The Eras of Los Angeles Multifamily Construction: A Guide

Los Angeles has one of the most diverse multifamily housing stocks in the country. From Spanish Revival courtyard apartments built nearly a century ago to modern, glass towers downtown, every era of development reflects a different part of the city’s growth and policies.

Understanding when a building was built can tell you a lot about its value, tenant profile, and rent control status. Here’s a breakdown of the major eras of L.A. multifamily construction.

The Eras of Los Angeles Multifamily Construction

Walk down almost any block in Los Angeles and you’ll see how much history is baked into the apartment stock. A Spanish courtyard from the 1930s might sit next to a post-war dingbat, which might sit across the street from a shiny glass tower that went up just a few years ago. For owners and brokers, the year a building was put up tells you a lot—about what the tenants are likely paying, whether rent control applies, and even what kind of buyer will be interested.

1920s–1940s: Pre-War Apartments

In the boom years before World War II, Los Angeles was covered with low-rise apartments—Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, and Westlake are still full of them. These places tend to have character: Spanish Colonial details, Deco flourishes, courtyards tucked behind iron gates. They’re usually only a few stories tall and rarely have parking, which wasn’t an issue back then.

Nearly all of them fall under the city’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance. That means tenants often pay far below market rents, and the plumbing and electrical may not have seen a proper upgrade in decades. Investors who buy these aren’t doing it for the turnkey income; they’re banking on the chance to renovate and reposition.

1950s–1970s: The Post-War Building Boom

After the war, demand for housing exploded. The city answered with garden apartments in the Valley and dingbats—boxy two-story buildings with carports tucked underneath—everywhere else. These complexes typically range from a handful of units up to a few dozen.

Like the older pre-war buildings, most of them are still under rent control. Many have been lightly updated over the years, but just as many still look and feel like the mid-century structures they are. They’re not glamorous, but they’re the backbone of L.A.’s multifamily market. Buyers look at them as workhorses—properties that can keep producing once the right upgrades are made.

1980s–2000s: A Shift Toward Condos

Rent control, which arrived in the late ’70s, made new rental construction less appealing. A lot of developers pivoted toward condos instead. The rental projects that did get built during these years were often bigger, with amenities like gyms and pools that earlier buildings never bothered with.

These properties aren’t covered by RSO, though they do fall under California’s statewide rent cap. That makes them easier to finance and easier to operate, which is why institutional buyers tend to scoop them up.

2010s–Today: Density and Transit

The last decade has been about density and redevelopment. Downtown, Hollywood, and Koreatown especially have seen a wave of mid-rise and high-rise construction, often tied to new transit lines.

These new projects are large—hundreds of units in some cases—and almost always mixed-use, with retail at the street and apartments above. They’re exempt from RSO, and they command high rents. Ownership usually sits with large funds or developers, though off-market opportunities still pop up for smaller players.

Why the Age of a Building Matters

For an owner or broker, the construction date is a shorthand. If it’s pre-1978, assume rent control. If it’s older, budget for plumbing and seismic work. If it’s newer, the buyer pool probably includes institutions instead of just local investors. The era frames both the value and the strategy.

The Bottom Line

Los Angeles’s multifamily landscape tells the story of the city itself. The ornate 1920s buildings, the functional post-war boxes, the condo wave, and now the glass towers—all of them shape how investors look at the market today.

👉 At The Beverly Group, we actively buy properties from every era whether it’s a 1930s courtyard building with legacy tenants or a newer asset with higher rents, we know how to underwrite it and close.  If you’re a broker or owner considering a sale of multifamily property, we can help you navigate the complexities of rent control, deferred maintenance, and value-add strategies.

📩 Contact us today  to talk about your property and see what we can offer.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. For guidance specific to your property, please consult with your attorney, accountant, or other qualified advisor.