Citywide Temporary Ban on No-Fault Notices and Evictions Now in Effect Until End of the Year
On November 12, 2019, the Long Beach City Council adopted an ordinance that temporarily prohibits no-fault notices and evictions through December 31, 2019, unless required by a government agency or a court. The ordinance took effect immediately on November 12. The ordinance was adopted to protect tenants until the State of California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (State Tenant Protection Act) takes effect on January 1, 2020.
“This new city ordinance, which temporarily prohibits no-fault evictions is an important and necessary step for renters and tenants,” said Mayor Robert Garcia “It provides fair and reasonable protections as we await the implementation of historic new state laws.”
Through December 31, 2019, the City ordinance prohibits owners of residential rental properties in Long Beach from removing a tenant unless the tenant is at fault or the vacation of the unit is required by a government agency or court.
The ordinance names 10 at-fault causes, including non-payment of rent, breach of the material terms of the lease, criminal activity at the property and the tenant’s refusal to return a received portion of a relocation payment pursuant to the City of Long Beach’s Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance.
The ordinance, however, does not apply to hotels, nonprofit hospitals and other care facilities, student housing, single-family homes and duplexes which are owner-occupied. Buildings constructed within the past 15 years are exempt, as are deed-restricted affordable housing units and units subject to an agreement that provides housing subsidies for lower-income households.
The ordinance was in response to the State Tenant Protection Act that will go into effect on January 1, 2020. The Act imposes a statewide cap on annual rent increases and prohibits evictions without just cause.
For the full text of the ordinance and the State Tenant Protection Act, please visit the Department of Development Services web page at longbeach.gov/lbds
About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.