In May 2026, Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian proposed a $4-per-square-foot parcel tax on large private nonprofit membership clubs, including private country clubs and golf courses. The proposal would require voter approval before it could take effect.
The clubs frequently mentioned as potentially affected include:
According to the proposal, the tax could raise as much as $250 million annually for infrastructure, homelessness programs, affordable housing initiatives, street repairs, and first-time homebuyer assistance.
As for whether it would force clubs to sell, that's currently a matter of debate:
Supporters argue these clubs occupy extremely valuable land while benefiting from favorable property tax treatment under Proposition 13 and other assessment rules, and therefore should contribute more to city revenues.
Opponents argue that a $4-per-square-foot tax could create annual tax bills in the tens of millions of dollars for some clubs, potentially threatening their financial viability and putting pressure on them to redevelop or sell portions of their land.
For example, a 300-acre golf course contains about 13.1 million square feet. At $4 per square foot, the annual tax would be roughly $52 million per year. That is why many club members and property-rights advocates view the proposal as potentially transformative. (Calculation based on acreage conversion.)
Given your interest in Los Angeles commercial real estate, this proposal is significant because if even one major country club were ever redeveloped, it could create one of the largest infill development opportunities in the city. However, at this point the measure is only a proposal and has not yet been approved by voters.
The clubs frequently mentioned as potentially affected include:
- Los Angeles Country Club
- Bel-Air Country Club
- Riviera Country Club
- Wilshire Country Club
- Hillcrest Country Club
According to the proposal, the tax could raise as much as $250 million annually for infrastructure, homelessness programs, affordable housing initiatives, street repairs, and first-time homebuyer assistance.
As for whether it would force clubs to sell, that's currently a matter of debate:
Supporters argue these clubs occupy extremely valuable land while benefiting from favorable property tax treatment under Proposition 13 and other assessment rules, and therefore should contribute more to city revenues.
Opponents argue that a $4-per-square-foot tax could create annual tax bills in the tens of millions of dollars for some clubs, potentially threatening their financial viability and putting pressure on them to redevelop or sell portions of their land.
For example, a 300-acre golf course contains about 13.1 million square feet. At $4 per square foot, the annual tax would be roughly $52 million per year. That is why many club members and property-rights advocates view the proposal as potentially transformative. (Calculation based on acreage conversion.)
Given your interest in Los Angeles commercial real estate, this proposal is significant because if even one major country club were ever redeveloped, it could create one of the largest infill development opportunities in the city. However, at this point the measure is only a proposal and has not yet been approved by voters.