The Los Angeles City Council voted 13-0 on Wednesday to implement a 20-year phaseout of oil drilling within the city limits. The decision aims to address concerns over pollution near residential areas and schools, although it faces opposition from the oil industry, which has cited potential lawsuits and increased dependence on foreign energy sources.
This vote represents a significant step in a nearly decade-long effort to regulate or eliminate oil extraction within the city, where over 5,200 active, idle, and abandoned oil and gas wells have raised public health and environmental concerns. Supporters of the ban emphasize its importance as a public health measure, arguing that zoning laws should protect residents from harmful industrial operations.
Oil companies and industry groups have voiced strong objections. E&B Natural Resources Management Corporation and affiliated companies filed legal challenges, asserting that the proposed restrictions could force wells to cease operations before the 20-year deadline by limiting essential maintenance and other activities. Their attorneys warned that the plan could infringe upon constitutional property rights and expose taxpayers to costly litigation.
The California Independent Petroleum Association also criticized the measure, stating that halting local production would necessitate greater reliance on imported oil and jeopardize investments made under existing permits. CEO Rock Zierman argued that the move would lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions, increased gas prices, job losses, and reduced tax revenue for essential services, vowing to challenge the decision in court.
This is not the first attempt by Los Angeles to ban oil drilling. The city approved an initial ban in December 2022, but it was subsequently struck down by a judge in September 2024, leading to its repeal in 2025. A new state law empowering local governments to regulate oil drilling provided Los Angeles with a renewed legal basis for its ordinance.
Council members acknowledged the likelihood of further legal battles. Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky stated that the city has invested significant resources in strengthening its environmental and legal case for the ban. Councilwoman Traci Park echoed these sentiments, asserting that oil wells are incompatible with residential neighborhoods, citing negative impacts on both the environment and public health.
In 2024, Los Angeles produced approximately 1.6 million barrels of crude oil, which constituted about 1.4% of California's total production, according to city planning documents. The council's agenda on Wednesday also included a federal lawsuit filed by Nasco Petroleum challenging the city's earlier drilling ordinance. The unanimous vote mandates the immediate advancement of the new measure.