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Board temporarily relaxes short-term rental rules and extends renter protections for wildfire victims
Summary
To speed housing options after recent fires, the Board suspended certain short-term rental limits for people displaced by the Jan. 2025 windstorm and critical fire events and adopted eviction protections for hosts who take in evacuees and their pets.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 21 voted unanimously to temporarily ease some short-term rental (STR) restrictions and adopt renter protections for people affected by the January 2025 windstorms and critical fire events.
Supervisor Horvath introduced amendments that limit the suspension to people impacted by the local emergency and those aiding recovery efforts. The changes allow hosts to list more than one short-term rental, offer accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and vacation rentals for use by displaced residents or recovery personnel, and lift the 90-night unhosted stay cap for eligible guests. The board required hosts and platforms to confirm guest eligibility.
Why it matters: Supervisors framed the move as a narrow, temporary measure to create emergency shelter without permanently removing long-term housing stock. Supporters argued the change would free housing options for displaced families and recovery workers while protecting long-term renters from evictions.
Key points from the debate
- Protections for tenants and hosts: The resolution guarantees that tenants who open their homes to people displaced by the fires — and their animal companions — will not be evicted for that reason. Supervisors warned against price gouging and said the district attorney and attorney general would enforce anti-gouging laws.
- Limits on eligibility: Several public commenters and supervisors emphasized that the suspension must be narrowly targeted. Community groups and housing advocates had been concerned that a broad suspension could encourage speculative conversions of long-term units to STRs; the adopted amendment restricts the relief to fire-impacted residents and recovery personnel.
- Support from local groups: Community organizations including Better Neighbors LA (a hosts/tenant coalition) and trade groups said they supported the amended language that prioritizes affected residents and recovery workers.
Board action
The motion to adopt the resolution as amended (moved by Supervisor Horvath; seconded by Board Chair Barger) was approved 5-0. The resolution directs county staff to implement emergency measures to avoid evictions for those opening their homes to evacuees and to allow STR listings where hosts confirm guest eligibility in the covered categories.
What the resolution does not do
It does not permanently change the county’s STR ordinance, nor does it remove long-term tenant protections. Supervisors and advocates repeatedly warned that the measure is temporary and narrowly drawn to avoid incentivizing long-term conversions of rental housing into visitor accommodations.
Ending note
Board members said they will monitor the emergency suspension closely and directed county departments to provide enforcement support to guard against price gouging and wrongful evictions during the emergency period.
