If you’re planning to own property in Los Angeles, you must know about a few rules and regulations. Whether you’re looking to lease or sell a commercial property or simply buy a piece of land for yourself, staying updated with the land use laws can make or break your project.
The average cost of property in Los Angeles is $950,032, but if you’re not sure of the laws that can affect your property, you’ll run into many legal and financial troubles. So, let’s check out some of the key land use laws!
1. Zoning code regulations
Various zoning codes in Los Angeles specify certain limits for housing properties.
For example, the height limit for a residential property cannot exceed 30 feet, and the lot size can vary according to local zoning laws. For RE20, the limit is typically 20,000 square feet.
If you plan to have a yard, the minimum requirement is 10% of the lot’s width for side yards.
There are different residential zones, such as single-family ones (R1), duplex (R2), and multi-family ones (R3, R3-R5). So, R1 zones will have lower height and area limits than R5 ones.
2. Los Angeles General Plan
The Los Angeles City Planning Department is the official agency responsible for administering and modifying the city’s zoning laws.
One major component of the City Department is the General Plan, which outlines the zoning laws and land use in Los Angeles.
It also works with other agencies like the Department of Building and Safety that look after the permit processes and resolve any issues that might arise for zoning permits.
If you’re a property owner or developer, you must maintain strong relations with the City Planning Department. You can also get in touch with a property attorney los angeles, to help you navigate different sections of the offices.
3. Community plans
Community Plans fall under the General Plan of the Los Angeles City Planning Department. There are detailed guidelines mentioned for land use within specific neighborhoods.
The main aim of community plans is to ensure the long-term development of the area and Los Angeles as a whole. They can be seen as the bridge between the local laws in a neighborhood and the broader county laws.
The good thing about community plans is that they regularly ask for input from the residents themselves, which makes the process transparent.
So, if you’re concerned about any particular clause in the property laws, you can give your views. As a developer or owner, you’ll get a clearer picture of the permissible actions on your plot.
4. Accessory Dwelling Units
Recently, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or granny flats have been gaining a lot of popularity. These are typically secondary housing spaces that can be built on the same plot as the single-family house.
If you’re planning to build one, you need to know the provisions and minimum requirements for ADUs in a single plot because the zoning laws have been recently updated in favor of house owners.
ADUs are accessible and affordable options for renters who want comfortable houses on a low budget. These also have their limitations, such as the maximum number of ADUs that can be built in a lot or the maximum size requirements.
5. Environmental considerations
Land use laws in Los Angeles will always keep the environment in mind. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a thorough review process for developmental projects to check whether any of them might harm air quality, traffic, or any other environmental factors.
For builders who want to construct large projects or houses, they’ll veto submit a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR) so that the CEQA can assess their projects properly.
6. Commercial and Industrial Zoning
There are different commercial zoning in Los Angeles, such as:
- CR (Limited Commercial): For small-sized retail or office spaces
- C1 (Neighborhood commercial): Local businesses, such as grocery or bakery stores
- C2 (Community Commercial): Medium-sized retail and office spaces
- C4 (Commercial): High-intensity commercial spaces, such as shopping centers
- C5 (Commercial): Specialized commercial spaces like hotels
When it comes to industrial areas, these places are strictly kept for manufacturing or warehousing. MR1 areas are designed for light manufacturing and limited commercial uses, whereas MR2 areas are for high-intensity manufacturing.
Conclusion
While navigating through Los Angeles’ land use laws, it’s necessary to grasp the zoning laws and the different significant permits. Depending on the locality and your use of the property, get in touch with a professional attorney to better understand the costs associated.
