Zoning Code Manual & Commentary Questions & Answers 4th Edition Revision 9 June 2021

The City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) is pleased to announce the publication of the newly updated fourth edition of the Zoning Code User's Manual & Commentary. This Manual Will aid in providing consistent uniform interpretation of the Zoning Code.

The Zoning Code User's Manual & Commentary Provides a cumulative summary of Approximately 300 written policies and interpretations made by the Department of Building and Safety, the department of City Planning and the City Attorney's office pertaining to the interpretation and administration of specific sections of the City of Los Angeles Planning and Zoning Code.

The Original Writings of these policies and interpretations, some of which are decades old are not easily located and therefore are not consistently applied, hence the need for this manual. Writings that were rendered obsolete or superseded by code amendments or revised interpretations, were not included in this manual.

Each topics has been re-written in a question and answer form with illustrated examples including an explanation in plain English of the underlying concept intended to facilitate understanding of the code and provide an easy reference to the various interpretations.

This Manual is only a commentary that should be used as a complement to the code and not as substitute. A final decision regarding a particular Zoning issue must be made after due consideration of all other applicable Zoning Code provisions.