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Los Angeles County, CA Rental Property Rules: Source-of-Income Discrimination (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified May 2026

Key Facts

State law
Cal. Gov. Code §12955
County code
LACO Title 8.42
Voucher protection
SB-329 (effective 2020)
Income test
Apply to tenant share only
Enforcer
DCBA + state CRD

Summary

California Government Code §12955 bans housing discrimination based on a tenant's lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers and other rental subsidies. LA County Title 8.42 mirrors and extends the protection in unincorporated areas via DCBA.

City-specific rules exist: Los Angeles, and Long Beach have their own source-of-income discrimination rules that differ from Los Angeles County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

It shall be unlawful: (a) For the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability, veteran or military status, or genetic information of that person. (o) (1) In instances in which there is a government rent subsidy, to do either of the following: (A) Use a financial or income standard in assessing eligibility for the rental of housing that is not based on the portion of the rent to be paid by the tenant. (p) (1) For the purposes of this section, "source of income" means lawful, verifiable income paid directly to a tenant, or to a representative of a tenant, or paid to a housing owner or landlord on behalf of a tenant, including federal, state, or local public assistance, and federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including, but not limited to, federal housing assistance vouchers issued under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1437f). "Source of income" includes a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher.

Source: California Gov. Code §12955 (Source of Income)View official code

Full Breakdown

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act, at Government Code §12955, makes it unlawful for a landlord to refuse to rent based on lawful source of income, including federal, state, and local rental assistance such as Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. SB-329 (2019) confirmed vouchers are a protected source. LA County Title 8.42 mirrors and supplements these protections for tenants in unincorporated areas, with DCBA serving as enforcer. Landlords may screen applicants on credit, references, and rental history but cannot reject solely because rent will be partially paid by a voucher. They must consider only the tenant's portion of rent when applying income-to-rent ratio standards.

Violations & Fines

Discriminatory ads or rental refusals expose landlords to FEHA fines of up to $25,000 per violation, plus tenant suits for actual damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 by saying "no vouchers"?
No. Both state law and LA County Title 8.42 prohibit refusing rental, advertising "no Section 8," or applying different terms because of lawful subsidy income. Doing so triggers a discrimination complaint.
How is income screening allowed to work?
Landlords applying a multiple-of-rent income standard must measure the tenant's share, not the full rent. Standard credit, criminal-history, and reference screens remain permitted within fair-housing limits.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Los Angeles County

All Los Angeles County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Los Angeles County to another location·View the California rental property rules overview

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