LA City Council votes to advance plan to phase out urban oil drilling

The Los Angeles City Council voted 14-0 on Tuesday to advance a plan that would phase out urban oil drilling across the city. The council directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance prohibiting new oil and gas extraction and classifying existing operations as nonconforming uses, according to city officials.

Why is Los Angeles moving to ban oil drilling now?

Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, the lead proponent of the measure, stated that new state legislation has granted cities the authority to regulate and prohibit oil and gas operations. Specifically, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3233 in 2024, a bill authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis that expands the power of cities and counties to limit such activities.

Yaroslavsky told colleagues before the vote that it is now “unequivocal” that the city has this authority. She argued that the lack of an enforceable ordinance has had real consequences for residents.

Did You Know? Los Angeles currently has more than 2,000 active oil wells, many of which are located near schools, parks, places of worship, and residential neighborhoods.

How does this differ from the 2022 drilling ban?

This action follows a failed 2022 attempt to phase out citywide oil extraction. At that time, companies including Hillcrest Beverly Oil Corp., E&B Natural Resources Management Corp., and Warren Resources challenged the measure in court.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge eventually ruled against the city, finding that officials had not adequately reviewed the impacts of the ban. The current effort relies on the 2024 state law to avoid similar legal pitfalls, though Yaroslavsky acknowledged the city could still face new legal challenges.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the shift from the 2022 failure to the current proposal hinges on the legislative bridge provided by AB 3233. The central business tension remains a conflict between local public health mandates and industry warnings regarding the economic stability of fuel supplies.

What are the projected business and health impacts?

Industry groups have warned that restricting local production could increase California’s reliance on imported crude oil, which may impact gas prices. These concerns coincide with ongoing anxiety over fuel costs across the state.

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Conversely, Yaroslavsky framed the phaseout as a public health necessity. She told The California Post that more than 500,000 Angelenos live within a quarter mile of an oil well. According to Yaroslavsky, this proximity contributes to higher rates of asthma in children, the use of oxygen tanks by seniors, and preterm labor in pregnant women.

What happens next for the oil ordinance?

Tuesday’s vote does not immediately shut down active wells. Instead, it approves the associated environmental findings and starts the formal drafting process for the ordinance.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit all new extraction and label existing sites as nonconforming uses in all zones. The council is expected to hold a final vote on the measure later this summer. Councilwoman Traci Park was absent for the Tuesday vote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the 2,000+ active wells close immediately?
No. Tuesday’s action begins the process of adopting an ordinance to prohibit new drilling and create a path toward an eventual phaseout of existing operations.

What law allows Los Angeles to pursue this ban now?
The city is utilizing Assembly Bill 3233, signed in 2024 by Gov. Gavin Newsom and authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis, which gives local governments broader authority to regulate or prohibit oil and gas activities.

Who challenged the city’s previous attempt to ban drilling?
Warren Resources, E&B Natural Resources Management Corp., and Hillcrest Beverly Oil Corp. challenged the 2022 ordinance in court, leading a judge to rule against the city.

Do you believe local governments should have the final authority to prohibit energy extraction within city limits?