L.A. Mun. Code ch. XV art. 1; ch. XVI art. 5 § 151.14
FILING OF APPLICATION FOR RENT ADJUSTMENTS, REQUESTS FOR HEARING, AND APPEALS (Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance)
Operative Text
A. Filing Date. (Amended by Ord. No. 165,251, Eff. 11/20/89.) An application for rent adjustment, request for hearing, appeal or re-rental certificate shall be considered as filed on the date it has been completed in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations, and received together with any required filing fee by the Department. If at any time during the processing of an application it is determined that an application has been improperly prepared, or requires additional information not submitted in accordance with the rules and regulations, the time limits specified within this chapter shall be suspended and not continue to run until the application has been rectified or the omitted information furnished upon written notification to the applicant. B. Place of Filing . Whenever the provisions of this chapter provide that applications or requests for hearing or appeals be filed in the office of the Department, such applications or requests for hearing or appeals may be filed in any of the branch offices of the Department. C. An application fee required under this section may be waived by the Department for any individual who files a declaration stating that the individual annually earns no more than 50% of the median income for the Los Angeles area. The declaration shall state the above information is true and correct. The median is to be determined by the standards utilized by the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles acting pursuant to HUD relations. (Amended by Ord. No. 160,791, Eff. 2/10/86.) D. If a hearing officer determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that an applicant has willfully or knowingly with the intent to deceive, made or caused to be made a false statement or representation, or knowingly failed to disclose a material fact, in connection with any application under consideration by the hearing officer, then the hearing officer may deny the application. Any determination by the hearing officer based on this subsection shall be appealable to the Rent Adjustment Commission. (Added by Ord. No. 160,791, Eff. 2/10/86.) E. For purposes of this chapter, if an application, request for appeal or request for hearing is mailed to the Department, it is deemed to be received as established by the date of the postmark affixed on an envelope properly addressed to the Department. (Added by Ord. No. 160,791, Eff. 2/10/86.)
Under L.A. Mun. Code § 151.14, an application for rent adjustment, hearing, or appeal is officially "filed" only once it is complete, accompanied by any required fee, and received by the Los Angeles Housing Department — or, if mailed, on the postmark date. Time limits tied to the process pause if an application is found to be incomplete or improperly prepared, and they resume only after the applicant corrects the deficiency following written notice. The provision also allows fee waivers for lower-income filers and authorizes hearing officers to deny applications where clear and convincing evidence shows intentional misrepresentation, with that denial being appealable to the Rent Adjustment Commission.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers filing rent adjustment applications under § 151.14 generally ensure submissions are fully complete and accompanied by the correct fee before delivery to the Department, since the official filing date — which can affect processing timelines — is not established until those conditions are met. Operators typically keep proof of mailing with a legible postmark when submitting by mail, as that date governs receipt under this provision. Because time limits are suspended when an application is found deficient, maintaining accurate and thorough documentation from the outset helps avoid delays in the adjustment process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 151.14, tenants who need to file a hearing request or appeal with the Los Angeles Housing Department should be aware that the filing date is tied to completeness and receipt — or the postmark date if mailed — which can matter when deadlines are at issue. Tenants whose income falls at or below 50% of the Los Angeles area median income may be eligible to have the application fee waived by submitting a qualifying declaration to the Department. Tenants navigating this process can contact the Department directly, visit any of its branch offices as permitted under this section, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance on how these filing rules apply.
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.
Effective Timeline
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