Division 12.1 — GENERAL RULES

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

The provisions of this Article (Nonconformities) provide relief from the requirements of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A) for any existing nonconformity, defined as any lot, building or structure, or use that

conformed to the zoning regulations at the time they were established, but do not conform to current

requirements of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A).

Sec. 12.1.1. (Intent) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.1. (General Rules)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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The following general rules apply to all nonconformities. Specific rules in the following Divisions of this

Article (Nonconformities) may provide additional standards or exceptions to these general rules.

A. Any portion of a lot, site improvement, building, structure, or use that meets the definition

of nonconforming may be continued, provided it is not expanded, changed or modified.

Maintenance & repair, as well as renovation, of the nonconformity are allowed.

B. Current project activities may be conducted, provided they meet the standards of this Zoning

Code (Chapter 1A) and do not increase the degree of nonconformity with any individual standard

in this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A), except as expressly allowed in this Article (Nonconformities) .

C. Each increment of new construction, site modifcationi, exterior modifcationi, or use modifcationi

must meet the standards of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A), except as expressly allowed in this

Article (Nonconformities) .

D. A nonconforming building or nonconforming structure may have additional rights when it is

located on a lot affected by a public acquisition. See Div. 12.8. (Lots Affected by Acquisition for

Public Use) .

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Sec. 12.1.2. (General Nonconforming Rules) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.1. (General Rules)

A. Relationship to Article-Level Applicability Standards

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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1. The provisions of this Article (Nonconformities) apply in addition to the applicability provisions

of any zoning district article ( Article 2. (Form) through Article 6. (Density) ) of this Zoning Code

(Chapter 1A).

2. Sec. 12.7.1. (Restoration of Damaged Nonconforming Buildings) and Sec. 12.7.2. (Replacement

of Earthquake Hazardous Buildings) supersede any other provisions of this Zoning Code

(Chapter 1A).

B. Relationship to Specific Plans, Supplemental Districts, & Special Zones

The provisions of this Article (Nonconformities) apply to Specifc Plani s, Supplemental Districts,

and Special Zones only to the extent that those provisions apply the standards of a zoning district

article ( Article 2. (Form) through Article 6. (Density) ) of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A).

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Sec. 12.1.3. (Applicability) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.1. (General Rules)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A. A building or structure, portion of a building or structure, or any land that contained a

nonconforming use that has been discontinued for a continuous period of one year or more shall

only be occupied by a use that conforms to the current use regulations of the applied zone.

B. Discontinued uses that haven't lapsed within the limited time frame may be allowed to maintain

nonconforming rights with change of ownership or tenancy.

C. A nonconforming use of land that is accessory or incidental to the nonconforming use of a

building shall be discontinued on the same date the nonconforming use of the building is

discontinued.

D. In Agricultural Use Districts (Div. 5B.2.), Residential Use Districts (Div.5B.3.), and Residential-

Mixed Use Districts (Div. 5B.4.), any nonconforming use first permitted in a Commercial-Mixed Use District (Div. 5B.5.) shall be discontinued within five years from the date the use becomes

nonconforming, except that the Zoning Administrator may permit its continuation pursuant to Sec.

13B.2.1. (Class 1 Conditional Use Permit) .

E. In Agricultural Use Districts (Div. 5B.2.), Residential Use Districts (Div.5B.3.), and Residential-Mixed

Use Districts (Div. 5B.4.), any nonconforming use first permitted in an Industrial Use District (Div. 5B.7.) or Industrial-Mixed Use District (Div. 5B.6.) shall be discontinued within five years from the

date the use becomes nonconforming. No continuation is permitted.

F. Nonconforming animal keeping, animal keeping: livestock for commercial intent, or other uses

listed in the animal keeping use group in any Residential Use District (Div.5B.3.), or Residential-

Mixed Use District (Div. 5B.4.) shall be discontinued within 15 years from the date such use became

nonconforming.

G. In Agricultural Use Districts (Div. 5B.2.), Residential Use Districts (Div.5B.3.), Residential-Mixed Use

Districts (Div. 5B.4.), Commercial-Mixed Use Districts (Div. 5B.5.), a nonconforming use of land

where no buildings are occupied in connection with the use, or where the only buildings occupied are accessory or incidental to the use, shall be discontinued within five years from the date the use

becomes nonconforming.

H. Nonconforming residential uses in Industrial Use Districts (Div. 5B.7.) shall be discontinued five

years from the date the use became nonconforming.

Sec. 12.1.4. (Discontinuance of Nonconforming Use) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.1. (General Rules)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Whenever a period of time related to a nonconformity is specified in this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A), the period of time is computed from the effective date of the ordinance that created the

nonconformity.

Sec. 12.1.5. (Calculation of Time) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.1. (General Rules)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A. In circumstances where Alternative Compliance is specified as a form of relief in the standards

of the zoning district, it is available as a way to achieve a standard in an acceptable alternate

way, which may be used to bring a project into conformity pursuant to Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative

Compliance) .

B. The City's adaptive reuse project standards may allow some relief and provide incentives for the

reuse of existing buildings pursuant to Sec. 9.4.5. (Downtown Adaptive Reuse Program) and Sec.

9.4.6. (Citywide Adaptive Reuse Program) .

C. When relief is granted through any discretionary action taken consistent with this Zoning Code

(Chapter 1A), the element that is the subject of the discretionary action is no longer considered

nonconforming.

Sec. 12.1.6. (Relief) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.1. (General Rules)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A. The Department of Building and Safety shall have the authority to issue an order to comply to an

owner who is in violation of this Article (Nonconformities) and advise the owner of the required

discontinuance of the nonconforming use.

B. Included in any order shall be a provision advising the owner of the right to apply to the

Department of City Planning within 90 days for permission to continue the nonconforming use as

provided in this Article (Nonconformities), but the failure to include that provision shall not nullify

the order or provide a basis for the continuation of the use.

C. The Department of Building and Safety shall record a notice of any order issued pursuant to this

Article (Nonconformities) with the Los Angeles County Recorder, but the failure to so record shall

not nullify the order or provide a basis for the continuation of the use by any owner, purchaser or

lessee who was not aware of the order.

Sec. 12.1.7. (Orders to Comply) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.1. (General Rules)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Nothing in this Article (Nonconformities) relieves any person from the obligation to comply with the

requirements of any federal, state, or county law.

Sec. 12.1.8. (Compliance With Other Laws) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Nonconformities | ARTICLE 12 Div. 12.2. (Form Exceptions)