(1) Existing law, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, among other things, authorizes an owner of residential real property to establish initial and subsequent rental rates for a dwelling or unit that meets specified conditions, subject to certain exceptions. Existing law, until January 1, 2030, prohibits an owner of residential real property from, over the course of any 12-month period, increasing the gross rental rate, as specified, for a dwelling or a unit more than 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for that dwelling or unit at any time during the 12 months before the effective date of the increase, subject to specified conditions. Existing law, the California Emergency Services Act, authorizes the Governor to proclaim a state of emergency when specified conditions of disaster or extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist, as specified.
This bill, notwithstanding any other law, would prohibit an owner of residential real property from increasing the rental rate for a dwelling or a unit located in the County of Los Angeles in excess of the rental rate for the dwelling or unit charged on January 7, 2025. The bill would authorize the district attorney to enforce these provisions and subject a violation of these provisions to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000. The bill would remain in effect until 12 months after the state of emergency, proclaimed by the Governor on January 7, 2025, in the Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura due to the Palisades Fire and windstorm condition has been terminated, as specified, and would be repealed as of that date.
(2) Under existing law, upon the proclamation of a state of emergency by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by an official, board, or other governing body of any county, city, or city and county, it is a misdemeanor for a person, contractor, business, or other entity to increase the price of certain goods or services by greater than 10%, as specified, or evict tenants. Existing law makes the district attorney the public prosecutor, except as otherwise provided by law.
This bill would specify that the district attorney may prosecute violations of the above-described prohibition on price increases and evictions during a state of emergency or local emergency.
(3) This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for County of Los Angeles.
(4) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Statutes affected:
AB 246: 396 PEN
01/15/25 - Introduced: 396 PEN