Make Sure YOUR Building’s Signage Complies With the LAW!

Federal Law.  Federal fair housing laws require properties with 4 or more units to display a Fair Housing poster someplace visible to  both current and prospective tenants.  The poster must be at least 11" x 14" to be in compliance with the law.

State of California.  Proposition 65 requires businesses of 10 or more employees to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in the products that Californians purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment.  Employees can include maintenance workers or gardeners that work on your property, so sometimes it is good practice just to be safe by getting one of these signs.

City of Los Angeles.  All Properties that are City of Los Angeles rent stabilized units must post notification that the property is subject to the City’s rent stabilization ordinance. The notice must be posted in a conspicuous area such as a common area (laundry room, near mailboxes, onsite management office, etc.).

County of Los Angeles. All Properties that are in the Unincorporated Areas of the County of Los Angeles must post the following two notices in conspicuous areas:

• Notice of Tenant Rights. This form must be provided in all of the following circumstances: (i) When entering into a rental agreement by including a copy of the notice as an exhibit or attachment to the written rental agreement; (ii) When renewing a rental agreement; and (iii) When providing notice of a rent increase or decrease in a fully covered rental unit or a reduction in housing service. In addition, this Notice of Tenant Rights must be posted in a conspicuous location, such as a lobby of the property or common areas (e.g., near mailboxes, in laundry rooms, or at the entrance to the property).

• Notice of Tenant Right to Counsel. The Los Angeles County (County) Tenant Right to Counsel Ordinance (TRTCO) requires that rental housing providers (landlords) of properties located in unincorporated areas of the County provide this “Notice of Tenant Right to Counsel” to tenants. This “Notice of Tenant Right to Counsel” must be Issued to tenants when a tenant receives a notice of an eviction filing (a/k/a, Unlawful Detainer) in English and in the language in which the rental agreement was written. This Notice must also be posted at all times in a conspicuous location at the rental property, such as in a lobby or other common areas (e.g., near mailboxes, in laundry rooms, or at property entrance), and also at the on-site management office.

City of Pasadena. All Properties that are City of Pasadena rent stabilized units must post notification that the property is subject to the City’s rent stabilization ordinance. The notice must be posted in a conspicuous area such as a common area (laundry room, near mailboxes, onsite management office, etc.). In addition, Pasadena owners are required to provide renters with a copy of this written notice on or before the start of the tenancy

This notice includes information regarding the local rent control law, the renter’s right to petition against certain rent increases, and instructions on accessing the rental registry. The initial written notice must be provided to the renter in the language used to negotiate the tenancy or in another language if requested by the renter and if a translation of the notice has been made available by the Rental Board.

Santa Monica.  In Santa Monica, at least one sign stating that the City prohibits smoking in common areas at multi-unit properties.

San Fernando. During 2022, the City of San Fernando adopted an ordinance prohibiting smoking in multi-unit housing for all new construction and for new leases with a phasing-in period for existing units. The ordinance went into effect on July 7, 2022 and applies to multi-unit housing within the City with two or more units when there is a new lease. The prohibition extends to the unit’s associated outdoor, unenclosed areas such as private balconies, decks, porches, or patios.  After two years, smoking will be prohibited anywhere on the premises of multi-unit housing. Rental housing providers are required to provide all renters in each new or existing unit, as applicable, with a copy of the ordinance and written notice regarding the ordinance provisions as set forth in the ordinance.

Rental property owners must also post and maintain clear and unambiguous “No-Smoking” signs at entrances, exits, in common areas, and in conspicuous places adjoining the property grounds. There must be a sufficient number of signs in multiple locations to make it clear that smoking is prohibited in all units. 

West Hollywood.  During 2021, West Hollywood adopted a smoke-free  ordinance that prohibits smoking in all common areas and in all new units and on private balconies and private patios within new units. Smoking Cannabis and Vaping are also prohibited in common areas. Smoking, Smoking Cannabis, and Vaping is not prohibited in existing units unless prohibited under an existing lease agreement.  This smoke-free ordinance requires conspicuously posted “No Smoking” signage in all building common areas. (See Also Below)

Torrance. In 2023, Torrance passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking in most areas of multi-unit residences, including common areas with the exception of “designated smoking areas.” All City of Torrance rental housing providers must post "No Smoking" signs in sufficient numbers and locations in common areas where smoking is prohibited by the ordinance and to indicate that Smoking is prohibited in all rental units. No smoking signs may be purchased at https://aagla.org/shop/.