Important Current Issues

BASELINE MANSIONIZATION ORDINANCE UPDATE

by Dave Garfinkle

The City Council unanimously approved the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance which went into effect June 29. The basic provisions of the ordinance are as follows:

Basic maximum house size:  The basic maximum house size is a percent of the lot in each zone. 

These numbers exclude up to 400 sq. ft. for a garage, 400 sq. ft. of detached accessory buildings, and 250 sq. ft. of porches, patios, and breeze-ways with a solid roof open on at least 2 sides.
Bonus provisions: A bonus of up to 20% is granted for one of three provisions:

10% Variance. The Planning Department can administratively grant a 10% bonus to the permitted house size without the normal variance and public hearing process. 
Residential Floor Area District (RSAD).  This provision allows a neighborhood to establish more restrictive or less restrictive home size ratios than nominal for the particular zone.  This is a very positive change, since it empowers local neighborhoods and removes the often voiced objective concerning the difficulty of a “one size fits all” ordinance for an area as diverse as Los Angeles. While a number of ways to implement the RSAD are called out, it basically requires 75% agreement by the residents in the specified area.
Height Limits: A two story height limit with a maximum height of 33 feet for sloped roofs and 28 for flat roofs (less than 25% slope) in R1, RS, and RE 9 lots; 36 feet and 30 feet for RE11-RE40 and RA lots.  There is a provision for “average height” if 40% of the existing homes on the block are higher.  There is another provision for a special Single Story Height District.

The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance covers the area north of Ventura Blvd. The Planning Department has been charged to define the “flat” areas south of Ventura Blvd. within 100 days of the passage of the Baseline Ordinance and submit a proposed amendment to the Baseline Ordinance to include those areas.  The Department is also working on a Hillside Mansionization Ordinance for the remainder of the area south of Ventura Blvd.  That proposed ordinance, expected within the next year or so, which will go through the full public comment process.  The Baseline Mansionization Ordinance has a “sunset” provision if the Hillside Ordinance is not passed within two years.