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Relocation payments in Los Angeles

Los Angeles's own rules on relocation payments, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

Each rule below links to the section of the Los Angeles Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Los Angeles's code says

Los Angeles code What Los Angeles's code adds
Amount
  • the greater of the applicable statutory amount or the amounts set forth in this section
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. termination under Section 165.03 K. or 165.03 M.
    § 165.06 · code text
    Relocation fees owed to terminate tenancies under Section 165.03 K. or 165.03 M. shall be based on the applicable provisions of the Uniform Relocation Act, California Relocation Assistance Act, or the amounts set forth in this section, whichever is greater.
  • one month’s rent in effect when written termination notice was served
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. single-family dwelling owned by a natural person who owns no more than four dwelling units and a single-family home on a separate lot in Los Angeles Terminations under section 165.03 H through N; payment or credit allowed, and section 151.30 E does not apply. Natural-person owner includes a trust or registered entity controlled by that person.
    § 165.06 · code text
    When the residential real property is a single-family dwelling and the owner is a natural person, including natural persons who hold properties in a trust or registered legal entity controlled by that natural person, who owns no more than four dwelling units and a single-family home on a separate lot in the City of Los Angeles: one month’s rent
  • highest applicable payment
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. more than one relocation assistance payment applies Section 165.03 H through N termination; other mandatory relocation benefits credit against this fee, and section 165.06 I exemptions apply.
    § 165.06 · code text
    If more than one relocation assistance payment applies, the landlord shall pay the highest of the applicable payment.
  • adjusted annually and rounded to the nearest $50 increment
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. Section 165.06 no-fault relocation amounts only; adjustment uses section 151.06 D formula.
    § 165.06 · code text
    The payment amounts shall be adjusted on an annual basis pursuant to the formula set forth in Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 151.06 D. The adjusted amount shall be rounded to the nearest $50 increment.
  • entire fee
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. tenant is the only tenant in the residential real property Section 165.03 H through N no-fault relocation fee is per unit, divided among its tenants; section 165.06 I exemptions apply.
    § 165.06 · code text
    The entire fee shall be paid to a tenant who is the only tenant in the residential real property.
  • equal, pro-rata share of the fee for each tenant
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. residential real property occupied by two or more tenants Section 165.03 H through N no-fault relocation fee is per unit, divided among its tenants; section 165.06 I exemptions apply.
    § 165.06 · code text
    If the residential real property is occupied by two or more tenants, then each tenant shall be paid an equal, pro-rata share of the fee.
  • amounts set forth in Section 151.09 G.
    Applies: RSO rental units; Primary Renovation Work and Related Work under the Tenant Habitability Program. tenant elects permanent relocation after qualifying Primary Renovation Work and Related Work Request within 15 days of Tenant Habitability Plan service, subject to authorized seismic-work time extensions. Other relocation benefits credit against this payment.
    § 152.05 · code text
    Thereafter, the landlord shall have 15 days to provide the tenant with relocation assistance in the manner and for the amounts set forth in Section 151.09 G. of this Code.
  • three times the fair market rent plus $1,411 in moving costs
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. Economic displacement only: tenant relinquishes tenancy following an increase above the lesser of CPI-U plus five percent or ten percent. Single-family natural-person ownership exception in section 165.09 D reduces payment to one month rent; accumulated rent and amounts due may offset assistance.
    § 165.09 · code text
    Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph D., the relocation assistance amount due under this section shall be three times the fair market rent in the Los Angeles Metro area for a rental unit of a similar size as established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development plus $1,411 in moving costs.
  • one month’s rent payable when the written rent-increase notice was given
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. single-family residence whose natural-person owner meets both ownership criteria in Section 165.09 D. Economic displacement under section 165.09 A; natural-person owner, including controlled trust/entity, owns the single-family dwelling plus no more than four additional City dwelling units, all on separate lots from that single-family dwelling.
    § 165.09 · code text
    The relocation assistance amount due under this section from a landlord of a single-family residence shall be reduced to an amount equal to one month’s rent (calculated at the rental amount payable by the tenant at the time of a written notice of a rent increase satisfying Section 165.09 A.)
Exemptions
  • no relocation assistance payment required
    Applies: §165.06 relocation only; good-faith resident-manager replacement in the same unit
    § 165.06 · code text
    (1) The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the residential real property for use and occupancy by a resident manager, provided that the resident manager is replacing the existing resident manager in the same unit.
When it is paid
  • Within 15 days after the tenant turns in the completed Permanent Relocation Agreement form
    Applies: RSO units only; tenant returns the completed form within 15 days of being served the Tenant Habitability Plan
    § 152.05 · code text
    Thereafter, the landlord shall have 15 days to provide the tenant with relocation assistance in the manner and for the amounts set forth in Section 151.09 G. of this Code.
  • within 15 days of service of the written notice of termination
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. Section 165.03 H through N termination and qualifying unpermitted-unit displacement; section 165.06 I exemptions apply; payment may go to an escrow account under section 165.06 G.
    § 165.06 · code text
    The landlord shall perform the acts described in this section within 15 days of service of a written notice of termination described in California Civil Code Section 1946.
  • upon certification of vacation of the unit
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. landlord elects to pay the monetary benefits into an escrow account No-fault relocation escrow must also permit pre-vacation disbursement for actual or anticipated relocation expenses including deposits, moving deposits and utility connections.
    § 165.06 · code text
    The landlord shall perform the acts described in this section within 15 days of service of a written notice of termination described in California Civil Code Section 1946. The landlord may in its sole discretion elect to pay the monetary relocation benefits pursuant to this section to an escrow account to be disbursed to the tenant upon certification of vacation of the unit. The escrow account shall provide for the payment prior to vacation of all or a portion of the monetary relocation benefits for actual relocation expenses incurred or to be incurred by the tenant prior to vacation, including but not limited to security deposits, moving expense deposits and utility connection charges. Rent Adjustment Commission Regulations governing Relocation Assistance Escrow Accounts, Section 960.00, et seq., shall govern the establishment of escrow accounts, disbursements, disputes, and closure. H. Any tenant subject to displacement because of a notice to vacate or other order requiring the vacation of an unpermitted dwelling unit in violation of the municipal code or any other provision of law, when the landlord has had a reasonable opportunity to correct the violation, shall be entitled to relocation payable by the landlord to the tenant within 15 days of service of the written notice of termination of the tenancy in accordance with this section. I. No relocation assistance payment shall be required in the following circumstances: (1) The landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the residential real property for use and occupancy by a resident manager, provided that the resident manager is replacing the existing resident manager in the same unit. (2) The Department determines that the unit or structure became unsafe or hazardous as the result of a fire, flood, earthquake, or other event beyond the control of the owner or the designated agent and the owner or designated agent did not cause or contribute to the condition. J. A landlord may offset the tenant’s accumulated rent against any relocation assistance due under this section, unless the relocation assistance is owed because a termination of tenancy is required by a governmental agency order to vacate or comply issued for an unpermitted dwelling.
  • within 15 days of service of the written notice of termination
    Applies: displacement from an unpermitted dwelling unit after the landlord had a reasonable opportunity to correct the violation
    § 165.06 · code text
    Any tenant subject to displacement because of a notice to vacate or other order requiring the vacation of an unpermitted dwelling unit in violation of the municipal code or any other provision of law, when the landlord has had a reasonable opportunity to correct the violation, shall be entitled to relocation payable by the landlord to the tenant within 15 days of service of the written notice of termination of the tenancy
  • within 15 days after the tenant provides the completed Permanent Relocation Agreement
    Applies: RSO rental units; Primary Renovation Work and Related Work under the Tenant Habitability Program. tenant selects permanent relocation Request within 15 days of Tenant Habitability Plan service; the Commission may extend time requirements for mandatory earthquake work by up to an additional 180 days.
    § 152.05 · code text
    The tenant must inform the landlord of the decision to select permanent relocation by mailing or personally delivering a completed Permanent Relocation Agreement form to the landlord or agents thereof. Thereafter, the landlord shall have 15 days to provide the tenant with relocation assistance
When relocation is owed
  • Renovation work will affect the unit's livability for 30 days or more; the tenant may choose to end the tenancy
    Applies: RSO units only; work under a Tenant Habitability Plan; the tenant may leave voluntarily in exchange for permanent relocation assistance
    § 152.05 · code text
    If the Primary Renovation Work and any Related Work will impact the tenantability of a rental unit for 30 days or more, any tenant affected by the Primary Renovation Work and Related Work shall have the option to voluntarily terminate the tenancy in exchange for permanent relocation assistance pursuant to Section 151.09 G. of this Code
  • Renovation work runs 30 days past the projected completion date
    Applies: RSO units only; work under a Tenant Habitability Plan; the tenant's option to take permanent relocation assistance is renewed
    § 152.05 · code text
    If the Primary Renovation Work and Related Work continues for 30 days longer than the projected completion date set forth in the later of either the Tenant Habitability Plan or any modifications thereto accepted by the Department, the tenant’s option to accept permanent relocation assistance shall be renewed.
  • termination of tenancy based on any grounds set forth in Sections 165.03 H. through 165.03 N.
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. Exempt when replacing an existing resident manager in the same unit or when the Department finds an uncontrollable disaster condition not caused or contributed to by the owner/agent.
    § 165.06 · code text
    If the termination of tenancy is based on any of the grounds set forth in Sections 165.03 H. through 165.03 N., then the landlord shall pay relocation assistance to the tenant as follows:
  • displacement because of a notice or order to vacate an unpermitted dwelling unit
    Applies: the landlord has had a reasonable opportunity to correct the violation
    § 165.06 · code text
    Any tenant subject to displacement because of a notice to vacate or other order requiring the vacation of an unpermitted dwelling unit in violation of the municipal code or any other provision of law, when the landlord has had a reasonable opportunity to correct the violation, shall be entitled to relocation payable by the landlord
  • Primary Renovation Work and Related Work will impact tenantability for 30 days or more
    Applies: RSO rental units; Primary Renovation Work and Related Work under the Tenant Habitability Program. Tenant may voluntarily terminate for permanent relocation; request within 15 days of service of the Tenant Habitability Plan, subject to authorized seismic-work time extensions.
    § 152.05 · code text
    If the Primary Renovation Work and any Related Work will impact the tenantability of a rental unit for 30 days or more, any tenant affected by the Primary Renovation Work and Related Work shall have the option to voluntarily terminate the tenancy in exchange for permanent relocation assistance pursuant to Section 151.09 G. of this Code
  • Primary Renovation Work and Related Work continues for 30 days longer than the projected completion date
    Applies: RSO rental units; Primary Renovation Work and Related Work under the Tenant Habitability Program. Renewal of the tenant option to terminate for permanent relocation, measured from the later Department-accepted plan or modification completion date.
    § 152.05 · code text
    If the Primary Renovation Work and Related Work continues for 30 days longer than the projected completion date set forth in the later of either the Tenant Habitability Plan or any modifications thereto accepted by the Department, the tenant’s option to accept permanent relocation assistance shall be renewed.
  • proposed rental increase exceeding the lesser of CPI plus five percent or ten percent
    Applies: Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. tenant elects to relinquish the tenancy Calculate the single increase or increases payable over twelve months against the highest legal monthly rent at notice, excluding promotional discounts.
    § 165.09 · code text
    A landlord of residential real property subject to this article shall provide the relocation assistance specified in this section to a tenant who elects to relinquish their tenancy following a proposed rental increase that exceeds the lesser of (1) the Consumer Price Index – All Urban Consumers, plus five percent, or (2) ten percent.

The California rule underneath

Where Los Angeles's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see Relocation under California's just-cause law.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
No-fault eviction relocation assistance
One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice
Applies: For no-fault just causes (owner move-in, withdrawal from market, substantial remodel, government order) on covered units; regardless of the tenant's income.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a Los Angeles landlord have to pay relocation?

Los Angeles's code: the greater of the applicable statutory amount or the amounts set forth in this section (Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. termination under Section 165.03 K. or 165.03 M.) (§ 165.06); one month’s rent in effect when written termination notice was served (Just Cause Evictions Ordinance non-RSO residential property after the initial original lease expires or six months continuous lawful occupancy, whichever comes first; section 165.04 exclusions apply, including owner-shared kitchen/bathroom in the owner's principal home, qualifying transient, care, education, cooperative, interim/transitional and government housing. single-family dwelling owned by a natural person who owns no more than four dwelling units and a single-family home on a separate lot in Los Angeles Terminations under section 165.03 H through N; payment or credit allowed, and section 151.30 E does not apply. Natural-person owner includes a trust or registered entity controlled by that person.) (§ 165.06). State law: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)).

General information, not legal advice.

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