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Just Cause for Termination of Tenancies Ordinance

The City of Long Beach is updating its tenant protection policy and is seeking your input. The Just Cause for Termination of Tenancies Ordinance outlines the reasons under which a residential tenancy can be legally terminated. It also ensures that landlords have guidelines to follow when they need to terminate a tenancy and has been a vital tool in protecting renters from arbitrary and unfair evictions. This presentation provides an overview of the tenant protection policy, why it matters, and how you can provide input. See the presentation video.



  • Saturday, August 24, 10:00 – 11:30am
    • Houghton Park Community Center, 6301 Myrtle Ave, Long Beach, CA 90805
    • RVSP link
  • Wednesday, August 28, 6:00 – 7:30pm
    • Long Beach Energy Resources Auditorium, 2400 Spring St. 90806
    • RSVP link
  • Thursday, September 12, 6:00 – 7:30pm
    • McBride Park Community Center, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr Ave, 90813
    • RSVP link

Interpretation will be provided in Spanish and other languages by request. Feedback garnered at the community forums will help inform the updates to the Just Cause Ordinance and further the development of several housing amendments and policy initiatives currently being evaluated by the City.

Please fill out this form to share any comments or feedback on the Just Cause Ordinance or other housing policy initiatives.

Just Cause Protections

Tenants who have continuously and lawfully lived in the rental unit for 12 months or more. 
  • Homes where the tenant shares bathroom or kitchen facilities with the owner
  • Single-family owner-occupied residences, including a residence in which the owner rents or leases no more than two or more units or bedrooms
  • An owner-occupied duplex in which the owner lives in the residence at the start of the tenancy and continues to live there
  • Housing built within the previous 15 years
  • Single-family homes or condominiums if the owner is a natural person (not a real estate investment trust, corporation, or LLC.)
  • Low-income housing restricted by deed, regulatory restriction, or other agreement
  • Hotels, hospitals, senior facilities, religious facilities, school dormitories

Tenants may only be evicted for a specific “at-fault” or “no-fault” reason (“just cause”).

At-fault just causes:

  • Failure to pay rent within 3 days of receiving notice
  • Breach of a material (important) term of the rental agreement
  • Maintaining or creating a nuisance or doing substantial damage to the property (“waste”).
  • Refusal to sign a lease which was similar to original lease terms
  • Criminal activity by the tenant on the property or directed toward owner or owner’s agent
  • Subleasing the rental unit without permission
  • Failure to grant landlord reasonable access to the rental unit for necessary repairs 
  • Using the property for an unlawful purpose
  • Tenant is an employee, agent, or licensee of the landlord and failed to vacate after termination as an employee, agent, or licensee
  • Refusal to move out after giving written notice to landlord

No-fault just causes:

  • A landlord or their immediate family wants to move into the rental unit
  • Landlord intends to remove the property from the rental housing market permanently
  • Landlord intends to demolish or substantially remodel the unit
  • Landlord is complying with a government order for the tenant to vacate
  • For tenancy terminations due to the landlord’s intent to demolish the building or substantially remodel, tenants are entitled to either $4,500 or two months of the tenant’s rent, whichever is greater.
  • For all other no-fault just cause terminations, tenants are entitled to relocation assistance equal to one month of the tenant’s rent. The landlord may elect to pay the tenant or waive last month’s rent.
  • Tenants may bring a civil action against a landlord who falsely evicts on the basis of landlord’s intent to demolish or substantially remodel the unit.

State Tenant Protection Act

In October 2019, the State of California enacted Assembly Bill 1482, the State Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), which took effect Jan. 1, 2020. AB 1482 caps rents at 5% plus inflation, as well as enumerates specific "just causes" that are required for a landlord to serve a notice to vacate.

Where can I find more information?

Los Angeles COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution (Formerly The LA County Eviction Moratorium)

The County’s COVID-19 Tenant Protections Resolution, which took effect March 4, 2020, provided certain protections to residential tenants, commercial tenants and mobile home space renters affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County. The Resolution expired March 31, 2023. For residential tenants and mobile home space renters who utilized the County’s non-payment of rent protections between July 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023, certain protections remain. Additional Information is available at dcba.lacounty.gov/noevictions.


Resources

Please note that the City does not provide legal assistance and does not mediate in tenant and landlord disputes. Either party may seek legal action against the other to enforce the provisions of these laws. The City does participate in the County of Los Angeles Stay Housed LA program which provides free eviction defense services to lower-income renters. Additionally, the City supports fair housing and mediation services through the Fair Housing Foundation of Long Beach. All of these resources are found below.

City Resources

Long Beach Resource Line
Need help but don’t know who to ask? Call the LB Resource Line at 562.570.4246. The LB Resource Line is a hotline that supports anyone in Long Beach who needs help finding local, City and community resources. Calls are answered Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can also submit your contact information through their Assistance Request Form.

Multi-Service Center
If you are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness, the Multi-Service Center is the place to go to get connected with important things you may need, such as: case management, housing services, medical services through a clinic, obtaining identification, employment assistance, mental health support, safe parking program, and more. If you are looking for support, please call the Multi-Service Center at 562.570.4500 or visit 1301 W. 12st St.

Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach
Looking for a housing subsidy? HACLB administers the City’s Rental Housing Assistance Programs, which primarily includes the Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 Program (HCV). These programs are designed to provide rental subsidies and other financial assistance to low-income individuals and families, the elderly, and the disabled. For more information, and to apply to a waiting list, visit the HACLB website.

Additional Resources

Fair Housing Foundation
The City partners with The Fair Housing Foundation, which provides counseling related to housing discrimination claims, tenant rights, habitability issues and evictions among other tenancy-related problems and offers referrals to other agencies. An FHF representative can help navigate issues one-on-one. They can be reached at 562.989.1206. You can also submit a contact form online.

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most
underserved. They offer legal aid as well as self-help resources on a variety of issues. They can be reached at 800.399.4529. You can also submit an application online.

Stay Housed LA
The City partners with Stay Housed LA, which provides tenant education workshops and legal clinics. Stay Housed LA also provides free legal services to eligible tenants facing eviction, ensuring tenants understand the eviction process and are fairly represented in court. They can be reached at 800.694.0040. You can also apply for legal help online.



Contact

Housing and Neighborhood Services
562.570.6949
NSB@longbeach.gov
411 W. Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

              

Neighborhood Resource Center
562.570.1010
NSB@longbeach.gov
411 W. Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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