP enforcement interplay: LAHD enforcement actions can include rent reductions, placement into the Rent Escrow Account Program (REAP), and relocation orders in severe cases (§ 161.805.B(2)–(7) ). Upon REAP termination, any outstanding RSO registration fees/penalties are among the obligations settled from escrow (§ 162.08.D.3, referencing §§ 151.05 and 151.15 ).
- Separate from RSO, many eviction actions trigger additional City compliance requirements; see Los Angeles Evictions & Relocation for those procedures.

Key compliance deadlines and limits (decision snapshot)

Requirement	What must be filed/paid	Deadline/Cycle	Key condition/limit	Code Reference
Annual unit registration	Pay per‑unit fee; obtain valid registration statement; serve/post to tenant	Fee due Jan 1; delinquent after last day of February; renewal statement expires June 30 annually	Must be in place before demanding/accepting rent	§ 151.05.A, § 151.05.A.6, § 151.05.B.5
Rent registry	Submit rent and tenancy info (incl. emergency contact)	Annually by last day of February	Registration is complete only when all fees are paid and required info is provided	§ 151.05.J.1
Registry deficiency	Cure deficiency or appeal	15 days to respond; 10‑day appeal window; LAHD decision in 30 days	No registration statement issued until substantially compliant	§ 151.05.J.2–3
Required onsite posting	LAHD RSO information notice	Continuous	Must be conspicuous; multilingual as required	§ 151.05.I
Registration surcharge pass‑through	1/12 of 50% of annual registration fee to tenant	Monthly, with 30‑day notice	Only if all annual fees timely paid and rent registry completed	§ 151.05.B (Subd. 5), Subsec. F (as amended)
SCEP surcharge pass‑through	1/12 of 50% of annual SCEP fee to tenant	Monthly	Only if all SCEP charges/fees are paid	§ 151.05.1.D–E; refs § 161.352, § 161.903.2
Late registration penalty	Monetary penalty for delinquency	After due date	150% of the fee per unit	§ 151.15
Failure to post	Daily fine after LAHD notice	Begins day 8	$250/day until posted	§ 151.15

For guidance on rent ceilings and pass‑throughs beyond the registration surcharge, see Los Angeles Allowable Rent Increases. For notice, filing, and relocation obligations tied to tenancy terminations, see Los Angeles Evictions & Relocation. Forms and online submittals are listed on Los Angeles Permits & Forms, and appeal/hearing mechanics are covered in Los Angeles Processes & Procedures.

Checklist

Confirm the unit is RSO‑covered (then proceed; otherwise file a timely exclusion declaration if applicable) (§ 151.05.G ).
Pay the annual registration fee and download your registration statement/certificate (§ 151.05.B.5 ).
Serve the valid registration statement on each tenant (or conspicuously post it) before demanding/accepting rent (§ 151.05.A ).
Submit the annual rent registry (rent and tenancy details, including emergency contact) by the last day of February (§ 151.05.J.1 ).
Post the LAHD RSO information notice in a conspicuous place and maintain it (§ 151.05.I ).
If electing to pass through registration or SCEP surcharges, ensure eligibility (all fees current; registry complete) and provide proper 30‑day notice (§ 151.05.B/F; § 151.05.1.D–E ).
Monitor for and timely cure any registry deficiency notices; appeal within 10 days if disputing (§ 151.05.J.2–3 ).
Keep records of maximum rent and justifications for any higher collected amount (§ 151.05.C ).

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Different “clock” for fee due date vs. certificate expiration	Fees are assessed on a calendar-year basis (due Jan 1; delinquent after Feb), while the registration statement expires June 30; owners can miss one when tracking the other	Cross‑check both § 151.05.B (fee due) and § 151.05.A.6 (June 30 expiration) for your property’s compliance calendar
Registry not “complete”	LAHD will not issue a registration statement until rental information is substantially complete	Ensure you paid all fees and submitted all required rent/tenancy + emergency contact info (§ 151.05.J.1–2)
Surcharges taken without eligibility	Passing through fees when delinquent can prompt tenant challenges and LAHD enforcement	Confirm timeliness and registry completion before applying registration/SCEP pass‑throughs (§ 151.05.B/F; § 151.05.1)
Missed posting	Failure to post the RSO notice after LAHD notice accrues $250/day fines	Keep the LAHD notice up in a conspicuous location; promptly correct any deficiencies (§ 151.05.I; § 151.15)
Enforcement overlap with REAP/SCEP	Uncorrected violations can trigger rent reductions, REAP placement, and financial holds	If cited, work promptly with LAHD; see § 161.805 for potential orders and § 162.08.D.3 on how outstanding RSO fees are handled at REAP exit
Amount of the SCEP fee itself	The base SCEP fee amount is set outside § 151.05.1	Not found in retrieved materials; verify current SCEP fee under Chapter XVI (e.g., § 161.352) with the jurisdiction

Plain-English Summary

If your Los Angeles rental is covered by the RSO, you have to pay the annual per‑unit registration fee each January, serve or post the current registration statement before charging rent, and file the annual rent registry by the end of February. You must also post LAHD’s RSO notice in a visible place. Late or missing filings trigger penalties and can block you from collecting rent or using RSO processes; in serious code‑enforcement cases, LAHD can order rent reductions or place a building in REAP.

Source References

§ 151.05.A (registration required before demanding/accepting rent); § 151.05.A.6 (June 30 annual expiration of renewal)
§ 151.05.B (fees due Jan 1; delinquent after last day of February; current fee identified in Subd. 5)
§ 151.05.C (recordkeeping for maximum rent)
§ 151.05.F (registration surcharge pass‑through conditions/notice; monthly method added by later ordinances)
§ 151.05.G (exclusion declarations; January deadline; vacancy recording)
§ 151.05.I (required RSO notice posting; location/languages)
§ 151.05.J.1–3 (annual rent registry; deficiency notices; appeals; final decision)
§ 151.05.1.D–E (SCEP passthrough, eligibility; references to § 161.352 and § 161.903.2)
§ 151.15 (penalties for late registration; fines for failure to post)
§ 161.805 (LAHD enforcement orders, incl. rent reduction and REAP)
§ 162.08.D.3 (settlement of outstanding RSO fees/penalties upon REAP termination)
LAHD Rent Registry and Billing Portals (official resources): RegisterLARent and LAHD Billing/Certificates

Sources

Retrieved passages

Los Angeles Zoning Code (section from) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (Section 151.05) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (Chapter and) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (article shall) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (Section 19.01) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (Section 98.0414) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (Section 151.06.) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (Title Amended) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (chapter upon) High relevance
CBC § 151.04 (Chapter XVI) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (chapter between) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (Section 827) High relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (chapter shall) Medium relevance
Los Angeles Zoning Code (article shall) Medium relevance

Cited sections

Official Los Angeles code library

Frequently asked questions

When is my Los Angeles RSO registration actually “due,” and when does it expire?

The per‑unit registration fee is due January 1 and is delinquent after the last day of February. The registration renewal statement itself expires annually on June 30. Track both to avoid gaps (§ 151.05.B and § 151.05.A.6 ).

Do I have to complete the rent registry every year even if nothing changed?

Yes. Each year, by the last day of February, you must submit rent and tenancy information—including an emergency contact. LAHD will not issue the registration statement until you substantially comply (§ 151.05.J.1–2 ).

Can I collect rent if I haven’t served the registration statement?

No. The RSO makes it unlawful to demand or accept rent for a covered unit without first procuring and serving (or conspicuously posting) a valid registration or renewal statement (§ 151.05.A ).

Can I pass the annual registration fee cost to my tenants?

Partially. If you timely paid the fee and completed the rent registry for the year, you may pass through one‑twelfth of 50% of the annual registration fee monthly with proper 30‑day notice (§ 151.05.B/F, as amended ).

What about the SCEP fee—can any of that be passed through?

If you have paid all SCEP fees and charges, you may collect 1/12 of 50% of the annual SCEP fee monthly from the tenant. This is authorized under § 151.05.1 and tied to fee administration in Chapter XVI (§ 151.05.1.D–E; refs § 161.352, § 161.903.2 ).

What happens if I’m late on registration or fail to post the RSO notice?

Late registration triggers a penalty equal to 150% of the fee per unit. If you fail to post the required RSO notice after LAHD notifies you, fines accrue at $250 per day starting on the eighth day (§ 151.15 ).

I think my unit is exempt—do I still have to do anything?

Yes. File a written declaration of exclusion with supporting documents by the last day of January. If you claim vacancy, you must record a notice against the property and secure the unit (§ 151.05.G ).

Can LAHD reduce my rents or place my building into REAP for violations?

Yes. Following a hearing, LAHD can order rent reductions, place a building into REAP, or require relocation assistance if conditions are severe. These enforcement tools come from Chapter XVI of the Code (§ 161.805.B(2)–(7) ).

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