New Rental Housing Inspection Program in the Unincorporated Areas of the County of Los Angeles

On April 23, 2024, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors enacted two ordinances, Chapter 8.53 and 8.55 of the Los Angeles County Code, which established a new proactive rental housing inspection program in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

The new rental housing inspection program is called the Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP). The goal of this new program is to ensure that rental units are compliant with habitability requirements, help property owners maintain property values, and ensure residents have a healthy and safe living space.

The RHHP will be administrated by the Department of Public Health's Environmental Health Division. The ordinance will go into effect October 23, 2024, with inspections beginning in November 2024.

The RHHP applies to all residential rental housing properties with two or more rental housing units within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, and all rental housing properties registered in the County's Rent Registry.

RHHP does not apply to:

1. Owner-occupied units in Rental Housing Properties,
2. Owner-occupied units where a room is rented,
3. Mobile homes, or mobile home parks, recreational vehicles, or recreational vehicle parks,
4. Properties that are subject to routine inspections for habitability by other local, state, or federal government agencies. However, individual rental units participating in Section 8 that are located on properties not subject to other agency inspections will be included,
5. Vacant properties including vacant units that are designated by the landlord, and
6. Rental units subject to the County's Short-Term Rental Ordinance.

The RHHP requires each rental housing unit in unincorporated Los Angeles County to be routinely inspected once every 4 years (the goal is to be able to enter all rental units to ensure habitability during this inspection). In addition to routine inspections, the RHHP will also respond to habitability complaints reported by tenants and other governmental agencies, such as the County Departments of Public Works and Planning.

Recently, Environmental Health sent a letter to owners of properties with 2 or more rental units introducing them to the RHHP. The letter provides the rental property owner with information about the new Rental Housing Habitability Ordinance, a description of the Rental Housing Habitability Program, and the current information that Environmental Health has regarding their rental property.

Because Environmental Health needs the most current and correct information about each rental property to administrate the RHHP, a RHHP Rental Property Information Verification and Exemption form was included with the letter. This form allows for the rental property owner to verify current property information or provide an update.

To access and complete the online form, click the following link, and select your preferred language on the top right hand side of the form.

Rental Property Information Verification & Exemption Form

The form includes a section that allows the property owner to Request an Exemption from the Rental Housing Habitability Program, for those rental units or properties that meet the criteria for exclusion. The form also allows a rental property owner to designate a local contact representative for the property, so that RHHP representatives have another point of contact for each rental property.

The documents provided below are for translation purposes only. Please access the online form:

• 한국인
• 简体中文
• Español

With the introduction of the new RHHP, rental property owners may have additional questions regarding the program. Please refer to the FAQ for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Next Steps: We want to hear from you!

Please send your feedback and questions to the Environmental Health Division: DPH-RHHP@ph.lacounty.gov or contact us at (888) 700-9995.

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