BedBugWizard

Bed Bugs in Los Angeles

Last reviewed:

Los Angeles spreads out rather than up. Alongside the towers downtown, much of the city is made of single-story and two-story apartment courts, duplexes and fourplexes, bungalow clusters, and houses with garages or back units converted into separate dwellings. Add a warm climate and a population that moves around by car, and bed bug problems in LA look a little different from what you would see in a dense Eastern city.

No off-season

In colder climates, travel patterns and heating seasons shape when problems appear. In LA, mild weather means you cannot assume that any time of year is safer. Open windows and outdoor walkways do not keep bed bugs out, because they arrive on people and belongings, not through the air. Keep inspecting beds and sofas after travel or guests regardless of the season.

Courts, back units and spread

Garden apartment courts often have several small buildings around a shared walkway and laundry room. Bugs can move between units that share a wall or a ceiling, and then hitch rides through the laundry area. A back unit or converted garage behind a house is a separate dwelling that may still share a yard, a laundry and a landlord with the main house, so ask the owner to check both. Tenants who share a bedroom or sublet a room in a larger house should also tell the person they rent from, even if their own room seems unaffected.

If you live in a house, spread is usually within a household. If you live in a fourplex or court, it is better to have your landlord arrange inspection of the whole property in one visit.

If you find bed bugs

  • Photograph and save a specimen, and write down when you first saw signs.
  • Notify your landlord or property manager in writing; text messages and emails leave a record.
  • Do not discard your mattress. Treat it or encase it, and keep it where it is until your exterminator advises.
  • Wash and heat-dry fabrics, then store them in sealed bags or bins.

What to ask a local exterminator

  • Are you licensed by the state of California to do structural pest control?
  • Do you also treat outbuildings, back units or garages where furniture is stored?
  • What is your approach for a multi-unit property, and who coordinates the other units?
  • How will heat treatment work in a house or unit without central cooling equipment you can easily control?

Official resources

The City of Los Angeles Housing Department provides tenant and landlord information, including the city's rent stabilization rules and how to report housing problems, at housing.lacity.gov. Tenants outside the city limits, in places like Long Beach or unincorporated areas, should check their own city or county. This site cannot give legal advice; a local tenant rights organization can answer lease questions.

Related guides

Request a match with pest control companies serving Los Angeles and compare quotes before you commit.