Months of confusion following the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires have finally been put to rest. A new California law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, now makes it crystal clear: landlords — not tenants — are responsible for cleaning up fire-damaged rental homes.

The legislation, known as Senate Bill 610, comes as a relief to thousands of renters who were left in limbo after wildfires scorched Los Angeles County earlier this year. From ash-choked apartments to smoke-stained walls, many tenants found themselves caught between unclear city codes and reluctant landlords.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Governor Gavin Newsom signs Senate Bill 610, ending confusion over post-disaster cleanup in rental housing.

• Landlords must remove hazards like smoke, ash, mold, asbestos, and water damage after natural disasters.

• Tenants can return at original rent, and landlords must refund rent for uninhabitable months.

• Inspired by tenant complaints and LAist reporting, the bill clarifies long-ignored legal gray areas.

• A major win for renters, closing gaps that left many displaced after the Eaton and Palisades fires.

Law Targets Gaps Left by Wildfires

The California wildfire cleanup law clearly states that it is “the duty of a landlord” to remove any hazard caused by a natural disaster — including ash, smoke residue, mold, asbestos, or water damage. The wording leaves no room for doubt or debate.

After the January fires, many Los Angeles tenants were trapped in a nightmare. Their homes stood physically intact but unlivable — filled with toxic debris. Some landlords refused to take responsibility, and renters were told to handle cleanup on their own, despite health warnings.

This legislative change finally settles that question. The new law now places the full burden of cleanup squarely on property owners.

Lawmakers Credit Journalism and Public Pressure

The driving force behind SB 610 was a mix of tenant advocacy, media exposure, and relentless community pressure.

State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, who represents Pasadena and Altadena, said her office received dozens of complaints from renters desperate for guidance. She credited LAist’s in-depth reporting for helping bring attention to the issue.

“The reporting that you all had done over at LAist was really helpful,” Pérez said. “We’re hearing directly from constituents and seeing real stories of people who can’t return home because landlords refused cleanup. This bill makes it clear — this is a landlord’s duty.”

The California law now serves as a direct response to months of confusion and inconsistent local enforcement that followed the wildfires.

Local Lawsuits Highlight Systemic Failure

Before the passage of SB 610, several legal battles had already begun to unfold. Last month, L.A. County settled a lawsuit filed by tenants in Altadena who accused health officials of failing to enforce post-fire cleanup standards.

In Pasadena, a similar case is still pending. Residents say city code inspectors told them that “ash” didn’t technically violate habitability codes because it wasn’t mentioned in local ordinances — even after health officials warned that the debris was toxic.

“This law makes important changes in the obligations of a landlord,” said Lisa Derderian, spokesperson for the City of Pasadena. “It will change how the city communicates with both tenants and landlords going forward.”

Los Angeles Faces Its Own Reckoning

Even the City of Los Angeles struggled with consistent messaging after the fires. During a February web meeting, a housing official mistakenly told renters they were responsible for cleaning their units — a statement later contradicted by the department’s own spokesperson.

“Landlords must remediate hazardous ash debris in rental units,” clarified Sharon Sandow, spokesperson for the L.A. Housing Department.

Such contradictions underscored the lack of clear policy — a gap that SB 610 now fills with precision.

What the New Law Guarantees for Tenants

Beyond cleaning obligations, the California landlord law ensures several key protections for renters:

• Landlords must refund rent for any months the property was uninhabitable.

• Tenants can return to their homes at their original rental rate after cleanup.

• Hazard removal must be completed before re-occupancy.

According to Debra Carlton from the California Apartment Association, the law “doesn’t expand landlord duties but clarifies them.”

“It reaffirms common-sense standards,” Carlton said. “Landlords were already responsible for cleanup before tenants moved back — this just ensures everyone understands that clearly.”

A Win for Renters and Advocates

For tenant advocacy groups, the law represents more than policy — it’s a validation of years of struggle.

Katie Clark, organizer with the Altadena Tenants Union, said the new law finally removes ambiguity.

“This closes that gap,” she said. “There’s no more room for misunderstanding. Ash and smoke damage are now absolutely part of habitability concerns.”

Tenant groups have long argued that disaster recovery shouldn’t depend on individual negotiation or city interpretation — and SB 610 makes that official.

The Human Toll Behind the Policy

Still, for many renters, the law came too late. Marah Eakin and Andrew Morgan, Pasadena residents, lost access to their rental home after the Eaton Fire. Despite paying for independent testing that revealed high lead levels, their landlord refused to clean the property.

“We didn’t see an end in sight,” Eakin said. “For a while, we were moving every few days — it was exhausting.”

After moving nine times, the couple finally settled in Altadena in July with their two children. Their former property manager, Trevor Barrocas, said the cleanup was delayed due to insurance claim disputes with California’s Fair Plan program.

“The property has still not been fully remediated,” Barrocas said. “The unprecedented circumstances have affected landlords, homeowners, and tenants alike.”

Conclusion: A Clear Path Forward for California Tenants

The signing of SB 610 marks a turning point for California rental housing law. After years of wildfires and confusion, the state has taken a decisive step to protect tenants and ensure accountability.

With this legislation, landlords are now legally bound to restore safe living conditions after disasters — no exceptions, no confusion, and no passing the burden to tenants.

As California continues to face the growing impact of wildfires, SB 610 stands as both a safeguard for renters and a clear message: when disaster strikes, the responsibility lies with those who own the property, not those who rent it.

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