West Hollywood, a city in Los Angeles County, California, has unanimously approved an ordinance allowing people in polyamorous relationships, including throuples and foursomes, to register as domestic partners.
The ordinance, introduced by Mayor John Heilman, was passed by the city council on Tuesday and allows three or more people in committed relationships to officially register their partnerships with the city.
Under the new law, registered partners will enjoy certain protections, including hospital visitation rights and recognition by healthcare facilities and city-operated jails, as well as additional housing protections.
The measure also prevents landlords from terminating or refusing to renew a tenancy simply because a registered partner remains in the rented property.
However, the ordinance does not grant multi-partner relationships the same legal rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples or traditional domestic partners.
To qualify, participants must mutually consent to the arrangement and must not be related by blood. Registration is also open to people who do not reside in West Hollywood.
Christina Fialho, an attorney and founder of the advocacy group Rewrite the following: BiLine, who first proposed the protections in 2025, described the development as a significant step forward.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, she said, “This law is just the beginning.”
She added, “I think it makes it possible for people to dream about a future they once thought was out of reach.”
Supporters say the ordinance is aimed at addressing discrimination against nontraditional families in areas such as housing, healthcare and education.
However, the move has also attracted criticism from opponents, including the conservative California Family Council, which previously described support for polyamorous relationships as “cultural suicide.”
