Beverly Hills

For rental units built before September 20, 1978 (Chapter 5) and rental units built before February 1, 1995 (Chapter 6).

More info on Beverly Hills Rent Control Ordinances:
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How rent control &
tenant rules affect you

Whether you are renting out your property to a tenant or are a renter, you can find resources on what the rent increase process is like, pass-throughs and surcharges, security and move-in transactions, legal assistance, and vacancy and eviction issues.

Resources

Enforcement Agency:

Beverly Hills Rent Stabilization Program

BHrent@beverlyhills.org
(310) 285-1000

Section 8 Assistance:

Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA)

Public_Liason@lacda.org
(626) 262-4510

County
Resources:

LA County Consumer Business Affairs

rent@dcba.lacounty.gov
(833) 223-7368

Rent Control

Any Rent Cap?	Chapter 5: Yes, no such increase shall exceed 8% or the CPI at the date of the notice of increase. Chapter 6: Yes, such an increase shall not exceed 3% or the percentage increase in the CPI for that year.
Current Maximum Rent Increase?	Chapter 5: Currently: 3.1% Chapter 6: Currently: 3%
Rent Increase Process	N/A
Rent Adjustments	The Beverly Hills Rent Adjustment Program lets landlords apply for a rent increase if their Net Operating Income (NOI) hasn’t kept up with inflation (CPI growth) after using all allowed Annual General Adjustment (AGA) increases. A Hearing Officer reviews financial data to determine if an increase is justified. This applies to both Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 tenants.

Pass-Through Fees

Pass-through and Surcharge definition	A pass-through is when the landlord passes on specific operating costs to the tenant as part of their rent. A Landlord may file an application with the Department, on a form approved by the Department, to pass-through costs to Tenant in a Fully Covered Rental Unit. A surcharge is a general term for any additional charge added on top of the base price, which could include passthrough costs but also other fees.
Registration Fee Pass-through	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for Registration fees.
Capital Improvements Pass through	Chapter 5: at a rate no greater than 4% of the base rent which validly existed prior to the latest allowable precomputation of the rent.
Utility Cost Pass through	If utility costs rise by more than the allowed annual rent increase percentage, the landlord can charge tenants the extra amount above that percentage. (like electricity, gas, or water but not services like phone or cable) Any surcharge notice must explain how the amount was calculated, including the original and increased utility costs and how they were divided. Tenants can request to see the utility bills, and the surcharge must be paused until the landlord provides this information.
Expenditure Mandate Pass-through	Any improvement that must meet government regulation, including interest or the value of capital for up to eighteen percent (18%) per annum.
Additional Tenant Pass-through	If a rental agreement doesn’t specify a fee for extra tenants, the landlord can raise the rent by up to 10% for each additional occupant. The rent will decrease if the extra tenant leaves. Exceptions may apply.
Water service Penalty Pass-through	The landlord may pass on 90% of the cost for water to the tenant.
Refuse Fee Pass-through	Landlords may pass through 100% of city-imposed trash fees to tenants. Must provide 30-day notice, proof of charges and passthrough calculations.
Government Mandates Pass-through	Determined by a hearing officer through a hardship application. This should not exceed 5% of the base rent and must be passed through over a 12-month period for no more than 3 years. The hearing officer will consider the rents of each unit in making a determination.
Rehabilitation Work Pass-through	The RSO does not contain a section discussing pass-through for Rehabilitation Work.
Primary Renovation Pass-through	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for primary renovation fees.
Relocation Assistance Pass-through	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for Relocation Assistance.
Application Fee Pass-through	The RSO does not contain a section discussing pass-through for Application Fees.
Replacement Key or security Card Fee Pass-through	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for Replacement fees.
Systematic Code Enforcement Fee	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for Systematic Code Enforcement Fees.
Smoke detector fee	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for Smoke Detector Fees.
Bounced check Fee Pass-through	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for Bounced Check Fees.
Late Fee	The RSO does not contain a section discussing a pass-through for Late Fees.
Seismic Retrofit	Currently allowed for Chapter 5 Tenants under the expenditures mandated by law (BHMC 4-5-305) and not allowed for Chapter 6 Tenants.
Additional Pass-through details	There are no other additional Pass-through details mentioned in the RSO.

Registration

Registration	Renewal notices will be mailed in February. Landlords have 30 days after receiving to register their unit.
Security Deposits at transaction	Security deposits are capped at one month’s rent. However, small landlords, defined as those owning fewer than two residential properties with no more than four total units, may collect up to two months’ rent as a security deposit. Landlords must provide itemized documentation for any administrative fees charged, which must align with the county’s regulatory framework.
Tenant move-In at transaction?	No, Security deposit is subject to state and county limits. Landlords cannot charge additional fees unrelated to deposit or required cost. Landlords are not required to pay interest on security deposit. The full amount must be returned within 21 days after vacancy.
Shared Legal Assistance for all Tenants?	While there are no universally shared tenant legal assistance programs across all jurisdictions, many cities and the county participate in collaborative efforts like Stay Housed LA, which offers legal services for tenants facing eviction or housing disputes.
Does the City pay for legal assistance for tenants?	No, the city does not directly fund legal assistance for tenants. However, tenants can receive free legal assistance through partnerships with organizations like Bet Tzedek Legal Services.
Relocation Assistance	Amounts vary by unit size.

Eviction

Vacancy Decontrol?	Part 1: When all tenants voluntarily vacate an apartment unit, rent stabilization provisions do not apply. If a unit is vacated due to avoid demolition, conversion, or remodeling, it remains under rent stabilization for at least one year. Part 2: Any unit voluntarily vacated or vacated due to legal eviction may be rented at a price mutually agreed upon by the landlord and the new tenant.
Costa Hawkins	Passed in 1995, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act was created to limit how far California cities can extend rent control policies by doing the following: Single-family homes and condominiums are exempt from rent control policies. Any property built after February 1, 1995 is exempt of rent control policies. Landlords can set the initial rent for new tenants, a policy known as vacancy decontrol.
Just Cause eviction	No Fault Eviction: A landlord is evicting a tenant for a reason that is not the tenant's fault. At Fault Eviction: Occurs when the landlord is evicting a tenant due to a specific action or inaction by the tenant.
Failure To Pay Rent	The tenant has failed to pay the rent or any additional lawful surcharge to which the landlord is entitled.
Violations Of Obligations	If the tenant has violated an obligation or covenant of the tenancy even after receiving a written notice.
Maintenance Of Nuisances	The tenant is committing or permitting to exist a nuisance in, or is causing damage to, the apartment unit, appurtenances, the common areas of the complex, or is creating an unreasonable interference with the comfort, safety, or enjoyment of any of the other residents of the same or any adjacent building.
Illegal Uses	Tenant is using or permitting an apartment unit to be used for an illegal purpose.
Refusal To Execute Leases	Following the expiration of any written renewal or extension, if a tenant refuses to execute a written renewal and has received at least 30 days’ notice, with the same tenancy duration, with the same terms and conditions, the landlord may proceed to an at fault eviction, Relocation fee required only for units built after 9/19/1978 and before 2/1/1995
Refusal To Provide Access for Making Repairs	If the tenant has refused the landlord reasonable access to the unit for the purpose of making repairs, improvements, inspection permitted or required by an apartment rental agreement or by law, or for the purpose of showing the apartment unit to any prospective purchaser or mortgagee.
Unapproved Subtenants	If the person in possession of the apartment unit at the end of the term of any apartment rental agreement is a subtenant who was not approved by the landlord.
Use By Landlords	The landlord seeks, in good faith, to recover possession of the unit for themselves, spouse, children, or parents. The landlord must give a 90 day notice, relocation fee, and not own another vacant unit of the same size. The occupant must move in within 30 days of the tenant vacating and reside in the property for at least one year. Relocation fee required for all units under RSO.
Change Of Building Managers	If the current manager is being terminated and the unit is needed for the new manager. Relocation fee required only for units built after 9/19/1978 and before 2/1/1995
Demolition	A landlord may bring an action to recover possession of an apartment unit if the landlord seeks in good faith to to demolish the building. The landlord must give a written 90-day notice approved by the city’s rent stabilization program and pay a relocation fee.
Condominium/Hotel Conversions	A landlord may bring an action to recover possession of an apartment unit if the landlord seeks in good faith to convert the building into a condominium. The landlord must give a written 90-day notice approved by the city’s rent stabilization program and pay a relocation fee.
Affordable Housing	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering affordable housing conversion.
(Ellis Act)	Under state law, landlords may withdraw units from the rental market: Tenants must receive at least 120 days’ notice before withdrawal. Tenants who are 62 years or older or disabled are entitled to a 1-year notice period, if they have lived in the unit for at least one year and properly notify the landlord of their status. If the property is returned to the rental market within 5 years, the landlord must offer the unit back to the displaced tenant(s) at the same rent-controlled rate they previously paid. If the property is returned to the market within 10 years, the landlord must still offer the unit back to the former tenant(s) (right of first refusal), but may charge market rent if it’s been more than 5 years since withdrawal.
Withdrawal from The Rental Market	The landlord in good faith, in accordance with the Ellis act, plans to remove the unit from the market. Relocation fees required. Relocation fee required for all units under RSO.
Disruptive Tenant	What constitutes a disruptive tenant: any loud unnecessary noise that disrupts the peace or the tenant and their guests bully other tenants
Income Limits	The ordinance does not cover the following topic, please follow the county instructions.
Employee termination	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering employment termination.
Renovation Work	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering renovation work.
Refused by landlord	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering landlord refusal.
Government order	The ordinance does not cover the following topic, please follow the county instructions.
Additional Tenant	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering additional tenants.
Temporary Absence	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering landlord temporary absence.
Foreclosure	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering foreclosure.
Medical	The Ordinance does not have any provision covering medical termination.
Approved Relocation Application	The ordinance does not cover the following topic, please follow the county instructions.
Additional Eviction Information	There are no additional eviction information in the Rent Stabilization Ordinance.
Shared Unlawful Detainer	An unlawful detainer is a lawsuit filed by a landlord to evict a tenant from a residential or commercial property in Los Angeles, California. Unlawful detainers are handled by the superior court in Los Angeles County. The legal process for an Unlawful Detainer is the same in all jurisdictions: The landlord must give a written 3, 30, 60, or 90-day notice for a just cause eviction. If the tenant does not take action, the landlord may file a lawsuit against the tenant. Tenants have 10 days, excluding Saturday, Sunday, and all judicial holidays, after receiving a UD to file a written answer to the court. If a tenant does not respond to a UD, a default judgement will be entered against the tenant. Once entered, a sheriff will post a 5-day eviction notice on their door. If the tenant still has not left the property,