Some entitlements more than doubling in late December
Mayor Garcetti announced late last week that he signed an ordinance which will allow City Planning to increase its fees across most categories. The fee hike won’t take effect until Dec. 27, the department announced, “to allow sufficient time for implementation.” That also gives property owners about 6 weeks to file their entitlement requests in order to avoid the higher fees.
How significant will the fee increases be? Some fees will more than double and many of the most common requests will see a substantial increase. Here are a few examples of common entitlements, the current fee and the new fee as of Dec. 27:
| Entitlement | Current fee* | Fee as of 12/27* | Increase (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Development Permit for SFD | $8,457.48 | $14,779.68 | $5,322.20 (74%) |
| Lot-Line Adjustment (PMEX) | $4,273.02 | $3,287.79 | -$985.23 (-23%) |
| Over-Height Fence Case | $6,683.83 | $12,167.16 | $5,483.34 (82%) |
| Conditional Use Permit | $6,961.80 | $18,014.58 | $11,052.78 (158%) |
| Zoning Administrator’s Determination+ | $6,735.48 | $13,875.63 | $7,140.15 (106%) |
| Zoning Administrator’s Adjustment | $5,316.06 | $11,290.17 | $5,974.11 (112%) |
| Zoning Change & General Plan Amendment | $34,807.77 | $39,620.76 | $4,812.99 (13%) |
* Includes the surcharges that Planning adds to all entitlement cases that add 23% to the base fees;
does not include ENV
+ Hillside ZAD cases
Planning Director Vince Bertoni said the increased fees “will put City Planning on solid financial footing,” in a press release issued by the department. According to the press release, City Planning expects to take in an additional $8 million annually and will go from covering 63% of its operating cost to 83%. To see all the fees that will change, here is the approved ordinance.
Pacific Crest Consultants urges anyone who wants to file their entitlement with City Planning prior to the fee increases to have the entitlement package ready to file by the first week of December. The Planning Department remains closed for in-person case submittals, so all entitlements are filed by dropping off proposed entitlements at one of the city’s Development Services Centers. It is currently taking staff up to 2 weeks to review submittals and issue an invoice with filing fee(s) to be paid. Planning has not promised that any case filed before Dec. 27 will be eligible for the lower fees; in fact, the press release warns applicants to file “well in advance of December 27, so as to avoid any unforeseen delays” that could make the project ineligible for current fees.
We anticipate that as the new fee date gets closer, the department will be flooded with more proposed entitlements and many may not be processed prior to Dec. 27. Complicating matters: The city will be closed Friday, Dec. 24 (Christmas holiday) and traditionally the Planning Department is under-staffed during the second half of December as employees take vacations around the winter holidays.
If you would like PCC to assist you in filing an entitlement case prior to the change of fees, please email CEO Chris Parker at Chris@pccla.com. Your email should include the project address, a brief description of the project and the entitlement(s) you think is needed.
