What Southern California Landlords Need to Know as 2025 Comes to a Close

As we close out 2025, cities across Southern California have adopted a series of new housing ordinances that directly impact rental properties, landlord responsibilities, and day-to-day operations.

While many of these laws expand tenant protections, others introduce new registration requirements, compliance standards, and enforcement measures for

property owners. The result? Managing rental property is becoming increasingly city-specific—and staying informed is more important than ever.

Below is a clear, practical overview of the most impactful local housing regulations passed in 2025 and what they may mean for you moving forward.

Major Local Housing Ordinance Updates (2025)

Beverly Hills

Short-term leases are now more tightly regulated. Any lease under 12 months must begin with a minimum one-year initial term. This applies across the board to single-family homes, condos, multifamily properties, ADUs, and guest houses.

Burbank

Burbank introduced new anti-harassment protections for renters and capped annual rent increases at 4%. Landlords exceeding the cap may face relocation fee requirements. In addition, soft-story seismic retrofits are now mandatory, with phased deadlines extending through 2030.

Claremont

Claremont adopted a comprehensive anti-harassment ordinance that applies to both landlords and tenants. The ordinance prohibits intimidation, coercion, or retaliation tied to tenancy rights and establishes enforcement mechanisms and penalties for violations.

Cudahy

Eviction rules were tightened significantly in Cudahy. Evictions for non-payment are limited unless unpaid rent exceeds HUD Fair Market Rent, raising the threshold for lawful eviction actions and strengthening tenant protections.

Culver City

Culver City’s Rent Control ordinance has been renamed the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and expanded in scope. All tenant fees now count toward rent caps, the 50% registry fee pass-through has been removed, and LLC/LLP owners are no longer eligible for owner move-ins. Duplexes and ADUs are now covered as well.

Glendale

Glendale’s updates apply to single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes. New requirements include mandatory heat pumps or alternative efficiency upgrades, along with updated standards for air-conditioning replacements. These changes take effect on December 18, 2026.

City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles implemented a new enforcement fee for non-RSO properties of $31.05 per unit, per year. The City also expanded its Right to Counsel Program, requiring landlords to notify tenants of free legal defense in eviction cases. Additional changes include approved waste-hauling rate increases for 2026 and a significantly reduced rent increase formula under the RSO. A proposed 82-degree maximum indoor temperature standard remains under review.

Los Angeles County

LA County passed multiple emergency anti-price-gouging ordinances that prohibit rent increases over 10% during declared emergencies. Penalties for violations can reach up to $50,000. In prior wildfire responses, the County also enacted temporary rent moratoriums under certain conditions.

Oxnard

Oxnard expanded tenant protections under its rent stabilization framework, strengthened eviction and rent adjustment requirements, and increased compliance obligations for rental housing providers.

Pomona

Pomona enhanced its Just Cause eviction protections, added relocation assistance requirements in certain cases, and expanded enforcement authority related to tenant protections.

Port Hueneme

Port Hueneme’s ordinance applies to multifamily properties, townhomes, and condos, including owner-occupied units. The City banned nicotine, cannabis, vaping, and e-cigarettes, allowing designated smoking areas only under strict guidelines. Property owners are required to enforce violations through written notice.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica now requires all rental units to be registered with the City. Non-compliance may be used as a legal defense by tenants, and beginning in 2027, unregistered owners may lose the right to collect rent.

West Hollywood

West Hollywood adopted a wildfire urgency ordinance that temporarily suspends the one-year lease requirement, allowing for 30-day minimum leases. The City also implemented new performance standards and energy benchmarking requirements for larger rental properties.

What This Means for Property Owners

These ordinances make one thing clear: rental regulations in Southern California are no longer one-size-fits-all. Property owners should take time to review local requirements city by city, update lease agreements and notices, and plan ahead for compliance costs such as registration fees, relocation payments, and retrofit timelines.

I genuinely love being a resource for this kind of information. If you ever want to talk through new housing laws, market shifts, or how a change might impact your property, feel free to reach out anytime, even if it’s just to chat.