How To Request A Conditional Use Permit

Conditional Use Permits are required for certain land uses which may need special conditions to ensure compatibility with surrounding land uses. To be approved, a conditional use permit must be consistent with the existing adopted General Plan, including local area and community plans, which reflect the County’s policy regarding land use, and the Los Angeles County Code Title 22 Planning and Zoning. If the proposed use is not consistent with the general plan and Zoning Code, it cannot be approved. Major issues involved in the evaluation of conditional use permit requests include:

• Consistency with the General Plan
• Compatibility with surrounding land uses
• Conditions to ensure compatibility
• Land suitability and physical constraints
• Project design
• Availability of adequate access, public services and facilities to serve the development
• Potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures

Application Procedure

To apply for a CUP, please follow the instructions on the Zoning Permit application for submittal. Along with the items listed on that application checklist, you will have to submit a CUP Burden of Proof (download PDF or Word). Please refer to the fee schedule for the cost of a particular application submittal. Please be advised that the applicant is responsible for the quality and accuracy of all information submitted. Once all required materials are assembled, you MUST schedule a filling appointment in advance by calling (213) 974-6438. A planner will review the materials to ensure that all necessary items are submitted before accepting the application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Questions regarding application submittal and requirements may be directed to the Department of Regional Planning. Our office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. The office is closed every Friday.

Address: in Room 1360, Hall of Records, 320 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Telephone: (213) 974-6411
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Application Processing

After the application is accepted by the Land Development Coordinating Center, it will be forwarded to the appropriate processing section. When the processing section has determined the application to be complete, a public hearing will be scheduled before a Hearing Officer or the Regional Planning Commission (RPC). Hearing Officers are appointed by the Director of Planning, subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. The RPC is composed of five members appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. If the project involves a land division or other discretionary permits in addition to a conditional use permit, a concurrent hearing will be scheduled. The processing section will advise you of the hearing date and the deadline for posting of notices on the subject property, mail notices to all property owners within the required notification radius, publish notices in a local newspaper, and prepare a staff report and recommendation for the public hearing.

At the time and place advertised in the public notice, a Hearing Officer or the RPC will conduct a public hearing. These hearings are normally held in Room 150 of the Hall of Records, 320 West Temple Street, Los Angeles. The Hearing Officer meetings usually convene at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings. Commission meetings usually convene at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday mornings.

The applicant should attend the public hearing and be prepared to present and answer any questions on the proposed development. The applicant may submit documents in support of the request. Any interested persons may testify before the Hearing Officer or the Commission at the public hearing. The applicant will be given an opportunity to respond to any testimony. The Hearing Officer or the RPC may continue the public hearing or close the public hearing and render its decision to approve or deny the requested Conditional Use Permit. If the request is heard by a Hearing Officer, a written decision will be rendered within ten working days following the hearing. If the request is heard by the Commission, findings and/or conditions and the related environmental documentation will be placed on the Commission’s consent calendar agenda for final action. The Hearing Officer’s decision may be appealed to the RPC; and, the RPC’s decision may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors.

If the RPC’s decision is appealed to the Board of Supervisors, the Board may sustain the Commission’s decision without a public hearing. In the event that the Board does schedule the appeal for a public hearing, the public hearing procedures are similar to those of the RPC. The Executive Officer/Clerk of the Board of Supervisors will notify you of the time and place of the hearing and the deadline for posting of notices on the subject property. The Board of Supervisors’ meetings are held in the Board Hearing Room, (Room 381), in the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles 90012.

ADA Accommodations

If you require reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids and services such as material in an alternate format or a sign language interpreter, please contact the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Coordinator at (213) 974-6488 (Voice) or (213) 617-2292 (TDD), with at least five business days notice.