Division 10.3 — PRIVATE STREET REGULATIONS
Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A · 2025 edition · ingested 2026-07-08 · Los Angeles
Sec. 10.3.1. INTENT ¶
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
The intent of this Division (Private Street Regulations) is: to prescribe rules and regulations governing
the platting and division of land as lots or building sites which are contiguous or adjacent to private road easements; to provide for the filing and approval of private street maps; to provide for the
approval of private road easements as private streets; to provide for the naming of private streets; and
to require that lots or building sites which are contiguous or adjacent to private streets conform to the
minimum requirements of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A) before permits may be issued.
Sec. 10.3.1. (Intent) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
Sec. 10.3.2. APPLICABILITY ¶
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
A. No person shall plat or divide land as lots or building sites which are contiguous or adjacent
to a private road easement, and no person shall be granted a building permit for such a lot or building site unless a private street map has been first filed with and approved by the Director in
accordance with the provisions of this Division (Private Street Regulations) .
B. When private streets have been laid out and designated as such to a recorded subdivision map or
on a filed record of survey map, the provisions of this Division (Private Street Regulations) shall not
apply thereto.
C. When a developed residential lot or building site has its access driveway located within a private
road easement that existed and was recorded prior to September 6, 1961, the private road
easement is deemed to have been approved in accordance with the provisions of this Division
(Private Street Regulations) and may be continued. Further, on such lot or building site, additions and modifications may be made to such dwelling unit, and accessory buildings may be erected on
said lot if no additional dwelling units are created.
Sec. 10.3.2. (Applicability) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
Sec. 10.3.3. SUBDIVISIONS ¶
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
The provisions of this Division (Private Street Regulations) shall not be construed as authorizing the
subdivision of land without fully complying with the provisions contained and set forth in Article 11.
(Division of Land) . However, the provisions of this Division (Private Street Regulations) may be met
by complying with the provisions of Article 11. (Division of Land) relating to subdivisions, without the necessity for filing a private street map in addition to the subdivision maps required by Article 11.
(Division of Land) .
Sec. 10.3.3. (Subdivisions) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
Sec. 10.3.4. PROCEDURE ¶
See Sec. 13B.7.7. (Private Street Map) .
Sec. 10.3.4. (Procedure) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
Sec. 10.3.5. PRIVATE STREET STANDARDS ¶
All private streets, lots, or building sites shall conform to the following regulations:
A. Boulevards, Avenues & Collector Streets
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
The location, widths, and alignment of all private streets shall conform: to the location, widths, and
alignment of all boulevards, avenues, and collector streets designated on the Citywide General
Plan Circulation System maps of the Circulation Element of the General Plan; to any proceedings
for any public improvement; and to any subdivision map that has been tentatively approved.
B. Local Street Alignment
All private streets, as far as practical, shall be in alignment with existing public streets or private
streets and their proper projections or prolongations, provided however that where the property being divided into lots or building sites is large enough, a modified curve street layout may be
permitted.
C. Private Street Width
All private streets shall be designed to conform with private street standards adopted by the City
Planning Commission as provided in Sec. 10.1.1. (Street Standards) .
D. Street Grades
On hillside or mountain streets comprising a through route, a grade in excess of six percent shall
not be permitted unless a grade not to exceed eight percent will obviate an excessive curvature
or eliminate excessive cuts. Grades of all streets shall be as low as possible, consistent with the
advantageous development of the proposed platting and division of land. The grade of any street of more than local traffic needs shall not exceed 10 percent. No local street grade shall exceed 15
percent.
E. Curves & Tangents
A minimum centerline radius of at least 75 feet shall be used on winding mountain streets, a minimum centerline radius of at least 500 feet shall be used on all through traffic streets. In flat
areas, curves on local streets shall have radii as long as possible, consistent with local conditions.
The tangent distance between reversed curves shall not be less than 50 feet.
F. Intersections
Private street intersections shall be as nearly at right angles as practicable.
G. Effect on Adjoining Property
Private street layouts shall be designed to provide access to and not impose undue hardship upon
property adjoining the proposed division of lands.
Sec. 10.3.5. (Private Street Standards) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
H. Cul-De-Sacs (Dead-End Streets)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
Cul-de-sacs shall be permitted only where through streets are not practical, or where good
neighborhood design suggests their use. Adequate provisions for turning shall be made at the
end of each cul-de-sac by providing a circle or other area with a minimum overall radius of 42
feet. In the case of unusual topographic conditions, a “T” or “Y” turn may be permitted. The legs of
the “T” or “Y” turn shall have a minimum paved surface 12 feet in width and 20 feet in length, the
minimum radius between each leg and the street shall be 20 feet.
I. Rounding Block Corners
At all block corners, the property line shall be rounded or cut back. Intersection corners on the
private street prolongation of boulevards, avenues, and collector streets shall be rounded with 20 foot radius curves and all other corners shall be rounded with 15-foot radius curves, provided that where business development is indicated, a diagonal cut-off substantially equivalent to rounding
may be used in order to aid building construction, in which case at right-angle intersections a substantial equivalent shall be a 10-foot by 10-foot cutoff.
J. Improvements, Drainage & Sewage
- All private streets and all lots and building sites laid out contiguous or adjacent to private
streets shall have approved drainage facilities and the method for sewage disposal shall be
approved by the Bureau of Engineering, Bureau of Sanitation, and the Los Angeles County
Health Department.
- All such private streets shall be graded and improved to an approved width and grade. The
street grading and improvement shall include surface improvements, fire hydrants and water
mains, catch basins, pipe culverts, sanitary sewers, where reasonably available, and storm
drains, where required. Drainage easements shall be improved to an approved manner.
- Boulevards, avenues, and collector streets shall be graded to an approved width and improved
to an approved width and grade necessary for the general use of lot owners adjoining said private street and local neighborhood traffic and drainage needs.
- Where street improvements, drainage or sewers are required to be constructed on a private
street, plans and profiles showing the grades and the nature and extent of the required improvements shall be filed with the City Engineer for approval, the checking of plans,
inspections, supervision, and other services rendered in connection with the construction
of required improvements shall be accomplished under permits in accordance with the
provisions of Chapter VI. (Public Works and Property), Sec. 62.105. (Streets, Sidewalks and
Other Improvements - Permits Required) of this Code.
- Where improvements have been previously constructed in a private street, plans and profiles
showing the grades, nature and extent of the existing improvements shall be filed with the City
Engineer for their approval and the plans shall be checked and where additional construction
is required, the additional construction shall be inspected and supervised, and all services
Sec. 10.3.5. (Private Street Standards) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
rendered in connection with the existing or required improvements shall be accomplished
under permit in accordance with the provisions of Chapter VI. (Public Works and Property),
Sec. 62.105. (Streets, Sidewalks and Other Improvements - Permits Required) of this Code.
- A private street map or a portion of a map that includes land within a local drainage district
established pursuant to Sec. 11.3.7. (Maps, Local Drainage Districts, Exemption from Fees), shall
comply with the provisions and requirements of the ordinance establishing such district.
K. Conformance To General Plan
- Each private street map shall be designed in compliance with the property's zoning or may be
approved or amended by the City Council.
- Each private street map shall substantially conform to all other elements of the General Plan as
adopted by the City Council.
Sec. 10.3.5. (Private Street Standards) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
Sec. 10.3.6. PRIVATE STREET SIGNS ¶
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
At or near the entrance of each intersection of a private street with a dedicated public street or with
another private street, the applicant shall erect and maintain a sign post to which is attached a sign,
having an area of at least 15 inches by 21 inches, upon which is printed and clearly legible in at least
two-inch letters the name of the private street and the words “PRIVATE STREET,” in at least one-inch
letters the words “NOT DEDICATED FOR PUBLIC USE OR MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF L.A. (LAMC Sec. 10.3.6.)". The words, letters and figures of the sign shall be substantially arranged in the following
manner:
(NAME OF STREET),
PRIVATE STREET
NOT DEDICATED FOR PUBLIC USE
OR MAINTAINED BY CITY OF L.A.
(LAMC Sec. 10.3.6.)
Sec. 10.3.6. (Private Street Signs) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
Sec. 10.3.7. DIRECTOR APPROVAL & APPEALS ¶
See Sec. 13B.7.7. (Private Street Map) .
Sec. 10.3.7. (Director Approval & Appeals) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
Sec. 10.3.8. PRIVATE STREET NAMES ¶
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
A. Private street names shall be established or changed pursuant to the procedures set forth in this
Division (Private Street Regulations) in the event no private street map is required under Sec. 10.3.2.
(Applicability) or Sec. 13B.7.7. (Private Street Map) .
B. Applications to establish or change the name of a private street shall be filed with the City
Engineer. Applications shall be signed by a majority of the owners of properties abutting the private
street or that portion of the street to be named or renamed, and be accompanied by:
Payment of the required application processing fees;
A map, drawn to scale, delineating the location, extent, width, and alignment of the private
street, the approximate location and frontage dimensions of said lots on said street, and the
location of existing public streets which it may ingress or egress; and
- Identity of the maker of the map, and the names and addresses of owners of record of
property abutting the private street or that portion of the street to be named or renamed.
C. The City Council may initiate proceedings to name or rename a private street. In such event, the
City Council action shall be referred to the City Engineer. That office shall process the action in the
manner set forth in Subsection E. (Private Street Names) below, and, if necessary or appropriate under the circumstances, shall prepare a map in the manner which satisfies the requirements set
forth in Paragraph 2. of Subsection B. (Private Street Names) above.
D. Where there is an application filed to name or rename a private street and no new private street
map is required pursuant to Sec. 13B.7.7. (Private Street Map), or there is a City Council-initiated
request, a private street may be named or renamed to a requested new name and the necessary
documents recorded by the City Engineer with respect to the new name, pursuant to the following
procedure:
- The City Engineer shall determine whether the proposed new name or change of name of a
street is in the public interest and will not create confusion, be misleading, be unduly long, or carry connotations offensive to good taste and decency.
- The City Engineer shall give notice of the proposed new street name or name change to the
record owners and occupants of all real property abutting such private street. The notice shall
designate the location of the private street or portion of the street to which the proposed new name is to apply. The street, or the affected portion of the street, shall be described in
the notice with reference to other streets, and by the name or names, if any, which it bears
or by which it, or any portion of it, may be or may have been known, and the notice shall also
state the proposed new street name. The notice shall further set forth whether or not the City
Engineer’s determination recommends disapproval of the proposed name for reasons provided
in Paragraph 1. of this Subsection, and shall state that any written objections with respect to
the proposed new name or name change or the City Engineer’s recommendation, shall be
Sec. 10.3.8. (Private Street Names) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.3. (Private Street Regulations)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
filed with the City Engineer within 30 days after a date designated on the notice as applicable
for said purpose, and that the objections shall be signed by each person so objecting.
- In the event any objections are filed within the 30-day time limit, or any objections are filed
with respect to a City Engineer’s recommendation of disapproval within the 30-day time limit,
the City Engineer shall forward these, together with the City Engineer’s determination and recommendations and the applicable file to the City Council. The City Council shall set the
matter for hearing and the City Clerk shall thereupon notify by mail each person objecting to
the proposed street name or to the City Engineer’s recommendation of disapproval and inform that person of the time and place for hearing. At the time specified, the City Council shall hear
all objections and shall thereafter approve or disapprove the proposed street name. The City Council’s decision shall be final and conclusive.
- In the event no objections are filed with the City Engineer within 30 days of the date
prescribed on the notice, and the City Engineer has not recommended disapproval of the
proposed new name, the application for that name shall be deemed approved. In the event the
City Engineer has recommended disapproval of the proposed name, and no objections to that recommendation have been filed, the application shall be deemed denied.
- If the new name is either approved by the City Council, or in the event no City Council
hearing was required and the application is deemed approved, the new private street name shall be effective, and the City Engineer shall cause any necessary indexing or recordation
of documents to be accomplished and shall provide a copy of the determination to all City Departments rendering emergency service to the affected properties and to the United States
Postal Service.
E. The approval or deemed approval of a private street name as provided for in this Division (Private
Street Regulations) is not, and shall not be construed to be, an acceptance of a private street as a
public street, nor shall it create any public warranty or liability or legal status as a public street, nor
should it be so construed.
Sec. 10.3.8. (Private Street Names) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
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Streets & Parks | ARTICLE 10 Div. 10.4. (Parks Fees & Dedications)