The Los Angeles City Council plans to revisit a proposed city ordinance today that would pause evictions for a year for tenants who face economic hardship due to the recent wildfires.

Authored by council members Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez, the proposal initially sought to halt evictions and freeze rent increases for tenants facing financial hardship after the wildfires, with the protections lasting through Jan. 31, 2026.

But in a recent amendment the rent freeze provision was removed, leaving only the eviction moratorium in place.

Under the revised proposal, which was approved by the Housing and Homeless Committee on Feb. 5, tenants who can provide proof of lost income due to the fires would be protected from eviction for nonpayment of rent and from most no-fault evictions.

In addition, tenants who took in displaced people affected by the fires would be shielded from certain evictions. And through January 2026, landlords would be prohibited from raising rents if additional tenants moved into their units.

Additional amendments sought to increase enforcement against rent gouging, support small landlords, and prevent homelessness. The Los Angeles City Attorney, alongside other agencies, would be required to produce monthly reports on rent price gouging complaints, response times, enforcement actions, and potential improvements.

To assist small property owners, the city plans to define “mom-and-pop landlords” based on tax filings and establish a rental assistance program for those struggling due to tenant nonpayment.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority has been tasked with exploring how to use problem-solving funds — such as security deposits — to aid those who are at risk of homelessness from the wildfires.

Soto-Martinez said in a statement on Thursday that the amended ordinance aims to balance protections for tenants and support for landlords.

“No one should lose their home just because they lost work due to the fires,” he said. “This legislation is narrowly tailored to protect families impacted by the fires, while also looking to support small landlords facing financial strain.”

The proposed ordinance has been a point of debate not only between tenants and landlords, but also among council members.

It first came before the City Council on Jan. 14, when officials approved a series of emergency responses to the destructive wildfires that erupted in Los Angeles.

Among them was a proposal by Councilmember Traci Park, who represents the Palisades, to temporarily prohibit landlords from evicting tenants for allowing unauthorized occupants to live with them or for taking in pets displaced by the fires.

Landlord opposition has remained strong. Daniel Yukelson, CEO of the Greater Apartment Association of Los Angeles, criticized the eviction moratorium Thursday, arguing that Los Angeles might continue using eviction bans as a go-to response for emergencies, regardless of the circumstances.

He also questioned whether the city could effectively verify tenants’ claims of hardship and warned that landlords would once again bear the financial burden, as they did during the pandemic.

Instead of an eviction moratorium, Yukelson argued, the city should establish direct rental assistance for fire-impacted tenants, rather than forcing housing providers to absorb the costs.

“We’ve given enough during COVID,” he said. “We can’t afford to give any more.”