County extends eviction and price‑gouging protections, outlines $53.9 million in wildfire relief and FEMA aid

Los Angeles County supervisors on Wednesday announced countywide eviction protections for workers affected by the recent wildfires, and the board unanimously extended price‑gouging protections for housing while county and federal officials summarized relief resources available to survivors.

The actions aim to stabilize renters and support property owners while recovery proceeds. Supervisor Lindsay Horvath said the eviction protection motion she authored covers renters who cannot continue working because their workplace was inside the fire footprint and includes funding for property owners to receive assistance.

“The board adopted a motion that I authored for county wide eviction protection for workers impacted by the fires,” Supervisor Lindsay Horvath said. “These are renters who are not able to continue to work because their place of employment existed within the fire footprint, and now they are without the ability to pay their rent.”

Why it matters: County officials said the protections are temporary measures intended to keep households housed while recovery and insurance processes proceed. The county also extended price‑gouging protections for housing and related lodging; officials warned that civil penalties for price gouging can be imposed up to $50,000 per violation.

Details on timing and compliance: Tenants who cannot pay March rent must notify landlords by March 7 under the county guidance, and protections for rental housing, short‑term rentals, motels and hotels run through April 8, county officials said. The county’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs posted a sample tenant notification form and guidance at rent.LAcounty.gov.

Relief funds and FEMA assistance: Supervisor Horvath said Los Angeles County is investing $53,900,000 across three active relief funds for households, small businesses and workers; the county has contributed $32,200,000 and philanthropic partners $21,700,000. The application deadline for those funds is March 12.

Brandy Richard Thompson, public affairs officer for FEMA Region 9, described federal individual assistance and how to apply. “FEMA individual assistance is available for homeowners and renters in Los Angeles County,” Thompson said, noting applications can be made via disasterassistance.gov, the FEMA mobile app or by phone. FEMA provides multiple program types, and Thompson said FEMA had provided $83,000,000 in support to survivors to date.

FEMA specifics cited at the briefing: FEMA assistance can cover temporary housing, home repairs, essential personal property replacement and other disaster‑related expenses. Officials said the agency’s housing assistance limit and other needs assistance limit are each up to $43,600 as described at the press event. FEMA appeals must be filed within 60 days of a determination letter, Thompson said, and FEMA is hosting an informational webinar and is staffing disaster recovery centers in Los Angeles and Altadena.

Resources and contact information: County and federal officials urged residents to use the county recovery website (recovery.LAcounty.gov), the county right‑of‑entry hotline for debris removal questions, and FEMA’s application channels. The county’s sample tenant notification form is available at rent.LAcounty.gov; price‑gouging reports can be filed with the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs or the California Attorney General’s office.

The board’s unanimous votes on the eviction and price‑gouging measures and the deadlines for relief applications mean survivors should file required notices and applications promptly to preserve eligibility and access available assistance.