Los Angeles, CA Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Plan review time
- 5 working days
- Notice before work begins
- 60 days minimum
- Appeal window / fee
- 15 days, $35
- False statement penalty
- $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
- Governing chapter
- Rent Stabilization Ordinance Art. 2
Summary
Before a Los Angeles landlord can pull a permit for 'Primary Renovation Work' under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, LAMC § 152.03 requires a Tenant Habitability Plan naming any contractor who will handle lead-based paint or asbestos and showing tenants won't be exposed to those hazards. Landlords must then serve written Notice of Primary Renovation Work, in the tenant's lease language, at least 60 days before work starts.
B. Tenant Habitability Plan. At a minimum, a Tenant Habitability Plan shall provide the following information...1. Identification of the landlord, the general contractor responsible for the Primary Renovation Work, and any specialized contractor responsible for hazardous material abatement, including but not limited to lead-based paint and asbestos....5. Identification of the mitigation measures that will be adopted to ensure that tenants are not required to occupy an untenantable dwelling, as defined in California Civil Code Section 1941.1, outside of the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and are not exposed at any time to toxic or hazardous materials including, but not limited to, lead-based paint and asbestos....D. Notice of Primary Renovation Work. Notice of Primary Renovation Work shall be written in the language in which the original lease was negotiated...
Full Breakdown
The Rent Stabilization Ordinance ties renovation permits to tenant protection. 2, until the Los Angeles Housing Department clears a Tenant Habitability Plan. 1; a landlord or tenant who disagrees can appeal to a hearing officer within 15 calendar days for a $35 fee, with a hearing set within 30 days and a written decision within ten. 04 requires the landlord to serve the accepted plan, the Notice of Primary Renovation Work, and a summary of tenant rights at least 60 days before work begins, using the method in Code of Civil Procedure § 1162.
03 D, must be written in the language the original lease was negotiated in and must describe how the work affects that tenant's unit. Tenants unhappy with the plan can request temporary or permanent relocation instead of remaining on site.
Violations & Fines
Falsifying or concealing information in a Tenant Habitability Plan, declaration, or notice is a misdemeanor under LAMC § 152.07 C, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, six months in County Jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense. A landlord who ignores the accepted plan's terms forfeits any rent adjustment tied to the renovation under § 151.07 A.1.(d), and the tenant can raise noncompliance as a defense in any eviction case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my LA landlord have to disclose lead-based paint work before renovating?
How much advance notice must I get before renovation starts?
What can I do if I think the habitability plan won't protect me?
What happens if my landlord lies on the renovation paperwork?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Angeles
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles to another location·View the California building safety overview
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Lead Paint in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle lead paint.