L.A. Mun. Code ch. XV art. 1; ch. XVI art. 5 § 165.05
NOTICES (Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance)
Operative Text
A. A landlord of residential real property subject to this Article shall provide notice of the protections of this Article as follows: (1) For any tenancy commenced or renewed on or after the effective date of this Article as a written notice to the tenant. (2) The landlord shall post a notification in a form prescribed by the Department in an accessible common area of the property. B. In any action to recover possession of residential real property, the landlord shall serve on the tenant a written notice setting forth the reasons for the termination. The written notice shall be as described in Civil Code Section 1946 or Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1161 and 1161a. The notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1162 and must also comply with the following: (1) When the termination of tenancy is based on any of the grounds set forth in Section 165.03 B. through 165.03 G., the termination notice must set forth specific facts to permit a determination of the date, place, witnesses and circumstances concerning the eviction reason. (2) When the termination of tenancy is based on the grounds set forth in Section 165.03 H., the landlord shall file with the Department a declaration on a form and in the number prescribed by the Department identifying the person to be moved into the residential real property, the date on which the person will move in, the rent presently charged for the residential real property, and the date of the last rental increase. This declaration shall be served on the tenant in the manner prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1162. When filing the declaration, the landlord shall pay an administrative fee in the amount of $75. The fee shall pay for the cost of administering and enforcing the provisions of Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 151.30 . (3) When the termination of tenancy is based on any of the grounds set forth in Section 165.03 I. or 165.03 K. through 165.03 N., the landlord shall file with the Department a declaration on a form and in the number prescribed by the Department stating the reason for eviction. This declaration shall be served on the tenant in the manner prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1162. (4) When the termination of tenancy is based on the ground set forth in Section 165.03 J., then the landlord shall file with the Department a declaration on a form and in the number prescribed by the Department stating that the landlord intends to evict in order to comply with a court order or governmental agency’s order to vacate residential real property. The landlord shall attach a copy of the order to this declaration. This notice shall be served on the tenant in the manner prescribed by Code of Civil Procedure Section 1162. (5) A copy of any written notice terminating a tenancy shall be filed with the Department either electronically in the manner prescribed by the Department or by means of a form approved by the Department and the City Attorney for this purpose. The landlord shall file with the Department any such written notice terminating a tenancy within three business days of service on the tenant. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,757, Eff. 12/17/25.)
Under L.A. Mun. Code ch. XVI art. 5 § 165.05, landlords of covered residential properties must give tenants written notice of their protections under the Article at the start or renewal of a tenancy, and must also post a Department-prescribed notification in a common area. When seeking to recover possession, a landlord must serve a written termination notice that states the specific reasons for eviction; depending on which ground under § 165.03 applies, the landlord may also be required to file a declaration with the Department, pay an administrative fee, or attach supporting documentation. Every written termination notice must be filed with the Department within three business days of being served on the tenant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of properties covered by § 165.05 generally provide new and renewing tenants with a written notice describing their Article protections and keep a Department-approved posting displayed in an accessible common area. When initiating a termination, compliant operators serve notices that identify the specific facts—dates, places, witnesses, and circumstances—supporting the stated eviction ground, and, where the applicable § 165.03 subsection requires it, file the appropriate declaration form with the Department (along with any required $75 fee or supporting court order) within the prescribed timeframe. Every termination notice must be filed with the Department, either electronically or on an approved form, within three business days of service on the tenant.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in properties covered by § 165.05 have the right to receive written notice of their protections at the beginning or renewal of their tenancy, and to see a Department-prescribed notice posted in a common area of the building. When a landlord seeks to terminate a tenancy, the termination notice must include specific facts about the eviction reason, and in many cases the landlord must also file a declaration with the Department and serve it on the tenant—failure to meet these requirements may be raised as a defense in an eviction proceeding. Tenants who believe a notice does not comply with § 165.05 may consider contacting the Los Angeles Housing Department, a local tenant-rights organization, or a legal aid provider to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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