SEC. 19.00. FILING OF APPLICATIONS AND APPEALS.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,796, Eff. 2/23/26.)

A. Filing Date. See Sec. 13A.2.3. (Applications) of Chapter 1A of this Code.
B. Time Limit – Appeals. See Sec. 13A.2.8. (Appeals) of Chapter 1A of this Code.
C. Place of Filing. See Sec. 13A.2.3. (Applications) of Chapter 1A of this Code.
D. Notice of Public Hearing. See Sec. 13A.2.4. (Notice of Public Hearing) of Chapter 1A of this Code.

E. Annual Inflation Adjustment. The fees in Sections 19.01 through 19.10 and Section 19.12 shall be automatically adjusted annually with the base fee amount to be the fee amount set forth herein for previously-adopted fees or, for newly-adopted fees, the base fee is the fee amount in the effective implementing ordinance, subject to an Annual Inflation Adjustment, in accordance with the latest change in year-over-year Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Los Angeles area, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Fees. The fees in Section 19.01 through 19.10 and 19.12, as established herein and subject to the automatic Annual Inflation Adjustment, are referred to as the “Base Fees”.
Annual Adjustment of Fee Schedule. The next annual inflation adjustment shall automatically take effect on July 1, 2026. The Department of City Planning shall provide an updated fee schedule on an annual basis, which reflects the annual inflation adjustment calculated in accordance with the latest change in year-over-year CPI-U in the Los Angeles area from the previous calendar year. Notice of the updated fee schedule showing the current fee amounts inclusive of annual adjustments shall be published on the Department of City Planning website, as well as the Council File, no less than 30 days in advance of July 1 of every year. An updated fee schedule shall be maintained by the Department of City Planning, which shall provide a copy of the adjusted schedule to the Mayor and City Council each year.

The Director of Planning shall have the authority to adopt guidelines consistent with this Chapter for the posting of notices of updated fee schedules if the Director determines that guidelines are necessary and appropriate.

F. Hourly Fee Billing. For all planning applications and services, except for Expedited Processing that is subject to the Expedited Fee set forth in Section 19.01 R. of this Chapter, Planning application fees are based on an average time estimate for the cost of service resulting in the application fee as listed herein. The Department of City Planning reserves the right to seek reimbursement of the actual costs associated with the City’s processing of discretionary actions based on an hourly fee calculation, or other Planning reviews and processes for applications that require use of department resources in excess of the average application process and associated fee. The Director of Planning and the

Director of Planning’s designee is authorized to determine when additional reimbursements, based on actual costs, are appropriate and shall provide notice to the applicant.

G. Indemnification and Defense. Applicants are responsible for any and all costs incurred by the City in defense of any and all actions or claims arising in full or in part out of the City’s processing of a project application or permit or any entitlement filed, or issued, or approved under Chapter I, Chapter 1A, or Chapter IX. Applicants shall deposit $50,000 (or an amount found necessary by the City Attorney’s Office to ensure the City’s costs are fully covered) to the City Attorney’s Office upon receipt of a tender of defense letter. The applicant shall pay all invoices from the City Attorney’s Office for its costs and ensure that the initial deposit is maintained in full at all times prior to final disposition of the case or action.