Mayor Karen Bass Friday issued an emergency executive order to waive 2025 business taxes for residents and businesses impacted by wildfires.
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The order directs the Office of Finance to draft an ordinance that would postpone taxes for businesses, as well as provide relief from the city's transient occupancy (hotel) tax for fire-displaced victims.
"My directive to City Hall is clear -- we are going to do everything we can to rebuild our communities, and that certainly includes not taxing business owners who are already going through so much," Bass said in a statement.
City Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades, will lead the effort on this matter as the proposed ordinance moves through council.
"Our businesses are the backbone of our recovery and need urgent relief," Park said in a statement. "That's why today I'm introducing a motion to deliver immediate and tangible support in tandem with the mayor's executive order."
The Office of Finance is expected to draft the ordinance and file it for consideration by Saturday. If approved, the City Council would direct the office to immediately conduct outreach and notify businesses about the relief measure.
Additionally, the Office of Finance would be directed to report on providing relief from the hotel tax for residents staying in a hotel between Jan. 7 to April 6 as a result of their homes being damaged or destroyed by the fires.
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