Reference table to converting zoning nomenclature in ZONING (GIS Data) to zone.

California State Law requires every city and county to adopt a comprehensive General Plan to guide its future development. The General Plan to guide its future development. The General Plan essentially serves as "constitution for development". This document serves as the foundation for all land use decisions. The General Plan includes seven (7) required "Elements" that are mandated by State law. Local governments adopt additional optional elements to address local priorities and planning goals.

Total Cases Filed with the Department of City Planning for the Year 2013.

Total Cases Filed with the Department of City Planning for the Year 2015.

Subdivisions of parts of the City of Los Angeles for the purpose of promoting sound planning practices and fostering a reasonable mix of land uses. There are 36 Community Planning Areas including the Port of Los Angeles. Thirty-five (35) were defined by City ordinance in the early 1960's. Community Planning Area names are generally designated by hyphenated groupings of neighborhoods and communities.

Recognizing the need to identify and protect neighborhoods with distinct architectural and cultural resources, the City has developed an expansive program of Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZs). HPOZs, commonly known as historic districts, provide for review of proposed exterior alterations and additions to historic properties within designated districts. The City Council adopted the ordinance enabling the creation of HPOZs in 1979; Angelino Heights became Los Angeles’ first HPOZ in 1983. Today, the City of Los Angeles has 29 designated HPOZs, with many more under consideration (Proposed HPOZs). HPOZ areas range in size from neighborhoods of approximately 50 parcels to more than 3,000 properties. While most districts are primarily residential, many have a mix of single-family and multi-family housing, and some include commercial and industrial properties. HPOZs are established and administered by the Los Angeles City Planning Department (in concert with the City Council). Individual buildings in an HPOZ need not be of landmark quality on their own: it is the collection of a cohesive, unique, and intact collection of historic resources that qualifies a neighborhood for HPOZ status.

Total Cases Completed by the Department of City Planning for the Year 2013.

A business improvement district is a geographically defined area within the City of Los Angeles, in which services, activities and programs are paid for through a special assessment which is charged to all members within the district in order to equitably distribute the benefits received and the costs incurred to provide the agreed-upon services, activities and programs. The assessment money is collected by the City or by the County through a special contractual arrangement with the city. Because the assessment funds collected in a given district cannot legally be spent outside of that BID, the City creates a trust fund for each BID, with funds periodically released to support operations.

The General Plan is the fundamental land use policy document of the City of Los Angeles. It defines the framework by which the City's physical and economic resources are to be managed and utilized over time. Decisions by the City with regard to the use of land; design and character of buildings and open space, conservation of existing housing and provision for new housing; provisions for the continued updating of the infrastructure; protection of environmental resources; protection of residents from natural and man-made hazards; and allocation of fiscal resources are guided by the Plan.

Zoning is a tool used by the City of Los Angeles to designate, regulate and restrict the location and use of buildings, structures and land, for agriculture, residence, commerce, trade, industry or other purposes; to regulate and limit the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures hereafter erected or altered to regulate and determine the size of yards and other open spaces and to regulate and limit the density of population; and for said purposes to divide the City into zones of such number, shape and area as may be deemed best suited to carry out these regulations and provide for their enforcement. Further, such regulations are deemed necessary in order to encourage the most appropriate use of land; to conserve and stabilize the value of property; to provide adequate open spaces for light and air, and to prevent and fight fires; to prevent undue concentration of population; to lessen congestion on streets; to facilitate adequate provisions for community utilities and facilities such as transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements; and to promote health, safety, and the general welfare all in accordance with the comprehensive plan.