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Dear Angelenos,
At its core, City Planning is about people and memory. It guides which stories endure in our physical landscape and which fade from view. Historic preservation serves as a vital bridge between past and future—ensuring that equity, identity, and cultural heritage are woven directly into the fabric of our evolving built environment.
By expanding our definitions of historic significance, urban planning becomes a tool for social justice—protecting community spaces, honoring marginalized narratives, and fostering a sense of belonging for all residents. Historically, traditional preservation models often prioritized grand architecture over social and cultural history. Modern urban planning must intentionally correct this imbalance.
A clear example of an effort to make this shift is the initiative launched by Los Angeles City Planning’s Office of Historic Resources: HistoricPlacesLA Revealed: Latino Los Angeles. This initiative focuses on celebrating the places and stories that reflect the rich heritage of Los Angeles’ Latino communities—the city’s largest ethnic and cultural group. Angelenos will soon start to see the installation of physical markers on streetlight poles across the city that feature Quick Response (QR) codes linked to multimedia content in HistoricPlacesLA, the City’s inventory of designated and surveyed historic resources. More than 100 physical markers will be visible and accessible at sites throughout the city, from Candelas Guitars in Boyle Heights to Social and Public Art Resource Center in Venice.
LA's history is not static. It is alive on our streets, in our local businesses, and in our community hubs. HistoricPlacesLA Revealed: Latino Los Angeles shines a light on the contributions of Latino communities to the history, identity, and future of Los Angeles and invites Angelenos to see Los Angeles’ history through the places that shaped our city.
Together, we are #Planning4LA.
Sincerely,
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Vince Bertoni,
Director of Planning
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To view the "How Planning Affects You" video, please click on the image above. | |
SOCIAL MEDIA
How Planning Affects You
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Over the last few months, Los Angeles City Planning has been hard at work developing new social media strategies that make it easier for constituents to find updates, events, public meeting information, and guidance for navigating our application processes.
Following us on social media provides you the opportunity to:
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- Celebrate with us on Housing wins;
- Learn about our new programs;
- Learn more about general Planning topics;
- Applaud the excellent City Planners that we feature; and most importantly,
- Stay informed and involved!
| Get to know us by following @planning4la on your preferred social media channel! | |
@PLANNING4LA- Social Media Channels
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | X
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DRAFT ORDINANCES
Missing Middle LA
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Los Angeles City Planning recently held a Virtual Public Hearing on the Missing Middle LA draft ordinances. The hearing provided an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about the proposals and share comments directly with Planning staff. The Department will consider the testimony and written comments received as it prepares its recommendations for consideration by the City Planning Commission (CPC) at a future meeting tentatively scheduled for Nov. 12, 2026. Comments may also be submitted by email to planning.missingmiddlela@lacity.org through Oct. 16, 2026 at 6 p.m. Please review the Notice of Public Hearing for additional information.
The Missing Middle LA Program is a citywide initiative focused on expanding neighborhood-scale housing options through targeted Zoning Code amendments that implement recent state housing laws. The proposed ordinances will help create a range of missing middle housing types including Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), duplexes, and small lot homes to help address the growing demand for more attainable and flexible housing choices in all residential zones. To learn more about this program, please read the updated Missing Middle LA Fact Sheet and visit the project webpage to access the draft ordinances and other materials.
Please join the project email list to receive updates about the Missing Middle LA Program.
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UPDATES
Home-Sharing - New Administrative Guidelines and Portal
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Los Angeles City Planning’s new Home-Sharing Administrative Guidelines became effective Sept. 28, 2026. These updates enhance clarity and improve implementation of the Home-Sharing Ordinance.The Department simultaneously launched its new Home-Sharing Application and Registration Portal (HARP).
Changes to the guidelines include, but are not limited to:
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- Host photo identification requirements
- Acceptable primary residence documentation
- Renewal process
- Modified or updated definitions to terminology within the Guidelines
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- Collection of Extended Home-Sharing fees at the time of application submittal
- Enhanced business tax verification
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The new Home-Sharing Application and Registration Portal (HARP) offers Angelenos a more intuitive approach to joining the program by providing a centralized hub where applicants can apply for Home-Sharing, renew registrations, or pay their per-night fees.
To learn more about the recent changes, and to review the released updated Home-Sharing Administrative Guidelines, please visit the Home-Sharing webpage.
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INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR
Objective Design Standards
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City Planning’s Office of Historic Resources (OHR) continues to revise the first draft of the Objective Design Standards (ODS) for Housing in Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZs) based on the comments and feedback received this summer during the project’s initial public comment period. The second draft aims to provide greater clarity, address community concerns, and strengthen the document overall.
Please stay tuned for the release of the second public draft of ODS in HPOZs and the first public draft of HPOZ Ordinance amendments, followed by an informational webinar in October 2026.
The public is invited to provide feedback on the second draft. Please submit written comments to planning.hpozods@lacity.org
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MORE INFO
Local Historic Districts (HPOZs)
Web Page
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URBAN NATURE
Greener, More Livable Cities
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The "Pathways to 30x30 and Beyond: Urban Nature" event in August 2026 convened conversations with California Natural Resource Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot and diverse leaders from local and state agencies, tribes, and community organizations. The event focused on how the LA region is creating solutions for biodiversity, climate change and cultivating neighborhoods where people and nature can thrive.
Discussions highlighted how centering community-led leadership, expanding green/open spaces, and fostering local stewardship in cities are essential components of reaching California's goal to conserve 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030.
City Planning’s Urban Ecologist Kat Superfisky joined the panel to represent the City of LA and highlight the Mayor's Climate Action Plan.
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CONNECTING WITH NEIGHBORS
WEST LA COMMUNITY PLAN
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Earlier this year, the West LA Community Plan Update Team participated in the LA Sanitation and Environment (LASAN) Zero Waste Open House. LASAN’s most recent Open House took place in West LA’s District Yard located in Sawtelle, where it showcased LASAN’s zero waste programs along with other
city departments.
The West LA Team engaged with local residents in the area and answered questions related to the West LA Community Plan Update. It was a great opportunity for the team to engage with the community and provide updates as they move forward in the refine phase of their timeline.
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Also known as the Samuel-Novarro House, Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #130, this was the longtime home of Mexican-born actor Ramón Novarro. Born José Ramón Gil Samaniego in 1899, Novarro fled to Los Angeles with his family in 1913 to escape the Mexican Revolution. After starring in numerous silent films, including Scaramouche (1923) and Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925), he became one of Hollywood’s earliest international silent film superstars. He gained widespread fame as a romantic actor portraying roles that capitalized on the "Latin Lover" stereotype, all while hiding his homosexuality.
Designed by architect Lloyd Wright in 1928, the Mayan Revival and Art Deco residence was initially built for Novarro’s secretary, Louis Samuel. Novarro took over the home after discovering that Samuel embezzled Novarro’s investment holdings.
When Hollywood shifted to talkies in the 1930s, Novarro’s screen career waned, prompting him to return to Mexico, where he took part in the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. He later assumed television roles in the United States.
Novarro’s legacy speaks to visibility, identity, as well as Latino and LGBTQ+ representation in the entertainment industry, which will be highlighted with a physical marker through City Planning’s initiative, HistoricPlacesLA Revealed: Latino Los Angeles.
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A 100% affordable housing development is set to begin construction in Mar Vista! Known as Centinela 49, the project utilized the Affordable Housing Incentive Program under the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP). The incentive program offers greater bonuses than what State law permits and allows the project to receive ministerial (streamlined) review through a new Expanded Administrative Review process.
Adopted in February 2025, CHIP incentivizes the development of affordable housing through project streamlining, saving months in processing timelines. The project also qualified for streamlining because it is a Lower Income Rezoning Housing Element Site, a designation given to specific sites that set aside at least 20% of units for Lower Income Households.
Administrative Compliance Letter
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The Boyle Heights Community Plan Update became effective on Aug. 20, 2026 after the final implementation ordinances were signed by the Mayor, and endorsed and published by the City Clerk to Council File No. 23-0861. City Planning has updated the Boyle Heights Community Plan website, ZIMAS, and application forms to prepare the Boyle Heights Community Plan for implementation.
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- The PLUM Committee considered the transmittal items on Sept. 22, 2026, and are currently pending full City Council review.
- Transmitted the Department of City Planning Report (Summary of Transmittal), Supplemental Report (Chapter 1A Technical Modifications), and Exhibit E3 (Zoning Code Maps) to Council File Nos. 25-0774 and 25-0775 on Sept. 3, 2026.
- On Sept. 9, 2025, the Harbor LA Community Plans were adopted by the City Council. The plans' final ordinances were referred to the City Attorney’s Office for legal review. After the City Attorney concludes this review, the Plans will return to the City Council for final adoption.
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Released the draft policy documents for all three Community Plan Updates on Jan. 27, 2026.
- Updating the Interactive Map with revised land uses and draft zoning map, and to begin the mobility updates before starting public outreach late 2026.
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In February 2026, the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process kicked off with the publication of the Notice of Preparation (NOP) followed by public scoping meetings held on March 4 and March 12. Project materials, including presentation slides and video recordings, are available on our website.
| | TRANSIT NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS | | | | - Finalizing draft land uses and zoning with consideration of Transit Oriented Incentive Areas (TOIA), state density bonuses, and other state mandates.
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- The City Planning Commission approved the project at their meeting on June 25, 2026.
- Next steps will include issuance of the determination letter and transmittal to the Planning and Land Use Committee of City Council.
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Downtown: Oct. 8
Van Nuys: Oct. 22
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LOS ANGELES
CITY PLANNING
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