The State of Emergency and related price gouging protections currently in place in Los Angeles County are set to expire on May 28, 2026.
The emergency declaration was initially issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2025 in response to the destructive Palisades and Altadena wildfires. Although the state-level emergency order expired in January 2026, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors chose to continue the local declaration. Under California law, the board could only renew the order in 30-day increments and ultimately extended it four times. However, during its May 19, 2026 meeting, the board did not approve another extension, allowing both the State of Emergency and the associated price gouging restrictions to expire at the end of the month.
After Los Angeles County continued the emergency order beyond the state’s expiration date, the California Self Storage Association (CSSA) partnered with the Self Storage Association (SSA) to engage directly with county officials regarding market conditions affecting self-storage operators. The organizations provided data showing no unusual increase in demand, declining pricing trends, and lower inflation-adjusted rental rates across the market.
CSSA and SSA also emphasized the role self-storage plays during times of transition, highlighting benefits such as flexible month-to-month leases, the absence of background checks or deposits, and convenient move-in and move-out options. Throughout the process, both associations advocated for allowing the emergency declaration to sunset.
In addition, more than a dozen CSSA members operating facilities within Los Angeles County participated in outreach efforts by submitting letters to local chambers of commerce and county supervisors, providing local market insight and support during the discussion process.
“The end of this State of Emergency was truly a team effort,” said Nathan McElmurry, chair of the CSSA board. “Our coordinated work with our trusted partners at the SSA, the engagement of our members throughout Los Angeles County and beyond, and the additional expertise provided by our local lobbyists all played an important role. We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this unified and collaborative effort on behalf of the self-storage industry.”
With the expiration of the price gouging restrictions, CSSA encouraged operators to remain mindful of customers’ needs and continue maintaining fair and responsible pricing practices.