Development Services

Development Services Center (DSC)

Project applications begin at the public counter of Los Angeles City Planning’s DSCs. Prior to applying for any land use permits or entitlements, applicants are encouraged to consult with DSC staff to receive technical planning guidance during the design, entitlement, and permitting stages of a project.

In-Person Services

The Metro DSC offers limited, by appointment only, in-person meetings for certain City Planning services. These limited in-person meetings will be offered in support of specific planning operations over the course of the coming weeks, including:

• Clearance Summary Worksheet
• Case Filing
• Consultation
• Case Condition Clearance
• General Planning Questions
• Specialized Services
  • Wireless Telecommunications (case filing)
  • Beverage and Entertainment (general questions, case filing)
• Other (not covered by DSC Specialized Services)

Interested parties must make an appointment through the City’s new BuildLA portal, a singular website that provides a one-stop virtual platform for Development Services, including a new virtual appointment system. For customers who previously registered for online planning services, it’s recommended to create an Angeleno Account using the same email previously used to register with the City Planning Department. This will allow users full access to all previously applied-for permits and services.

BuildLA Appointment System

To request any of the following services, please make an appointment through the City’s BuildLA portal. You may select your preference for an in-person or virtual appointment.

General Planning Questions, or Consultation, or Other

For general Planning questions, please include a site address or Assessor's Parcel Number, and a written description of your inquiry.

For a consultation or other requests, please provide a detailed description of your inquiry with a copy of any relevant materials that will assist in assigning your request to an appropriate planner, including but not limited to: Project Plans, Letter of Determination, Clearance Summary Worksheet, or document(s) from another Agency that requires City Planning review.

Case Filing

Project applications for all entitlements and administrative approvals are filed at the DSC.

Submit a hard copy package of completed application materials with a Drop Off Transmittal Form marked “Case Filing” to the DSC at which your appointment is located at least two business days prior to your scheduled appointment date.

Case Condition Clearance

Once discretionary entitlements have been granted, applicants are responsible for providing plans and materials to demonstrate compliance with the project approval.

Submit a hard copy package of case condition clearance materials, including a copy of the recorded Covenant and Agreement, with a Drop Off Transmittal Form marked “Case Condition Clearance” to the DSC at which your appointment is located at least two business days prior to your scheduled appointment date.

Note: If your project was processed by the Major Projects Unit, please contact planning.majorpcc@lacity.org to make an appointment.

Clearance Summary Worksheets

Building permits which have Planning clearances can be screened, reviewed, and/or signed off by City Planning staff to determine if the project is in compliance with specific development regulations; or require review by a project planner, or administrative or discretionary approvals.

To submit a Clearance Summary Worksheet (CSW) for Planning Clearances, submit your request through this Google Form.

If you need plans approved in conjunction with a CSW review, please submit your request to the Online Application System (OAS) for the Virtual DSC.

Please note that not all building permits require plans to be approved by City Planning. If you are unsure if plans are required, please submit your request via the Google Form and a Planner will be in touch with you regarding the next steps.

Online Application System

The DSC Public Counter offers select services in a virtual application environment through the Online Application System (OAS) for the Virtual DSC . New services will continue to be added to the OAS.

Filing of Appeals

For time-sensitive materials such as appeals, we recommend filing online through our Online Application System (OAS). If you must drop off hard copies, you may do so at either the Metro or Valley DSC locations.

Please refer to the Appeal Filing Procedures information available here.

Dropping Off / Picking Up Materials

City Planning has established in-person drop off areas at the Metro (Downtown) and Valley (Van Nuys) DSCs. These locations contain physical boxes and corresponding Drop Off Transmittal Forms for applicants to drop off and pick up plans and application materials. The in-person drop off areas are available during regular business hours and are located in a secured, monitored location in the lobby areas of the respective DSCs.

Specialized DSC Services

The DSC offers additional consultation and specialized services that extend beyond the traditional public counter operations at the other DSCs. These services are tailored to the needs of specific industries. With the exception to Map Processing (at Valley DSC), these services are only offered at the Metro DSC.

Additionally, limited in-person pre-filing consultations will be offered by the Metro/Downtown Affordable Housing Services Section for select affordable housing projects in addition to virtual consultations. For more information, contact the Affordable Housing Services Section at planning.priorityhousing@lacity.org.

Affordable Housing Services Section

The Affordable Housing Services Section offers specialized, technical assistance, and processing of pre-application referral forms for a number of affordable housing programs including Density Bonus, Transit Oriented Communities (TOC), Measure JJJ, Qualified Permanent Supportive Housing (QPSH). For general affordable housing inquiries, please email planning.priorityhousing@lacity.org. For more information, click here.

Home-Sharing

Home-Sharing takes in, reviews, and approves applications relating to the short-term rental of a primary residence. For inquiries regarding home-sharing, please email planning.home-sharing@lacity.org. Additionally, click here to learn more about the program.

Wireless Telecommunications

The Wireless Telecommunications Unit offers a one-stop, full-service center for the wireless telecommunications industry. Dedicated staff reviews proposals for the placement of wireless telecommunications facilities on public and private property and makes recommendations for compliance with the City’s zoning and federally mandated regulations. For general wireless telecommunications inquiries, please email planning.wireless@lacity.org. For pre-application review and building permit clearances requests, submit requests through the online application portal under "Wireless Telecommunications Facilities". In-person appointments for case filing are available through the City’s new BuildLA portal. See “In-Person Services” for more information.

Map Processing

The Map Processing Unit offers general consultation and case filing instructions for applicants requesting deemed approved private streets and lot line adjustments, and reviews and makes determinations on these requests. This service is only available at the Valley DSC.

Beverage & Entertainment Streamlined (BESt)

The BESt Program handles the initial case intake and case clearance services (“project sign-off”) for stand-alone alcohol sales (Conditional Use Beverage or “CUB”), and entertainment (Conditional Use Entertainment or “CUX”) entitlements, and handles Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) applications and authorizations. For questions and assistance regarding any of these services, BESt Unit planners can be reached at planning.ccu@lacity.org. In-person appointments for general questions and case filing are available through the City’s new BuildLA portal. See “In-Person Services” for more information. Virtual appointments can also be made.

• CUB and CUX: Application and Case Filing
  
  Applicants with Conditional Use Beverage (LAMC Section 12.24 W.1) and/or Conditional Use Entertainment (LAMC Section 12.24 W.18) requests submit applications directly to the BESt Unit. Please use the City Planning Application form, the City Planning Application Filing Instructions, and the Special Instructions for Alcohol (CUB) and Adult Entertainment Establishments (CUX) form for filing. Once BESt Unit planners confirm that the application materials are complete, online payment of case filing fees via echeck or credit card will be required. BESt Unit planners then forward the application to a project planner for review and analysis, after which it goes to an Associate Zoning Administrator for consideration and decision.

• RBP: Application, Authorization and Monitoring
  
  The Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) provides authorization to sell and dispense alcoholic beverages for onsite consumption for restaurants that meet RBP requirements instead of a conditional use approval (CUB). RBP is only available in designated areas. BESt Unit planners review applications and issue RBP authorizations through an Administrative Clearance process for restaurants that comply with: a) RBP eligibility requirements; b) RBP operating, security, and monitoring standards; and c) RBP administrative provisions. Applicants complete the Restaurant Beverage Program Administrative Clearance application form. Applicants submit their RBP application through City Planning's Online Application System (OAS) portal under "Alcoholic Beverage and/or Entertainment." Upon confirmation that the subject restaurant complies with all RBP provisions, online payment of application and monitoring fees will be required. Following the recording of a Covenant and Agreement, BESt Unit planners will issue a RBP Authorization for the restaurant. Following the start of operations, the BESt Unit will track and monitor compliance and the Department of Building and Safety will periodically inspect operations and enforce ongoing compliance with the RBP authorization.

  For more information, please see the Restaurant Beverage Program Fact Sheet and the Ordinance establishing RBP. Adopted RBP Eligible Areas are illustrated on a Citywide Map of RBP Eligible Areas. To determine if a specific parcel is located within an RBP eligible area, please refer to ZIMAS.

• Case Effectuation, Building Permit Clearance, and Monitoring
  
  All stand-alone alcohol sales (CUB) and entertainment (CUX) entitlements are reviewed for compliance with conditions of approval. This CUB/CUX condition clearance process must be completed to effectuate the entitlement prior to the start of utilizing the grant. In addition, building permits associated with CUB and CUX entitlements are reviewed for compliance with the conditions of approval. Similarly, building permits associated with RBP authorizations are reviewed for compliance with the RBP authorization. Following the start of operations, the Department of Building and Safety will periodically inspect operations and enforce ongoing compliance with CUB/CUX conditions of approval and with the RBP authorization (see RBP, above).

  All requests for CUB and/or CUX condition clearance/effectuation should be submitted through the online application system (OAS) portal under "Alcoholic Beverage and/or Entertainment." Once BESt Unit planners have received the request and confirmed that documentation is complete, online payment of Monitoring, Verification and Inspection (MViP) fees will be required. All building permit clearance requests for CUB, CUX, and RBP cases are also submitted through the online application system (OAS) portal; there are no additional fees for building permit clearances by BESt Unit planners.

Preliminary Application Review Program (PARP) for Housing Projects

The PARP Unit provides pre-application guidance and technical assistance for qualified housing projects preparing applications to City Planning. Services include support through the zoning review process, determinations on which Housing Department letters may be needed, Housing Crisis Act vesting, and pre-application navigation assistance. For general inquiries pertaining to housing projects subject to the Housing Crisis Act, please email planning.parp@lacity.org. For more information about the program, click here.

Redevelopment Project Area (RPA)

Each Redevelopment Plan has a unique set of land use regulations. Development projects located within Redevelopment Project Areas are reviewed for compliance with the Redevelopment Plans.

For general Redevelopment Plan inquiries, please email planning.redevelopment@lacity.org. For administrative review and building permit clearances, submit requests through the online application portal under "Redevelopment Project Area (RPA)".

Case Management

In partnership with the Department of Building and Safety, City Planning offers Development Services Case Management (DSCM): the main portal for consultation, assistance, and troubleshooting for complex development projects requiring interdepartmental approvals. The office brings together case managers from various city departments, including City Planning, Building and Safety, Engineering, Transportation, and Water and Power.For general Case Management inquiries, please email planning.casemanagement@lacity.org.

Consult the DSCM Services Matrix to determine project eligibility requirements.

Records Management

The Records Management Division maintains records for City Planning. One can review case files in hard copy, on microfilm, and/or microfiche; Sanborn maps, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents; information on case file locations; and obtain copies of records.

Records Management is available for in-person record review and retrieval by appointment only. The public is encouraged to use alternate means to review and retrieve documents. Please contact your case planner or Records Management staff to discuss options for reviewing or retrieving documents

You may schedule an appointment with Records Management to review California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents, case files, or for other records review and retrieval that must happen in person. Please contact Records Management by phone at 213-847-3753, email at planning.recordsmgmt@lacity.org or by using the appointment request form below. Department staff will contact you to confirm your appointment and provide any necessary details for accessing Records Management's offices.

For general records inquiries and to make an appointment, please email planning.recordsmgmt@lacity.org.

To make an appointment to view case records using the link below:

Notice to Land Use Industry Professionals

If you are compensated to interact with Los Angeles City Planning, City law may require you to register as a lobbyist and report your activity. Any individual may qualify as a lobbyist, regardless of occupation, education, training, or professional title. A lobbyist may hold a position that includes but is not limited to attorney, CEO, consultant, government liaison, business owner, permit applicant, urban planners, expediters, land developers, various real estate specialists and others.

More information is available online through the Ethics Commission’s lobbying program and publication pages. For assistance, please contact the Ethics Commission.