NLSLA, Morrison Foerster, and Tenants Secure Landmark Agreement with Los Angeles County to Protect Eaton Fire Survivors

Los Angeles, CA — Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA), Morrison Foerster LLP, and community petitioners have secured a groundbreaking Settlement Agreement with Los Angeles County and the Department of Public Health (LA DPH), three months after filing a lawsuit over the County’s failure to meaningfully inspect and enforce habitability standards for tenants whose homes were contaminated by toxic smoke, ash, and soot from the Eaton Fire.

The agreement, reached after a lawsuit was filed by the Altadena Tenants Union and individual tenant wildfire survivors, requires LA DPH to adopt significant new policies that presume rental housing in Altadena was impacted by the toxic smoke, soot and ash and must be mitigated. It also orders complete professional inspections if tenants whose homes have not been professionally inspected or remediated file complaints. Tenants must file complaints by December 31, 2025.

“Tenants should never have been left on their own to prove that their homes were unsafe,” said Lena Silver, Director of Policy and Administrative Advocacy at NLSLA. “This agreement ensures that the County finally treats fire contamination as the public health crisis it is—and provides tenants with a path to safe, habitable housing.”

“We are proud to stand with tenants and NLSLA in achieving a precedent-setting agreement that recognizes the lasting dangers of wildfire contamination and creates enforceable protections for impacted renters,” added Whitney O’Byrne, partner at Morrison Foerster.

Terms of the agreement include:

• Presumption of Damage: LA DPH will adopt an “Altadena Presumption” that the Eaton Fire impacted all rental housing in unincorporated Altadena. Complaints from tenants whose homes have not been professionally inspected and remediated will automatically trigger professional inspections and mandatory remediation orders pursuant to the inspection results.
• Public Notice: LA DPH has posted the presumption and tenant rights on its website, and it will be posted on other wildfire recovery pages, ensuring residents are informed of their protections.
• Training & Enforcement: LA DPH inspectors will receive new training and guidance to enforce remediation requirements.
• Community Outreach: Within weeks, LA DPH will launch an extensive outreach campaign—including direct mail to households in affected zip codes, library postings, social media announcements, and collaboration with local community groups, including the Eaton Fire Collaborative—to ensure tenants are aware of their rights.

“This agreement shows what’s possible when tenants come together to demand accountability,” said Katie Clark of the Altadena Tenants Union. “Altadena families deserve homes free of toxic hazards, and now we have a clear mechanism to make sure that happens.”

The Eaton Fire left hundreds of households exposed to toxic conditions, including dangerous levels of heavy metals confirmed by researchers. This agreement represents a significant acknowledgment by Los Angeles County that wildfire contamination in rental housing requires industry-standard inspection and remediation, creating a model that could be replicated in future disasters.

The County notice with instructions for complaints can be viewed here.

If you are a tenant impacted by the Eaton Fire and need assistance, please contact NLSLA at 800-433-6251.