L.A. Mun. Code ch. XV art. 1; ch. XVI art. 5 § 151.06.2
SURCHARGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT (Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance)
Operative Text
(Added by Ord. No. 166,707, Eff. 4/1/91.) If a landlord is assessed financial penalties pursuant to the Emergency Water Conservation Plan of the City of Los Angeles, the landlord is entitled to partially pass through those penalties to tenants in the form of a temporary rent surcharge. This surcharge shall not constitute a rent increase for purposes of Section 151.06 of this chapter. A. A landlord may partially pass through the financial penalties assessed by the Department of Water and Power under the Emergency Water Conservation Plan in the following amount and manner, and in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Rent Adjustment Commission. 1. The landlord shall be entitled to a rent increase in the form of a surcharge of fifty percent (50%) of the penalties assessed. 2. For mobilehome parks that are not separately submetered, the owner of the mobilehome park shall be entitled to pass through seventy-five percent (75%) of the assessed penalties. For mobilehome parks that are submetered, the owner of the park may apportion any assessed penalties in accordance with Rent Adjustment Commission regulations. B. A landlord shall not close on-premises coin operated laundry facilities during the duration of the Emergency Water Conservation Plan. SEC. 151.06.5. REDUCTIONS IN RENT. (Repealed by Ord. No. 173,810, Eff. 4/16/01.)
Under L.A. Mun. Code ch. XV art. 1; ch. XVI art. 5 § 151.06.2, when the City of Los Angeles's Department of Water and Power assesses financial penalties against a landlord under the Emergency Water Conservation Plan, the landlord is permitted to recover a portion of those penalties by charging tenants a temporary rent surcharge — specifically 50% of the penalties for standard rental units, or 75% for non-submetered mobilehome parks. This surcharge is treated separately from a standard rent increase under Section 151.06 and must follow rules set by the Rent Adjustment Commission. Additionally, landlords are prohibited from shutting down on-premises coin-operated laundry facilities for the duration of the Emergency Water Conservation Plan.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 151.06.2, a compliant operator who receives DWP penalties under the Emergency Water Conservation Plan documents the assessed penalty amount and calculates the allowable surcharge — 50% for standard units or 75% for non-submetered mobilehome parks — before passing any costs to tenants. Operators follow the Rent Adjustment Commission's regulations when implementing the surcharge and ensure it is characterized as a temporary surcharge rather than a permanent rent increase under Section 151.06. Throughout the plan's duration, compliant operators also keep on-premises coin-operated laundry facilities open and operational, as closure is expressly prohibited by this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 151.06.2, tenants have the right to know that any water conservation surcharge a landlord charges is capped at 50% of the DWP-assessed penalties (or 75% in non-submetered mobilehome parks) and must comply with Rent Adjustment Commission regulations — it does not count as a permanent rent increase under Section 151.06. Tenants also retain the right to use on-premises coin-operated laundry facilities during the Emergency Water Conservation Plan period, as landlords are barred from closing them. Tenants who believe a surcharge exceeds the permitted amount or that laundry facilities have been improperly closed may consider contacting the Los Angeles Housing Department or a local tenant-rights organization 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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