California employment law · Los Angeles, Los Angeles County
In Los Angeles, state employment law applies everywhere, but the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County each add their own minimum wage and worker protection rules. Where exactly you worked decides which local rules apply and which Labor Commissioner office handles a wage claim. An independent California employment attorney can look at your situation and the deadlines.
A free, no-obligation first call. Fee terms explained in writing before any work starts.
What is local in Los Angeles
The state Labor Commissioner's Office (DLSE) handles wage claims and retaliation complaints. Its Los Angeles district office is at 320 W. Fourth Street, Suite 450. Van Nuys and Long Beach also have offices in the county.
Official source ↗Work inside the City of Los Angeles is covered by the city's own minimum wage and sick leave rules and other local labor ordinances, enforced by the Office of Wage Standards.
Official source ↗Unincorporated areas of the county, such as East Los Angeles, have a separate county minimum wage and worker protections, handled by the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs.
Official source ↗For federal discrimination charges, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a district office in Los Angeles. A charge can often be dual-filed with California's Civil Rights Department.
Official source ↗Employment lawsuits under state law, such as wrongful termination or FEHA claims, are generally filed in the Superior Court. It has many courthouses; check which one handles civil cases for your area.
Official source ↗Los Angeles County has 88 incorporated cities, and each one can set its own rules. The City of Los Angeles has its own minimum wage ordinance and paid sick leave requirements, enforced by the Office of Wage Standards. Unincorporated areas of the county have a separate county minimum wage, administered by the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. Many other cities in the county, such as Pasadena, Santa Monica or West Hollywood, have adopted their own ordinances, while others simply follow the state minimum wage. The local rates change on their own schedule, often each July, so check the official page for the current figure rather than relying on a number you saw last year.
What counts is generally where the work is performed, not where the employer is headquartered or where you live. If you drive between locations or work part of the week in another city, the rules can apply to the hours worked inside each city. Your employer should post the applicable local notices at the workplace. If your pay stubs show a rate below the local minimum for hours you worked in the city, you may be owed the difference, and the ordinances generally prohibit retaliation for asking about it. A local agency complaint, a claim with the state Labor Commissioner and a court case are different routes with different remedies, which is why it helps to have an attorney compare them before you file anything.
For unpaid wages, overtime, missed break premiums or a late final paycheck, you can file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner has several offices in Los Angeles County, including downtown Los Angeles, Van Nuys and Long Beach. A claim generally goes to the office that serves the area where you worked. The process usually starts with a settlement conference, and claims that do not settle can go to a hearing. Retaliation complaints, for example after you complained about pay or safety, are handled separately and generally must be filed within one year.
For discrimination, harassment or retaliation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department usually comes first, and the CRD accepts complaints online from anywhere in the state. If you want to sue in state court, the case is generally filed in the Superior Court of Los Angeles County after you receive a right-to-sue notice. Federal claims can also go to the EEOC's Los Angeles District Office, with shorter deadlines than California's. Because the routes overlap and some deadlines are short, write down the key dates now: when you were hired, when you complained, when you were disciplined or let go, and when you were last paid.
Local information as of October 2026. Court locations, hours and local rules change; check the official source before you go.
Easy to start
You tell us what is going on. We find the right attorney for it.
Choose your topic and leave your contact details. You don’t need a complete file to get started.
Our intake team gets in touch, clarifies what you need and connects you with an independent attorney licensed in California.
The attorney reviews your case and explains the scope and the fee arrangement in writing. You decide whether to go ahead.
Who is behind Firedcheck
Firedcheck is part of Omnilex. Leon leads Omnilex’s US business from San Francisco. He is a California attorney and spent about twelve years at Goodwin and Kirkland & Ellis before joining Omnilex.
Leon does not take on the individual matters that come through this site. Your matter is handled by the independent California attorney you choose to engage, who works in employment law.
You may still be wondering …
Generally, the local minimum wage depends on where you perform the work. If you work inside the City of Los Angeles, the city ordinance can apply even if the company is headquartered somewhere else. Check the Office of Wage Standards for coverage details.
Generally the district office that serves the area where you worked. Los Angeles County has several, including Los Angeles, Van Nuys and Long Beach. You can also file a wage claim online, and the Labor Commissioner assigns it to an office.
The first call is free and without obligation. If you want an attorney to take on your matter, the attorney explains the scope and fee arrangement in writing before any work starts.
Our intake team reviews your request and gets in touch to clarify it and arrange the call. Sending the form does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not book an appointment.
The first step is free
Time for your situation.
Clear, personal and without obligation.