LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved, in a 4-0 vote, a motion by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Supervisor and Board Chair Hilda L. Solis to initiate the process for the County’s first Commercial Rental Property License for landlords in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The motion directs County departments to report back with a commercial licensing and reporting framework that would give the County, for the first time, a clearer picture of commercial rental conditions—including rents, vacancies and lease durations—while creating new tools to connect small businesses with assistance and hold commercial landlords accountable when violations occur. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, creating jobs and adding to the unique character of our neighborhoods, but far too many are being pushed out by predatory practices without any accountability. Creating a Commercial Rental Property License for our unincorporated communities will provide greater transparency on rental rates and allow us to target support where it’s needed most,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District. “This motion builds on the Board of Supervisors track record of supporting both small businesses and commercial landlords through grants, rent relief, and technical and legal assistance.” 

“For many families, a small business is more than a livelihood. It is a pathway to economic opportunity, generational wealth and community stability,” said Los Angeles County Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “As Los Angeles County invests in strengthening commercial corridors, we have a responsibility to ensure longtime businesses are not displaced by rising costs and redevelopment pressures. This motion will help protect small businesses, preserve neighborhood character and ensure local entrepreneurs can continue contributing to the economic vitality of our communities.” 

The motion also directs County departments to develop additional protections for commercial tenants, including: 

• Relocation assistance for businesses displaced because of landlord violations of the County’s Commercial Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance; 

• A County commercial rent study to establish fair-market commercial rents by region and better understand the causes of small business displacement, 

• And greater transparency in the redevelopment process, including exploring notification requirements for affected commercial tenants.

Commercial property owners, small business owners and advocates helped inform the motion with their lived experiences. The Small Business Alliance for Equitable Communities, a coalition that includes small business owners and advocacy organizations throughout Los Angeles County, like Inclusive Action, Public Counsel, Bet Tzedek, Little Tokyo Service Center and Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE), shared: 

“As small business owners and advocates, we hear every day about the harassment and displacement from commercial landlords. Today’s vote is a critical step forward to protect local small businesses from these threats and keep them in our communities. We look forward to continuing to work with Supervisor Mitchell and our County partners to bring these important commercial tenant protections to fruition.” 

Supervisor Mitchell emphasized during today’s Board meeting that the motion does not cap commercial rents, require landlords to provide copies of leases, or block redevelopment projects. Instead, it seeks to close gaps in existing state protections, improve the County’s ability to identify and assist vulnerable businesses, and create accountability when landlords violate existing tenant protections. 

The County’s Commercial Rent Study is expected to be completed by December, this will inform the ordinance for the Commercial Rental Property License which is slated to be voted on by the Board in the beginning of 2027.

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