The West Hollywood City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on November 2 establishing a local registration process for multi-partner domestic relationships, granting specific visitation and tenant protections. The measure builds on a March 2024 anti-discrimination ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on family or relationship structure.
The new ordinance allows individuals in loving, committed, and consensual relationships involving three or more adults to register their partnerships with the city clerk. Qualifying relationships require mutual consent and prohibit blood relatives from registering together. Registration is not restricted to West Hollywood residents, meaning individuals from outside the city may also file declarations.
Key protections include hospital visitation rights and additional tenant safeguards, though the ordinance explicitly states it does not confer the same legal rights as marriage or traditional domestic partnerships. The policy text declares as public policy that the city must recognize and protect multi-partner domestic relationships and shield them from discrimination.
How the Ordinance Works
To qualify for registration, parties must demonstrate a committed, consensual relationship involving three or more adults and provide mutual consent. The declaration does not require cohabitation or shared finances. Once filed, the registration grants limited city-level protections, including:
- Hospital visitation rights for registered partners
- Jail visitation rights for registered partners
- Tenant protections against housing discrimination based on relationship structure
The ordinance does not create a new legal category of marriage or domestic partnership and does not override state or federal law. West Hollywood officials emphasized that the measure is a local policy addressing gaps in existing protections.
Context: Growing Local Protections for Diverse Relationship Structures
West Hollywood joins 10 other U.S. cities and counties with similar ordinances, according to a Barnes & Thornburg LLP legal analysis. These jurisdictions include:
- California: Berkeley, Oakland, West Hollywood
- Massachusetts: Cambridge, Somerville
- Michigan: Hazel Park
- Oregon: Astoria, Portland
- Washington: Olympia, Seattle
The policies vary in scope: some create local registries, while others focus solely on anti-discrimination provisions. West Hollywood’s ordinance is the latest in a series of local efforts to address legal gaps for non-traditional family structures.
Supporting Voices and Rationale
City Councilmember Chelsea Byers described the ordinance as a landmark step in supporting queer and evolving family structures. Christina Fialho, an attorney and founder of the bisexual media advocacy group Rewrite the BiLine, initially proposed the idea to Byers in 2023. Fialho stated the measure is “just the beginning” and could enable people to “dream about a future they once thought was out of reach.”
The ordinance builds on West Hollywood’s 2024 anti-discrimination law, which added family or relationship structure to the city’s protected classes. This broader measure prohibits discrimination in housing, healthcare, and education based on relationship arrangements.
Opposing Perspectives and Concerns
Some critics argue the ordinance normalizes polyamory and could pave the way for broader legal recognition of polygamous relationships. Brad Wilcox, a professor at the University of Virginia and senior fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, expressed concern that the policy might erode traditional family structures. His remarks reflect broader debates about the legal and social implications of recognizing multi-partner relationships.
The ordinance does not address federal or state-level recognition, leaving registered relationships without the same rights as married couples or traditional domestic partnerships. Legal experts note that while the measure provides symbolic recognition, its practical impact remains limited without higher-level legal changes.