Effective September 8, 2025, the new minimum wage rate for hotels with sixty or more rooms has been raised to $22.50 after a temporary stay of the increase was lifted.

The new rate was previously set to take effect on July 1, 2025. However, the increase was temporarily suspended on June 27, 2025 after a referendum petition to repeal the underlying ordinance (Ordinance No. 188610) was filed. Then, on September 8, 2025, the City Clerk issued a Certificate of Insufficiency, immediately lifting the suspension. The City Clerk based the Certificate of Insufficiency on the Petition’s failure to obtain the required number of valid signatures of registered voters within the City.

The Ordinance applies to all hotel workers who work for hotels within the Los Angeles City boundaries, including but not limited to housekeepers, front desk staff, maintenance and engineering, food and beverage service, security and other operational roles. The Ordinance mandates a phased increase in the minimum wage for hotel workers. Importantly, the Ordinance imposes an immediate increase of the minimum wage to $22.50/hour (effective September 8, 2025), with annual increases eventually raising that minimum wage to $30.00/hour by July 2028. In addition, the Ordinance increases health benefits for hotel workers, which will be effective on July 1, 2026. Beginning on this date, if an employer does not provide benefits equivalent to those in effect, then the employer must pay workers the difference based on the health benefit rate provided to airport employees ($7.65 hourly and adjusted annually). These benefits do not apply to overtime hours. The Ordinance also requires expanded housekeeping training (effective December 1, 2025). Room attendants must within 120 days of hiring or and every five years thereafter, complete a minimum of six (6) hours of housekeeping training certified Public Housekeeping Training Organization, covering several specified elements. Further, employers must post wage rates, leave standards, other OWS ordinances, and benefits in a visible location in English, Spanish, and any language spoken by at least 5% of employees. They must also provide their name, address, and phone number in writing at hire and update employees within 10 days of any changes. Payroll records must be kept for four years and made available to city enforcement staff.

A link to the full Ordinance can be found at https://cityclerk.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-1371-S13_ord_188610_09-08-2025.pdf. Additional information on the City of Los Angeles hotel worker ordinances can be found at https://wagesla.lacity.gov/hotel-worker-ordinances.

Stokes Wagner will continue to monitor the status of the referendum and any other developments. Please reach out to a Stokes Wagner attorney if you have any questions.

For a printable PDF of this article, Click here.

THIS DOCUMENT PROVIDES A GENERAL SUMMARY AND IS FOR INFORMATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE CONSULT WITH COUNSEL BEFORE TAKING OR REFRAINING FROM TAKING ANY ACTION.