The Preliminary Application Review Program supports the goal of providing housing opportunities for all by offering pre-entitlement streamlining and vesting services for housing development projects.
COVID 19 Update:
In response to COVID-19, City Planning has revised its current procedures to allow project applications that qualify under Senate Bill 330: Housing Crisis Act of 2019 to submit their referral forms electronically. This shift to accepting referral forms via email has shortened the turnaround time, allowing applicants to file remotely without requiring an appointment.
Email planning.PARP@lacity.org to initiate the Preliminary Zoning Assessment review. Submit the optional vesting SB330 Preliminary Application through the Department’s Online Application System.
SB 330/Housing Crisis Act Preliminary Application Filings
The Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (SB 330) allows housing development projects to receive certain vesting rights through a preliminary application process. To qualify for filing an SB 330 Preliminary Application, a project must consist of at least two units on a project site, new mixed use development with at least two-thirds of the square-footage designated for residential use, Supportive Housing, or Transitional Housing.
Scroll down to read more about SB 330.
Resources
Memo on the Implementation of SB 330
SB 330/Housing Crisis Act Preliminary Application Form (CP-4062)
SB 330/Housing Crisis Act Preliminary Application Instructions (CP-4063)
Contact PARP
For general questions, email: planning.PARP@lacity.org
Optional vesting SB330 Preliminary Application System: https://planning.lacity.org/oas
Liaisons in other departments:
Building and Safety (LADBS)
Phone: 3-1-1 (within the City of Los Angeles) or
(213) 473-3231
Email: ladbs.ASAP@lacity.org
Website: ladbs.org
Housing and Community Investment Dept.
Email: hcidla.SB330@lacity.org
Website: https://hcidla.lacity.org/Apply-for-land-use-services
About SB 330
On October 9, 2019, Governor Newsom signed into law SB 330, the Housing Crisis Act of 2019. The act amends existing state laws and creates new regulations around the production, preservation and planning of housing. The bill has been in effect since January 1, 2020 and sunsets on January 1, 2025. SB 330 will affect both project planning procedures and community planning outcomes.
The goal of SB 330 is to create certainty in the development of housing projects, speeding up the review of these projects. The bill requires that the historic status or designation of any site be determined at the time an application for a discretionary action is deemed complete. Non-objective design review standards established after January 1, 2020, cannot be imposed or enforced. Housing projects that meet all applicable objective zoning standards are guaranteed a maximum of five public hearings, including hearings associated with City/Area Planning Commissions, Design Review Boards, and HPOZ Boards, and including appeals (except for appeals related to a legislative action).
SB 330 also prevents zoning actions that reduce the capacity of housing. Plans that result in a net downzoning or otherwise reduce housing and population (except for specified reasons involving health and safety, affordable housing and voter initiatives) are prohibited. Moratoriums on housing development, or limits on approval, permits, or housing units cannot not be imposed by local jurisdictions. This does not apply to zoning efforts that reduce intensity for certain parcels as long as density is increased on other parcels and therefore results in no net loss in zoned housing capacity or intensity.
In addition to streamlining new housing, SB 330 also adds strong measures aimed at preserving existing housing units. Under the new bill, no new housing may be approved that will require the demolition or removal or residential dwelling units unless the project will create as many units as will be demolished or removed or that existed in the previous five to 10 years. Protections are even stronger for existing affordable units, requiring that any restricted affordable unit be replaced on a one-for-one basis at the same income category and of equivalent size. Tenant protection is increased by allowing occupants of protected units to live in the unit they occupied until six months before construction activities begin, relocation benefits, and a “right to first refusal” for a comparable unit which is available to the household at an affordable rent.
