L.A. Mun. Code ch. XV art. 1; ch. XVI art. 5 § 165.11
CREATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE JUST CAUSE ENFORCEMENT FEE TRUST FUND (Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance)
Operative Text
(Title and Section Amended by Ord. No. 188,468, Eff. 1/27/25.) A. There is hereby created and established in the Treasury of the City of Los Angeles a trust fund to be known as the “ Just Cause Enforcement Fee Trust Fund ”, hereinafter referred in this Chapter as the “ Fund ”. B. The purpose of the Fund shall be for the collection and deposit of fees, fines, and penalties received from the implementation and administration of Article 5 of Chapter XVI of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. C. Monies collected from fees and from fines and penalties shall be deposited into the Fund. The monies in this Fund shall be used to offset the costs of administering or processing those permits, certificates, or other forms or documents, or to defray the costs of enforcement required to be carried out by City agencies in the course of enforcing Article 5 of Chapter XVI , including, but not limited to, the costs of investigating tenant complaints, and fees for copies of reports and records related to the enforcement activity. The Fund shall be administered, and expenditures therefrom shall be authorized by the General Manager of the Department, or the designee thereof, in accordance with established City practice. There shall be no expenditure, transfer or other form of disbursement of monies from the Fund, or any authority provided or granted with respect thereto, except for purposes directly related to the administration and enforcement of Article 5 of Chapter XVI of this Code. D. All interest or other earnings attributable to monies in the Fund shall be credited to the Fund. E. Monies not expended from the Fund in any fiscal year shall not revert to the Reserve Fund, but shall remain in the Fund.
Section 165.11 of the L.A. Municipal Code establishes a dedicated city trust fund called the 'Just Cause Enforcement Fee Trust Fund,' held in the City of Los Angeles Treasury. Fees, fines, and penalties collected under Article 5 of Chapter XVI flow into this fund and may only be spent on administering and enforcing those same just-cause protections—covering activities such as investigating tenant complaints, processing permits, and producing enforcement records. Interest earned by the fund stays in the fund, and any unspent balances carry over from one fiscal year to the next rather than reverting to the city's general reserve.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Article 5 of Chapter XVI should be aware that fees, fines, or penalties they pay under that article are directed specifically into the Just Cause Enforcement Fee Trust Fund established by § 165.11—not into the city's general budget. Compliant operators typically keep accurate records of all payments made to the city under this article, since those payments fund the very enforcement and complaint-investigation activities that apply to their properties. Understanding how the fund is structured can help operators anticipate that enforcement capacity is self-sustaining and tied directly to collected revenues.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 165.11, the Just Cause Enforcement Fee Trust Fund is legally restricted to supporting the administration and enforcement of Article 5 of Chapter XVI, which includes investigating tenant complaints. This means that the city's capacity to process complaints and conduct enforcement activity is backed by a dedicated funding stream rather than discretionary appropriations. Tenants who believe their just-cause protections have been violated may consider filing a complaint with the relevant city department, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or reviewing resources available through the Los Angeles Housing Department to understand available enforcement paths.
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 8, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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