L.A. County price-gouging extension fails; restrictions set to end May 28

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today declined to extend wildfire-related price-gouging regulations, setting up the county's emergency rent caps and related restrictions to expire May 28.

The proposed extension, listed as Item 13 on the board's May 19 agenda, would have continued the rules for another 30 days, through June 27. Instead, the motion failed on a 2-0-3 vote.

The limits had been extended repeatedly since the county's January 2025 wildfire emergency and currently limit covered rent increases to no more than 10% above pre-emergency levels. They also restrict certain evictions followed by re-renting at a higher price during the restricted period.

Ahead of the vote, the California Apartment Association urged supervisors to let the declaration end. In a May 18 letter to supervisors, the association said the conditions that once justified the emergency extension no longer exist and warned that temporary housing restrictions should not become indefinite.

CAA also argued that the continued declaration reaches far beyond the fire impact zone and discourages needed housing from returning to the market. The letter pointed to vacancy rates above 5% and a softening rental market as signs that the county should begin winding down the emergency rules rather than renewing them again.

Unless the county takes new action before then, the current protections will end on May 28.