LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL PASSES ANTI-MANSIONIZATION ORDINANCE

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on May 06, 2008 that limits the building of over-sized McMansions on small lots throughout the city. The result is a fundamental change in the city of Los Angeles zoning code. Changes in land value, housing preferences and housing inventory have been contributing to a trend toward larger single family homes being constructed throughout Los Angeles. When larger homes replace bungalows built when Los Angeles was first developed, however, the larger structures are often incompatible with the established scale and character of older, single-family neighborhoods. The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance grew out of a motion introduced by Councilmember LaBonge in June, 2006 and pertains to homes in flatlands only. A separate ordinance, which is now under consideration by the Los Angeles Planning Department, addresses the expansion of homes in hillside and coastal areas. As part of the discussion leading up to the vote on this measure, the City Council pledged to bring the hillside antimansionization ordinance for a vote within two years. Under the new ordinance, which will be effective in 30 days, a bungalow on a typical 5,000-square-foot lot could be expanded to 3,000 square feet. Current zoning code allows more than twice that mass, with a 7,000-square-foot limit. The ordinance will apply to 300,000 properties in single-family residential zones throughout Los Angeles.

CITY OF LOS ANGELES ADOPTED ORDINANCES

Green Building Program Ordinance

Ordinance Number: 179820

Adopted Date: April 22, 2008

Effective Date: November 1, 2008

Standard of Sustainability

Non-Resedential and High-Rise Residential Projects

Effective Date: May 22, 2008

Standard of Sustainable Excellence

Effective Date: May 1, 2009

Standard of Sustainability

Low-rise Residential Projects

Density Bonus

Ordinance Number: 179681

Adopted Date: February 20, 2008

Effective Date: April 15, 2008

Comprehensive Citywide Sign Regulations

Ordinance Number: 179416

Adopted Date: December 04, 2007

Effective Date: December 20, 2007

Medical Marijuana Dispensary Interim Control Ordinance

Ordinance Number: 179027

Adopted Date: August 01, 2007

Effective Date: September 14, 2007

Revisions to Parking Codes

Ordinance Number: 179191

Adopted Date: September 12, 2007

Effective Date: November 5, 2007

Planning Fee Ordinance

Ordinance Number: 178877

Effective Date: July 22, 2007

Automotive Use Ordinance

Ordinance Number: 178,382

Effective Date: March 24, 2007

Adopted Date: January 24, 2007

Colorado Blvd. Specific Plan Amendment

Ordinance Number: 178,098

Effective Date: January 9, 2007

Adopted Date: November 08, 2006

Eldercare Facilities Ordinance

Ordinance Number: 178,063

Effective Date: December 30, 2006

Adopted Date: November 01, 2006

Residential Hotel Interim Control Ordinance

Ordinance #179,191

Effective Date: November 5, 2007

Adopted Date: September 12, 2007

Protected Tree Ordinance

Ordinance Number: 177404

Effective Date: April 23, 2006

Adopted Dated: February 28, 2006