As employers prepare for 2026, it is increasingly important to
monitor not only state-level employment law changes but also the
wave of local ordinances emerging across California. With 58
counties and hundreds of cities, which include some of the largest
and most heavily regulated jurisdictions in the country,
California's patchwork of local rules continues to expand,
creating compliance obligations that can vary significantly
depending on where employees perform work.
following is a list of notable local ordinances taking effect in
2026:
Los Angeles County – Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance
for Unincorporated Areas
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has adopted a new
Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance (HWPO) for hotels located in
unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The HWPO is scheduled
to become effective on April 1, 2026 (with certain training
requirements coming into effect later in the year).
