Chapter 18.208 — ZONE CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS

The purpose of this chapter is to set forth procedures by which this title may be amended to impose regulations not heretofore imposed, to remove or modify any regulation heretofore imposed, and to change zones or alter boundaries of districts. (Ord. 37 § 650.0, 1961; Ord. 286 § 2, 1970)

• A. A change of zone or other amendment described in Section 18.208.010 may be initiated by the city council, planning commission or an applicant as follows:

  1. A change of zone or other amendment may also be initiated by filing the appropriate application and fee with the community development department by an applicant or the owner(s) or authorized agents of property for which the zone change is being sought. If the property is under multiple ownership all owners or their authorized agents shall join in filing the application.

• B. Application Contents for Zone Change. The application shall be complete and shall show:

  1. When was existing zoning effective and are there changed conditions to warrant other or additional zoning?

  2. Will the proposed change of zone adversely affect the adjoining property as to value, precedent, or be detrimental to the area?

  3. Will a change of zone be in the interest of furtherance of public health, safety and general welfare?

  4. Such other information as the commission deems necessary.

The application shall be verified, dated and accompanied by a certified list as shown on the latest available assessment roll of the county of the names and addresses of all persons to whom all property is assessed within three hundred feet of the exterior boundaries of the property described in the application.

• C. Application—Contents for Other Than Zone Change. The application shall be complete and shall show:

  1. The nature of the amendment sought.

  2. The sections of this title affected.

  3. The reasons for the proposed amendment.

  4. Will the amendment further the public health, safety and welfare?

  5. Will the amendment adversely affect other properties?

  6. Are there changed conditions to warrant the amendment?

  7. Such other information as the commission deems necessary.

• D. Investigation. The planning department shall investigate the facts bearing on the proposed zone change or other amendment to provide information necessary to assure action consistent with the intent of this title and the general plan.

• E. Notice of Hearing. Notice of public hearing shall be given in the following ways, and shall contain the date, time and place of the hearing and, in the case of a hearing for a change of zone, a general description of the property for which a change of zone is sought.

  1. Notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city not less than ten days before the date of hearing.

  2. Notices shall be posted not less than ten days before the date of the hearing in a conspicuous place at City Hall, the Los Angeles County public library, and the post office.

  3. Except in those cases where the planning commission determines that notice by United States Mail is impractical, notices for a hearing for a change of zone shall be mailed not less than ten days before the hearing to owners of property within a radius of three hundred feet of the exterior boundaries of the property described in the petition, as shown on the latest available assessment roll of the county.

n those cases where the planning commission determines that notice by United States Mail is impractical, notices for a hearing for a change of zone shall be mailed not less than ten days before the hearing to owners of property within a radius of three hundred feet of the exterior boundaries of the property described in the petition, as shown on the latest available assessment roll of the county.

• F. Commission Recommendations. The commission shall recommend to the city council approval or disapproval of the proposed change of zone or other amendment. The recommendation shall include the reasons therefor along with the following findings:

  1. Whether or not the proposed change of zone or other amendment will adversely affect the adjoining property as to value, precedent or be detrimental to any area.

  2. Whether or not the change of zone or other amendment will further the public health, safety and general welfare.

  3. Whether or not the change of zone or other amendment is consistent with the general plan and any applicable special plans.

• G. Council Procedure. Upon receipt of the recommendation of the planning commission, the council shall hold a public hearing; provided, however, that if the matter under consideration is an amendment to a zoning ordinance to change property from one zone to another, and the planning commission has recommended against the adoption of such amendment, the city council shall not be required to take any further action thereon unless an appeal is made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 18.212 , except as modified by subsection H of this section.

• H. Council Action. The council may approve, modify or disapprove the recommendation of the commission.

I. Notification. The petitioner shall be notified by mail of the council's final action. (Ord. 37 § 650.2, 1961; Ord. 286 § 2, 1970; Ord. 318 § 1, 1971; Ord. 406 § 1, 1973; Ord. 661 § 1, 1979; Ord. 662 § 7, 1979; Ord. 1170 § 11, 2007; Ord. 1322, 4/22/2025)