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Part 7c — ALTERNATE TYPOLOGY RULES›Article 12 — NONCONFORMITIES

§ 12.1

Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A · 2026-08 edition · updated 2026-09-09 · Los Angeles

Sec. 12.1.1. INTENT

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).

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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.1.2. GENERAL NONCONFORMING RULES

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 modifcation, exterior modifcation, or use modifcation 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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.1.3. APPLICABILITY

  • A. Relationship to Article-Level Applicability Standards

    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 Plans, 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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.1.4. DISCONTINUANCE OF NONCONFORMING USE

  • 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 ResidentialMixed 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 ResidentialMixed 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.

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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.1.5. CALCULATION OF TIME

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.

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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.1.6. RELIEF

  • 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.

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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.1.7. ORDERS TO COMPLY

  • 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.

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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.1.8. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS

Nothing in this Article (Nonconformities) relieves any person from the obligation to comply with the requirements of any federal, state, or county law.

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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Div. 12.2. FORM EXCEPTIONS

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▸Contents — Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A
Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A
  1. Article 1 — INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
  2. Article 2 — FORM
  3. Part 2B — (Form Districts)
  4. Part 3B — (Frontage Districts) (Frontage Districts)
  5. Part 3C — (General Frontage Rules)
  6. Part 3B — (Frontage Districts)
  7. Part 3D — (Character Frontage Rules) (Character Frontage Rules)
  8. Part 3C — GENERAL FRONTAGE RULES
  9. Part 3D — CHARACTER FRONTAGE RULES
  10. Part 4B — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS DISTRICTS
  11. Part 4c — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS RULES
  12. Part 5B — (Use Districts)
  13. Part 6B — (Density Districts) (Density Districts)
  14. Part 6C — (Density Rules)
  15. ▸Part 7c — ALTERNATE TYPOLOGY RULES
    Overview
    1. Article 8 — SUPPLEMENTAL & SPECIAL ZONING
    2. Article 9 — PUBLIC BENEFIT SYSTEMS
    3. Article 10 — STREETS & PARKS
    4. Article 11 — DIVISION OF LAND
    5. ▸Article 12 — NONCONFORMITIES
      Overview
      1. § 12.1
      2. § 12.2
      3. § 12.3
      4. § 12.4
      5. § 12.5
      6. § 12.7
      7. § 12.8
    6. Article 13 — ADMINISTRATION
  16. Part 13B — PROCESSES & PROCEDURES

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