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Plenty of Long Beach landlords assume that once they understand California's Tenant Protection Act, they've covered their compliance bases. That assumption misses something important. Long Beach adopted its own Just Cause for Termination of Tenancies Ordinance back in 2020, specifically because the city wanted protections that go further than state law. Understanding where the two frameworks overlap, and where Long Beach's version controls instead, matters for any owner ending a tenancy in the city.
Key Takeaways
Requirement for just cause: LBMC Chapter 8.99 mandates a legally recognized reason to end a tenancy once a tenant has continuously occupied a unit for 12 months, operating alongside AB 1482.
Hierarchy of protections: Where Chapter 8.99 offers greater tenant protection than AB 1482, local law applies; where state law is more protective, AB 1482 controls.
Relocation assistance: No-fault terminations generally require relocation assistance equal to $4,500 or two months' rent (whichever is greater), payable within 15 calendar days of notice service.
Status of rent control: Long Beach repealed its former local rent control rules in 2019 following AB 1482, but Chapter 8.99's just-cause protections remain active and distinct.
Substantial remodel scrutiny: Evictions for major renovations face increased scrutiny, with advocacy groups pushing for potential updates to temporary relocation rules.
Two Separate Laws, Not One
It's worth being precise about what Long Beach actually repealed and what it kept. In 2019, the city repealed LBMC Chapter 8.97, which had included rent-increase limits similar to what AB 1482 later established statewide. That repeal is where the "Long Beach has no rent control" claim comes from, and it's accurate as far as it goes.
But the city separately adopted LBMC Chapter 8.99, the Just Cause for Termination of Tenancies Ordinance, in March 2020, specifically because the council wanted just-cause protections stronger than what AB 1482 alone provided. That ordinance was never repealed and remains fully active today. Treating "no rent control" as equivalent to "no local tenant protections" is exactly the kind of mix-up that leads to a defective eviction notice, and it's one of the more common misunderstandings we see from owners who are new to managing property specifically within Long Beach city limits.
When the 12-Month Threshold Kicks In
Chapter 8.99's core protection activates once a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a unit for 12 months. If a tenancy has multiple adult occupants, the protection applies once either all tenants have reached 12 months, or a single tenant has reached 24 months, whichever comes first. Before that threshold, a standard no-cause notice can still end the tenancy. After it, ending the tenancy requires one of the specific reasons enumerated in the ordinance, and a landlord can no longer rely on a plain 30-day or 60-day no-cause notice regardless of what the lease says.
Keeping accurate records of a tenant's actual move-in date is essential here, which is exactly the kind of detail our accounting team builds into how every Long Beach property we manage is tracked.
Relocation Assistance Under the Local Ordinance
For no-fault terminations under Chapter 8.99, the landlord generally owes relocation assistance of $4,500 or two months of the tenant's rent at the time notice is served, whichever amount is greater. This has to be paid within 15 calendar days of serving the notice, not at move-out, which is a meaningfully faster timeline than some owners expect.
This figure can differ from what AB 1482 alone would require statewide, and since the more tenant-protective rule governs whenever the two frameworks conflict, a Long Beach landlord needs to check both amounts and pay whichever is higher. Missing this payment, or paying it late, can render the underlying notice defective and restart the entire process.
Why Substantial Remodel Evictions Are Under Extra Scrutiny
One category worth watching closely in 2026 is the substantial remodel exception, which allows a landlord to end a tenancy to complete significant renovation work. Tenant advocacy groups in Long Beach have raised concerns that some owners stretch the definition of "substantial remodel" to displace long-term tenants and reset rents beyond what would otherwise be allowed, and the city strengthened relocation requirements around this category back in 2022 partly in response.
Proposals discussed in 2026 include requiring per-day relocation assistance for temporary displacement rather than permanent eviction in some remodel cases. Given the scrutiny this specific category is drawing, any owner considering a substantial remodel eviction should document the scope of work carefully and confirm the notice and relocation requirements are met to the letter before proceeding.
Our tenant screening and lease preparation process is built to help owners avoid situations that end up needing this kind of notice in the first place.
What This Means for Lakewood Properties
This distinction matters specifically for owners with properties in both cities. Lakewood does not have its own separate just cause ordinance, so a Lakewood rental is generally governed by AB 1482 alone, without the additional Chapter 8.99 layer. A landlord managing a mixed portfolio across both cities needs to apply different standards depending on where each specific property sits, rather than assuming one city's rules travel with the owner to the next property.
Building a Compliant Termination Process
Given how these two frameworks interact, the safest approach for any Long Beach termination is confirming the tenant's actual occupancy length, checking both AB 1482 and Chapter 8.99 for the applicable notice type and relocation amount, and paying whichever relocation figure is higher within the 15-day window. Our owner FAQs page covers several related scenarios Long Beach and Lakewood owners run into most often.
FAQ
Does Long Beach have rent control?
No. The city repealed its rent-increase ordinance in 2019 once AB 1482 took effect statewide, but that repeal did not touch the city's separate Just Cause Ordinance.
When does Chapter 8.99's just cause protection start applying?
After a tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied the unit for 12 months, or under the multi-occupant rule described above.
How much relocation assistance is required for a no-fault termination?
Generally $4,500 or two months of the tenant's rent, whichever is greater, paid within 15 calendar days of serving the notice.
Does this ordinance apply to my Lakewood property too?
No. Chapter 8.99 is specific to Long Beach. Lakewood properties are governed by AB 1482 alone unless Lakewood adopts its own local ordinance in the future.
Staying Ahead of Two Overlapping Frameworks
Long Beach's Just Cause Ordinance adds a real layer of complexity on top of state law, and the two frameworks don't always point in the same direction on notice periods or relocation amounts. Confirming which rule actually controls for a specific property, and building that check into every termination notice, protects an owner from a mistake that's far more expensive to fix after the fact than to get right the first time.
If you'd like help reviewing a termination notice or your current lease templates for a Long Beach or Lakewood rental, reach out to our team today.
