Long Beach City Council Amends City’s No-Fault Eviction for Substantial Remodel Requirements

At the Long Beach City Council’s meeting on February 15^th, the Council adopted amendments to their “Just Cause” eviction ordinance’s no-fault tenancy termination based on substantial remodel provisions. It is important to note that the City of Long Beach is subject to the Los Angeles County’s Eviction Moratorium which prohibits no-fault evictions based on substantial remodel through the end of 2022. As a result, while the Long Beach ordinance will take effect in 2022, due to the current County ban on no-fault evictions for substantial remodel, such tenancy terminations will not be permissible for the duration of this year.

We encourage members to review the Los Angeles County’s Eviction Moratorium, please click on the button below:

The amendments to the Long Beach no-fault eviction ordinance are as follows:

• Requires rental housing providers to submit a list of all the renters whose tenancies would be terminated in connection with the permitted work to the City as a condition of the issuance of all necessary City permits.
• Increases permanent relocation fees to $4,500 or two-months’ rent, whichever is greater.
• Imposes civil fines of up to $15,000 on rental housing providers who have violated the “just cause” ordinance’s substantial remodel tenancy termination provisions.

During the meeting, the City Council also voted to adopt an ordinance to end the City’s temporary moratorium on no-fault evictions for substantial remodel on March 17, 2022. The moratorium had been put in place as an interim measure while the City evaluated the issue.

As background, the City Council initiated discussions regarding no-fault evictions based on substantial remodel and concerns raised in July 2021 and at that time, directed staff to explore the scope of the issue within the City, the feasibility and cost of establishing a Tenant Habitability Program, and to engage with involved stakeholders. Due to our strong advocacy efforts, the most concerning option that would have prohibited all tenancy terminations based on substantial remodel and the creation of a Tenant Habitability Program which staff estimated would cost $2 million annually was rejected by the City Council. This rejected option would have discouraged vital rehabilitation to the City’s predominately aging housing stock.

We encourage members to review the details of the Long Beach ordinance, please click on the button below and seek appropriate legal advice.

This article is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions regarding your property or specific tenancies and the requirements of any local law changes described herein, please consult with an attorney.