Los Angeles supervisors advance COPA to help community buyers compete with investors

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on July 7 advanced a motion to develop a Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) for unincorporated county areas, directing county departments to return with an ordinance, outreach plan and funding options.

Proponents said COPA will give community land trusts and mission‑driven nonprofit developers a chance to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing when buildings are offered for voluntary sale. “This motion moves forward a thoughtful, phased approach starting with an ordinance to implement COPA for unincorporated areas,” the chair said during opening remarks.

Departmental staff briefed the board on the work used to shape the proposal. Rafael Carbajal, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, said the county’s 2023 assessment included extensive stakeholder outreach involving tenants, community land trusts, property owners and real estate representatives; the department invited more than 158 stakeholders to five virtual sessions. “We plan to build on that robust engagement and operationalize a COPA for the region,” Carbajal said.

County Development Authority executive director Emilia Salas told supervisors the ordinance would start with a prequalified bench of nonprofit purchasers vetted for experience, financial capacity and staffing. Manny Reese, chief of DCBA’s public policy division, added the team will review models used in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and recommend timelines designed to minimize market delays while still preserving meaningful purchasing opportunities.

Supporters urging the board to advance the ordinance included tenant‑rights groups, community land trusts and worker organizations. Andre Donado of LIBRE called COPA “one of those policies” that prevents displacement by giving tenants and mission‑driven buyers a fair chance. Multiple witnesses said pairing policy with financing (e.g., Measure A/La Casa funds and philanthropy) is critical to make opportunities actionable.

Opponents, including realtor organizations and apartment owner associations, pressed the board to limit delays and administrative costs, arguing COPA could add uncertainty to property sales and disincentivize investment. Elizabeth de Carteret, representing the Southland Regional Association of Realtors, told the board that added regulation and potential transaction delays risked harming housing supply.

The board approved advancing the ordinance and asked DCBA, LACDA and county counsel to report back with an ordinance draft, a public education and outreach strategy, and potential funding sources. The motion also directs a reassessment of the 2023 HRNA advisors’ recommendations and authorizes DCBA to contract with consultants to carry out the directives. The executive officer called the roll and the motion carried.

What’s next: County staff will return with a detailed COPA ordinance, a community outreach plan that includes landlords and realtors, financing options for mission‑driven purchasers, and specific timelines for implementation.