Tuesday, February 3, 2026

LA County Supervisors Move to Raise Rent Nonpayment Eviction Threshold in Unincorporated Areas

Proposed change would require tenants to fall further behind on rent before facing formal eviction proceedings in Altadena and other communities

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday directed County Counsel to draft an ordinance raising the threshold for non-payment evictions from one month to two months of Fair Market Rent in unincorporated areas, including Altadena.

The motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Board Chair Hilda L. Solis, would modify the county’s 2022 Rent and Tenant Protections Ordinance. For a two-bedroom unit in LA County, the threshold would rise from $2,601 to $5,202 based on current federal housing rates. County Counsel has 30 days to return with the proposed ordinance, which would then require Board approval.

The ordinance would apply to approximately 1 million residents in unincorporated communities — areas governed directly by the Board of Supervisors rather than city councils. Altadena, which has been recovering from the January 2025 Eaton Fire that destroyed more than 9,000 structures, is among the roughly 120 unincorporated communities in LA County.

“This is a modest but necessary increase,” Hahn said in a statement. “With this additional month, I hope we can give families some breathing room while not putting the entire burden on landlords who depend on rental income to pay their own bills.”

Hahn acknowledged the motion would face criticism. “I understand that with this proposal, I am going to face pushback from both sides — tenants advocates who don’t believe I am doing enough, and landlords who think I have gone too far.”

In their motion, Hahn and Solis cited the impact of federal immigration enforcement operations, which the Board declared a local state of emergency over in October 2025. The emergency proclamation cited a survey showing a 62% drop in average weekly earnings for immigrants following enforcement actions.

“In the face of inhumane federal actions and ongoing threats to immigrant families, the County has taken concrete steps to protect renters,” Solis said. “Raising the threshold to two months provides important protection against eviction while recognizing that many renters will still have to pay back unpaid rent to their landlords.”

Fair Market Rent is established annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and varies by unit size and location. For fiscal year 2026, HUD set the Fair Market Rent in Los Angeles County at $2,085 for a one-bedroom apartment, $2,601 for two bedrooms, and $3,298 for three bedrooms.

Under current county rules, landlords in unincorporated areas cannot begin eviction proceedings until a tenant’s unpaid rent exceeds one month of Fair Market Rent. The proposed change would double that threshold.

The county enacted its Rent and Tenant Protections Ordinance in 2022 to stabilize housing and reduce the risk of homelessness in unincorporated areas during periods of economic instability.

“While we are taking action in the communities under our jurisdiction, every city in LA County can put in place their own tenant protection ordinances and I urge them to follow the county’s lead,” Hahn said.

Residents in unincorporated LA County areas can contact the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at 800-593-8222 or visit the Altadena Community Center office at 730 E. Altadena Drive for information about tenant protections.

The ordinance, if approved following County Counsel’s drafting, would not forgive unpaid rent — tenants would still owe back payments to their landlords.