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Environment & Climate

Los Angeles bans new oil drilling and phases out extraction within 20 years

Deutsche Welle reports that the Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance ending new drilling and phasing out existing oil extraction, which an industry group calls an unlawful taking.

Published Nov 2, 2026 · 15:45 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • The Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance on October 28 banning new oil drilling and phasing out existing extraction over 20 years.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The ordinance immediately halts extraction and bars re-drilling or deepening of wells, affecting operators within city limits.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The California Independent Petroleum Association says the ordinance is an unlawful taking of private property, and energy companies are prepared to challenge it.[Deutsche Welle]
  • A Carbon Tracker report finds a $7 billion decommissioning shortfall even if future profits went to well cleanup, while CalGEM collected just $1 million of $36 million in 2025 fines.[Deutsche Welle]

Key facts

  • The LA City Council approved the ordinance on October 28.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The ordinance bans oil drilling and phases out oil extraction within city limits over the next 20 years.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The ordinance immediately stops oil extraction and bans re-drilling or deepening of wells.[Deutsche Welle]
  • Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association, told Deutsche Welle that the ordinance constitutes an unlawful taking of private property.[Deutsche Welle]
  • According to CalGEM's own data, the agency collected just $1 million of $36 million in fines in 2025.[Deutsche Welle]
  • A Carbon Tracker report found that the state would still face a $7 billion shortfall even if all future profits from oil companies operating in California went to decommissioning wells.[Deutsche Welle]

What remains uncertain

  • Energy companies are prepared to challenge the ordinance, according to CIPA's CEO, but the reporting does not describe any filed legal challenge.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The unlawful-taking characterization is the industry group's position and has not been adjudicated in the reporting.[Deutsche Welle]
  • The $7 billion shortfall is a Carbon Tracker finding, and the reporting does not indicate how the state would close it.[Deutsche Welle]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.