customer looking at the sign that has very high prices for gas

Price Gouging

When businesses raise their prices more than 10% during and after an emergency, it may be considered price gouging, a crime in California.

LA County Wildfire: Price Gouging Protection Dates, Executive Orders

Price gouging protections related to the LA County Wildfires will remain in effect as follows (dates subject to change):

  • For hotels, motels, and rental housing protections have been extended to July 1, 2025
  • For building materials, storage services, construction, housing, emergency cleanup and other essential goods and services, protections have been extended to January 7, 2026
CAL OES: Current Price Gouging Protections: For more information on LA County Wildfire Recovery Resources, visit recovery.lacounty.gov.

Price Gouging

Living in Los Angeles County means you might one day face disasters like fires, floods, or earthquakes. Sometimes, during these emergencies, businesses and landlords will dramatically raise their prices to make extra profit. This is called price gouging and it’s illegal in California.

REPORT PRICE GOUGING

When Are Price Gouging Rules In Effect?

If the Federal, State or Local Government (including the President, Governor, Mayor, or County Board of Supervisors) declares a state of emergency or a local emergency, businesses owners and landlords cannot increase prices by more than ten percent (10%) for consumers impacted by an emergency for the following items:

  • rent
  • food
  • repairs
  • construction
  • emergency and medical supplies
  • gasoline
  • storage facilities
  • hotels and motels
  • rental housing
  • short term rentals
  • animal boarding facilities
  • and other lodging

What are the Penalties for Price Gouging

Business owners in Los Angeles County must stay in compliance with state and Los Angeles County laws which protect consumers from price gouging. Price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal. Failure to comply with price gouging protections can result in fines between $10,000 and $50,000, one year in jail, or both. (California Price Gouging Law & LA County’s Price Gouging Resolution)

How Long Do Protections Last?

Price gouging protections will remain in effect for 30 days after a declared emergency and can be renewed. Price-gouging protections for any contractor-related services are in effect for 180 days.  (For tips on hiring a contractor, see our tip sheet.)

What is Rental Housing Price Gouging?

After a declared emergency, renters are protected from rental housing price gouging and unfair rent hikes. Both state law (Penal Code Section 396) and the County Code (Chapter 8.09) prohibit rental housing price increases exceeding 10% during a declared state of emergency.

Rent Increase Rules
    • New and Existing Rentals: Landlords cannot increase rental housing prices by more than 10% of the previously charged price or advertised price following a declaration of emergency. For rental housing not previously rented or advertised, the price cannot exceed 160% of the fair market value established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    • Daily Rentals: For daily rental housing like VRBO or Airbnb listings, the daily price cannot be increased by more than 10% following the declaration of an emergency. If these properties were previously rented on a daily basis and switch to full-time or monthly rentals after the declaration, the rental price cannot exceed 160% of the fair market value established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    • State, County, and local tenant protections remain in place and in some instances may be more restrictive/protective than applicable price gouging protections. Contact DCBA to learn more.
Prohibited Practices
    • A landlord cannot justify an unlawful price increase by offering additional services like gardening, cleaning, or utilities, or by offering a shorter lease term.
    • Landlords cannot charge a higher rate simply because an insurance company is willing to pay it.
    • The law considers it a separate misdemeanor for a landlord to evict a tenant and re-rent the property at a rate prohibited by anti-price gouging statutes.

How to Report Price Gouging

If you believe you have been improperly overcharged for goods, services, or housing, keep your records and receipts. Here’s how to file a price gouging complaint:

Current or prospective renters who believe they have been victims of rental housing price gouging should also report it to the California Attorney General at oag.ca.gov/report.

For more information about price gouging and other common consumer issues after a disaster, visit dcba.lacounty.gov/disasterready

Protections for Businesses

Businesses can only raise prices more than 10% in an emergency area if they can show that the increase is due to price increases from their suppliers.

If you are a business owner and believe your price increase is justified, keep complete records of your transactions as proof.

More Information

For additional information about scams and price gouging during and after an emergency:

Rev. 04/2025