Los Angeles Advances Land Use Reforms Aimed at Reducing City Council's Development Discretion

Los Angeles is undergoing a significant shift in its approach to urban development, with recent legislative and executive actions targeting the extensive discretionary power historically held by individual City Council members over land use decisions. This comes amidst long-standing concerns that such broad authority has contributed to corruption and hindered the city's ability to address its severe housing crisis.

Historically, Los Angeles City Council members have wielded substantial influence over development projects within their districts, a system critics argue lacks accountability and fosters an environment susceptible to corruption. Former Council Members Jose Huizar and Mitchell Englander faced federal corruption probes linked to this discretionary power, highlighting a system where developers often sought individual council members' approval for projects that might otherwise face complex zoning hurdles. The small size of the 15-member council, with each member representing approximately 260,000 residents, further amplifies this individual authority.

In response, the city has initiated several reforms. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a new Zoning Code (Chapter 1A) in October 2024, designed to modernize regulations, streamline permitting, and promote housing development. This new code aims to provide a more predictable "by-right" approval process for many projects, reducing the need for discretionary council votes. Mayor Karen Bass has also issued executive orders to expedite rebuilding efforts post-wildfires, including provisions that exempt "Eligible Projects" from traditional discretionary review processes. The Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) and Housing Element Rezoning Program further aim to encourage affordable housing development through incentives and simplified administrative reviews, including streamlining the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process for housing projects.

State-level efforts, such as Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), seek to mandate higher housing density near transit hubs, a move supported by housing advocates as a solution to the housing shortage and a potential revenue generator through increased property taxes. However, these state mandates have sometimes faced pushback from local Los Angeles leaders concerned about maintaining local control over development. The ongoing debate also includes proposals to eliminate parking minimums for new developments, which are widely seen as increasing housing costs and hindering construction.

The concentration of power in council members' hands has been a persistent point of contention. As stated by the LA New Liberals in a recent tweet, > "Just amazing that we give council members that much discretionary power over development. There is no other economic activity where that happens." These comprehensive reforms signal a concerted effort to shift Los Angeles towards a more standardized and less politically influenced development approval process, aiming to foster more predictable growth and address critical urban challenges like housing affordability and efficient city services.