Los Angeles becomes largest US city to ban oil drilling

The Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance on October 28 to end oil extraction and stop the deepening or redrilling of wells within city limits.

This move makes Los Angeles the largest city in the United States to implement such a ban. The legislation requires companies to phase out existing operations over a period of 20 years. Residents in neighborhoods like South LA campaigned for over a decade to secure this ban.

Community members reported that living near active and idle wells caused health issues such as headaches, nausea, and respiratory difficulties. They also expressed concerns about air quality and the release of toxic pollutants like benzene and hydrogen sulfide. The ordinance specifically targets areas where oil infrastructure sits close to homes, schools, and playgrounds. The California Independent Petroleum Association claims the ordinance is an unlawful taking of private property.

The association argues that the move will increase residents' dependence on foreign oil and move jobs and investment elsewhere. While the California Energy Commission notes that local production does not have a simple relationship with gas prices, the state's oil output has been declining since the 1980s. The city faces a significant challenge regarding the cleanup of abandoned infrastructure. Many idle wells have not been plugged, with some remaining inactive for over a century.

The state agency CalGEM reported collecting only $1 million out of $36 million in fines in 2025. A report by Carbon Tracker suggests that even if all future oil profits went toward decommissioning, the state would still face a $7 billion shortfall, which would likely fall to taxpayers.