Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ Categories
When a complete plan check application is submitted to the Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) with the required fees, the project gains vested rights. This means the project can proceed according to the zoning rules and regulations in effect at the time of fee payment. However, vested rights do not exempt the project from other approvals (e.g., subdivisions, variances) or future citywide safety regulation changes. They also do not protect against state or federal mandate implementations.
Vested rights have limitations:
Read moreIf you filed an entitlement application and paid all fees before the effective date of the New Zoning Code, you have Successional Rights pursuant to Sec. 1.4.4. (Successional Rights). This means you can generally continue using the zoning regulations that were in effect when you filed, even if the New Zoning Code is now in effect.
However, there are a few important caveats:
Read moreIf your building or use existed legally before the New Zoning Code went into effect for a property, it might be considered a nonconformity. Nonconformities are allowed to continue, but there are rules about how they can be changed or expanded.
Key Points
Read moreEach project is unique and the process may vary. However, the general process for obtaining a building permit can be summarized as follows:
Read moreThe New Zoning Code is implemented by various City Agencies, with the Department of City Planning (DCP) and the Department of Building and Safety (DBS) playing the primary roles. Other departments involved in the implementation process, such as the Department of Transportation and Public Works Department, each with specific responsibilities for certain regulations.
Read moreThe New Zoning Code (Chapter 1A of the Los Angeles Municipal Code) provides a comprehensive framework for determining permitted uses. Here's a breakdown of the process:
1. Identify the Use District
Read moreThe New Zoning Code (Chapter 1A of the Los Angeles Municipal Code) allows for increased floor area ratio (FAR) and height beyond the base regulations in exchange for the provision of public benefits.
FAR is the measurement of the total floor area of all buildings on a lot in relation to the size of the lot, while height is the vertical dimension of a building.
Base FAR and Height
Read moreQuestions regarding the New Zoning Code can be answered through a variety of resources:
Interactive Web-Based Zoning Code
The Interactive Web-Based Zoning Code provides comprehensive information about the code, including:
Read moreThe Interactive Web-Based Zoning Code has a property report function that streamlines how to find the zoning regulations that apply to a specific property.
Read moreYou can find the zoning for a property by using the Zoning Information and Map Access System (ZIMAS):
- Go to ZIMAS.
- Enter the property address.
- Select "Planning and Zoning" from the drop-down menu.
- Check the "Zone" field.
- Click on the zone to view the zoning information.
Understanding the Zoning Information
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