West Hollywood hotels offering discounted rates for fire victims such as the Kimpton La Peer can house people for longer than 30 days. (photo courtesy of La Peer Hotel)

At last week’s City Council meeting on Jan. 21, West Hollywood enacted an urgency ordinance for displaced fire victims. The legislation allows for some of city’s stringent rental laws to be circumvented in order to facilitate those needing temporary housing.

“West Hollywood has always found a way to play a role across the region – we see the need and we find our way to step up and support,” Mayor Chelsea Byers said. “People impacted by the fires will be looking for housing for a variety of reasons and making new lease timelines available in our city will enable more people to find suitable accommodations faster through this transition period.”

In March 2024, the West Hollywood City Council passed a law that required year-long minimum leases for single-family homes and condominiums. The item was intended as a safeguard against perceived abuses by Vrbo, Airbnb and other short-term rental companies. Previous lease minimums of 30 days, Councilman John Erickson said at the time, allowed “people to stay there and not be a part of the community.”

“With tens of thousands of structures destroyed or damaged, over 200,000 residents have lost their homes or are unable to return to their homes at this time,” Councilwoman Lauren Meister said. “The emergency ordinance will allow people to live in the city of West Hollywood without a year lease – to give them much-needed time to put their lives back together without a year-long commitment. The city is planning to implement some administrative measures to help prevent abuse – and council will be following this closely.  I hope that through this emergency ordinance, the city is able to provide some relief for those who were impacted by the fires and looking for a place to call home for whatever length of time they need.”

The urgency ordinance requires the leases to be longer than 30 days, but shorter than one year.

“We have worked hard as a city to prevent abuses to our housing supply by short-term and vacation rentals,” Byers said. “As this ordinance came forward, we discussed a number of protective measures, including proof of impact and a reporting timeline, to ensure these precious housing resources are utilized to support long-term housing needs for fire-impacted communities. We know landlords have found many ways to exploit this crisis with price-gouging and we will be vigilant to protect against this and other abuses.”

The rentals are subject to the protections of the city’s strict rent stabilization ordinance. West Hollywood is also waving fees for home-share license applications to expedite the process and has provided authorization to hotels to house evacuees for more than 30 days without the usual requirements for housing registration.

“This is all about getting people back on their feet as quick as possible,” Councilman Danny Hang said. “The ordinance makes it easier for fire victims to find temporary housing, giving them a safe and stable place to stay while they figure out their next steps and look toward rebuilding.”

West Hollywood City Manager David Wilson has also been authorized to direct city resources toward the emergency response. Wilson also has the authority to report price gouging. Rent increases have been reported across Los Angeles County since the wildfires, so much so that the county has set up resources to assist with complaints, available at dcba.lacounty.gov/pricegouging.

“We want to make sure that the majority of our community, which are renters, still stay safe from predatory practices by landlords and other individuals,” Erickson said. “But we want to also make sure that individuals that live here have the capability to rent out extra rooms or their house … it’s allowing them to play a part in the recovery by offering what is oftentimes the most precious, and that’s housing stock.”

“West Hollywood is all about compassion and community,” Hang said. “This really shows how much we care about stepping up for our neighbors when they need it most. West Hollywood is dedicated to supporting neighbors in times of crisis.”

The West Hollywood City Council authorized an urgency ordinance for fire victims on Jan. 21. (photo by Jon Viscott)