West Hollywood enforces some of the toughest rent stabilization rules in California, and the City’s Rent Stabilization Division audits landlord compliance with regularity. The 2025 Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR) increase ceiling was 2.25%, fixed by City formula at 75% of the LA-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI. A landlord who charges over the registered MAR refunds the overage with interest and pays the tenant’s attorney’s fees under West Hollywood Municipal Code (WHMC) Title 17. As a West Hollywood real estate attorney, Borna Houman Law represents property owners, investors, and landlord LLCs on RSO registration, lawful rent increases, just cause unlawful detainers, and relocation negotiations.
Key Takeaway: West Hollywood’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance (WHMC Title 17) covers most multi-family rentals built and occupied as rental units before July 1, 1979. Annual rent increases are capped at 75% of regional CPI (announced annually, typically 2% to 4%). Just cause eviction under WHMC § 17.52 applies, with relocation assistance required for no-fault evictions. Costa-Hawkins (Civ. Code § 1954.50 et seq.) exempts single-family residences and condominiums on separately conveyed lots provided the SFR exemption notice was served on the original tenancy.
Which West Hollywood Properties Are Covered by Rent Stabilization?
WHMC § 17.08 sets the scope. Coverage applies to:
- Residential rental units in buildings of two or more units;
- First offered for rent before July 1, 1979 (Costa-Hawkins’s vacancy decontrol still applies on turnover);
- Located within the City of West Hollywood incorporated boundaries.
Section 8 housing, hotel rooms occupied less than 30 days, dormitories, accessory dwelling units constructed after January 1, 2017 with proper notice, and units the City has formally exempted are outside the RSO. New construction certified for occupancy on or after July 1, 1979 is exempt under both WHMC and Costa-Hawkins, but the units remain subject to West Hollywood’s just cause eviction rules under WHMC § 17.52, even when not subject to rent increase caps. That is a trap. The most common mistake we see is an investor buying a 2010-built building, assuming “no rent control,” and serving a 60-day no-fault termination, which voids on its face for lack of just cause.
What Are the Allowable Rent Increases in West Hollywood?
The Rent Stabilization Commission sets the Annual General Adjustment (AGA) on or before June 30 each year. The cap is 75% of the change in the relevant CPI, and the AGA is then capped at 6% of the registered base rent regardless of CPI. Recent AGAs have been:
| Effective Period | AGA Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026 | 2.25% | Tied to LA-Long Beach-Anaheim CPI |
| September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025 | 4.0% | Capped by ordinance ceiling |
| September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024 | 3.0% | Post-pandemic correction |
| September 1, 2022 – August 31, 2023 | 0.6% | Lower CPI year |
A landlord may not collect an AGA increase unless the unit is registered with the City and registration fees are paid. A noticed increase that is mathematically over the MAR, or that combines with other surcharges to exceed it, is unenforceable. WHMC § 17.36 also distinguishes between “permitted” increases (AGA, capital improvement pass-through, fair-return petition) and “prohibited” charges (most amenity fees, parking re-charges, water sub-meter charges in older buildings). Civ. Code § 827(b)(3) layers a 90-day notice rule on top whenever any 12-month increase exceeds 10%.
What Are the Just Cause Grounds for Eviction in West Hollywood?
WHMC § 17.52 enumerates the only grounds on which a covered tenant may be evicted. The categories track the broader CA pattern with several West Hollywood twists:
- Non-payment of rent (3-day notice, CCP § 1161(2));
- Material breach of a lease provision (3-day notice to cure or quit);
- Tenant’s substantial damage or commission of a nuisance (CCP § 1161(4));
- Tenant’s use of the unit for an illegal purpose;
- Refusal to execute a written extension of an expired tenancy on substantially identical terms;
- Refusal to permit lawful entry (Civ. Code § 1954);
- Owner or qualifying relative’s good-faith intent to occupy as a primary residence;
- Substantial rehabilitation requiring vacancy;
- Permanent withdrawal under the Ellis Act (Gov. Code § 7060);
- Demolition.
Owner move-in evictions in West Hollywood are highly regulated. The owner must own at least a 50% interest, must intend to occupy for at least 36 months, and may not displace a tenant who is age 62 or older, disabled, or terminally ill if any other unit in the building is available. SB 567 (effective April 1, 2024) added documentation and post-vacancy occupancy verification across California; West Hollywood’s own ordinance is stricter on most parameters. Ellis Act withdrawals require coordinated state and local notices, and the property cannot return to the residential rental market for ten years without restoring the displaced tenants’ rights of first refusal.
How Are Relocation Fees Calculated in West Hollywood?
WHMC § 17.52.090 imposes relocation assistance on no-fault evictions. The City’s schedule, updated periodically by Resolution, runs by tenancy length, household composition, and unit size:
| Tenancy Type | Approximate Relocation Range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard household, less than 5 years | $11,500 – $14,500 per unit |
| Standard household, 5 years or more | $15,500 – $19,500 per unit |
| Senior (62+), disabled, or family with minor children | Add $4,000 – $7,500 to base amount |
| Three+ bedroom unit | Add City-published bedroom premium |
| Ellis Act enhanced relocation | State and local schedule, whichever is greater |
Relocation must be paid before the tenant vacates. Pay short and the unlawful detainer fails. Pay incorrectly to the wrong tenant of record and the City has historically required full re-payment to the correct party with no offset. The City Attorney enforces, and tenants have a private right of action for treble damages plus fees under WHMC § 17.60. We have litigated these damages awards into six figures on a single unit.
What Annual Compliance Steps Does West Hollywood Require?
Each covered unit must be registered with the Rent Stabilization Division annually. The 2025-2026 registration fee was $234 per unit; half is recoverable as a once-yearly tenant pass-through under WHMC § 17.32. Registration includes the current MAR, the household composition (for relocation eligibility), and any vacancy events from the prior year. A landlord who fails to register cannot lawfully collect AGA increases until cured. Cure does not retroactively reach back to permit lost increases, so a missed year is a permanent revenue loss.
In our experience, the second-most-costly landlord error in West Hollywood (after improper just cause notice) is a confused MAR baseline. A new owner who buys a 14-unit pre-1979 building on Crescent Heights frequently inherits inconsistent registered MARs across units. Rebaselining requires careful petition work with the Rent Stabilization Division. Charging market rent off a defective MAR baseline produces statutory overcharge liability for every month the wrong amount was billed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AB 1482 apply to West Hollywood properties?
WHMC Title 17 applies to covered properties, and AB 1482 fills the gap. For non-RSO units (post-July 1979 construction or Costa-Hawkins exempt SFRs and condos with proper SFR exemption notice), AB 1482 sets a 5% + CPI cap, ceiling 10%, with statewide just cause eviction grounds. Just-cause-eviction rules under WHMC apply to many West Hollywood multi-family units regardless of AGA coverage.
What is the maximum rent increase in West Hollywood right now?
The AGA effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026 is 2.25%. The Rent Stabilization Commission posts the new figure each spring. Pass-through surcharges for verified capital improvements may add to this, but only after Commission approval and proper tenant notice.
Can a West Hollywood landlord do an owner move-in eviction?
Yes, with significant restrictions. Owner must hold at least a 50% interest, must intend to occupy for at least 36 months, must not displace certain protected categories of tenants if alternative units are available in the building, and must satisfy SB 567 documentation. Relocation assistance is required and substantial.
Is West Hollywood subject to the Ellis Act?
Yes. The Ellis Act (Gov. Code § 7060 et seq.) preempts local rules that would prevent a landlord from exiting the rental business entirely, but West Hollywood imposes notice, relocation, and post-withdrawal restrictions on top. Withdrawals require 120-day or 1-year notices depending on the tenant’s protected status, and the property is restricted from re-entering the rental market for 10 years subject to displaced tenants’ right of first refusal.
What if I buy a building with under-registered MARs from a prior owner?
Buyer beware. Liability for prior overcharges may transfer with title under WHMC § 17.40, and rebaselining requires the cooperation of the Rent Stabilization Division. Title-stage diligence on the rent roll, registration history, and any pending tenant petitions is essential.
Are there any short-term-rental restrictions for West Hollywood landlords?
Yes. WHMC restricts short-term rentals in covered units, and rentals under 30 days in RSO units are typically prohibited. Air-bnb and similar platforms enforce takedowns when notified. Unauthorized STR conversion is a just-cause ground for eviction against a tenant and a code violation against an owner.
Talk to a West Hollywood Real Estate Attorney
Borna Houman Law represents landlords, property owners, real estate investors, and HOA boards across West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West LA, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Century City, Bel Air, Culver City, and the broader LA County market. We handle WHMC Title 17 compliance, AGA-based rent increases, just cause unlawful detainers, owner move-in defense, Ellis Act withdrawals, and relocation fee disputes. Related reading: our LARSO compliance guide, our Santa Monica rent control landlord guide, and our step-by-step California eviction guide.
Call (888) 42-BORNA to schedule a confidential consultation.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about West Hollywood Municipal Code Title 17 and California rent control law. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. The City of West Hollywood updates the AGA, registration fees, and relocation schedules periodically; verify current figures with the Rent Stabilization Division before relying on them. For advice on a specific property or tenancy, consult a licensed California real estate attorney.
