The purpose of the Rent Stabilization Ordinance is to protect tenants from excessive rent increases, while at the same time allowing landlords a reasonable return on their investments. The Rent Stabilization Ordinance is Chapter XV of the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

Residential rental units covered by the RSO include:

• apartments
• condominiums
• town homes
• duplexes
• two or more dwelling units on the same lot
• mobile homes
• mobile home pads
• rooms in a hotel, motel, rooming house or boarding house occupied by the same tenant for 30 or more consecutive days [Changed from 60 to 30 days pursuant to Ordinance 176472, Adopted February 1, 2005; Effective March 26, 2005. Council File 03-1517.]

To be subject to the RSO of the City of Los Angeles, a property must meet the following three criteria:

1. The property must be within the City of Los Angeles; and
2. There must be two or more units on the lot; and
3. The building must have a Certificate of Occupancy issued on or before October 1, 1978. (In the case of mobile homes and mobile home pads, the park must have been issued a permit to operate before February 10, 1986).

Properties exempt from the RSO are as follows:

1. Properties located in other municipalities or within unincorporated areas within the County of Los Angeles;
2. Single family dwellings, used as such;
3. Properties (except mobile homes and mobile home pads) with a Certificate of Occupancy issued after October 1, 1978 (new construction);
4. Mobile homes or mobile home pads when the park was issued a permit to operate after February 10, 1986;
5. Government owned properties;
6. Units occupied by an owner or family member where no rents are collected;
7. Vacant units (10 days to register upon rental of the property);
8. Properties permanently removed from the rental market;
9. Luxury Housing Accommodations issued a Department Certificate;
10. Demolished RSO properties;
11. Schools/Hospitals;
12. Hotel/Motels - with tenancy under 30 days [Changed from 60 to 30 days pursuant to Ordinance 176472, Adopted February 1, 2005; Effective March 26, 2005. Council File 03-1517.];
13. Non-profit owner units, with certain qualifications.

Even if a unit is not covered under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, renters and landlords still have rights and responsibilities under California law. For more information, see A Guide to Residential Tenants' and Landlords' Rights and Responsibilities published by the State of California - Department of Consumer Affairs.

The Rent Stabilization Ordinance covers four broad categories:

1. Allowable rent increases;
2. Registration of rental units;
3. 12 legal reasons for eviction;
4. Causes for eviction requiring relocation assistance payment to the tenant. 

RSO-related informational publications produced by the LAHD include the Landlord-Tenant Handbook and bulletins on various Rent Stabilization Topics.