DEPARTMENT OF AIRPORTS

Los Angeles City Charter tit. I, art. VI, pt. DEPARTMENT OF AIRPORTS

in effect

Los Angeles City Charter § 630 Board Composition.

Sec. 630. Board Composition. The Board of Airport Commissioners shall consist of seven members appointed and removed as provided in Section 502. At least one member shall reside within the area surrounding Los Angeles International Airport and at least one member shall reside within the area surrounding Van Nuys Airport, as those areas are defined by ordinance.

Los Angeles City Charter § 631 Possession, Management and Control of Airport Assets.

Sec. 631. Possession, Management and Control of Airport Assets. The Board of Airport Commissioners shall have the possession, management and control of all airports, airport sites and all equipment, accommodations and facilities for aerial navigation, flight, instruction and commerce belonging to the City. The lands, property, facilities, and interests therein, under the management, supervision and control of the board shall be known as the Airport Assets.

Los Angeles City Charter § 632 Powers and Duties of the Board.

Sec. 632. Powers and Duties of the Board. The board shall have the power and duty to: (a) Rates and Charges. Fix and collect rates and charges for the use of the Airport Assets and any other service provided by the department, including the establishment of fees for the use of and access to airport property by commercial and private operators for aeronautical and ground transportation purposes. (b) Rules and Regulations. Subject to the powers of the United States respecting commerce, make and enforce all necessary rules and regulations governing the use and control of City owned or controlled airports located inside and outside of the City and the use of airways and waterways proximate to these airports incident to aerial navigation. Regulations adopted by the board shall be approved by ordinance that shall prescribe the penalties for the violation of these rules and regulations. These rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, the following subjects: (1) the ascent, landing, mooring, movement, maintenance, operation or use of all apparatus for aerial navigation and flight, or convenient or necessary in connection with those operations; (2) the design, construction, maintenance, use, condition and operation of any utility, machine, building, structure or improvement on any airport, and control of excavation, obstructions and traffic on or in the airports; and (3) the management and regulation of ground transportation on airport property, including access by commercial transportation service providers. (c) Development of the Airports. Purchase, lease, acquire, condemn, design, erect, maintain, improve, repair and operate all property, improvements, utilities, equipment, supplies or facilities as it may deem necessary or convenient for Departmental Purposes. The power of condemnation shall only be exercised with approval of the Council. SECTION HISTORY Amended by: Charter Amendment II, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Los Angeles City Charter § 633 Powers and Duties of the General Manager.

Sec. 633. Powers and Duties of the General Manager. In addition to those powers and duties prescribed in Section 604, the general manager of the Department of Airports shall have the power and duty to: (a) enforce all orders, rules and regulations adopted by the board; (b) supervise and manage the design, construction, maintenance and operation of all work or improvements authorized or ordered by the board; (c) designate and assign space for the use of aircraft at the established rates or charges and subject to the rules and regulations of the department; (d) designate and assign space in any warehouse, shop, field, runway, hangar or like facility at the established rates or charges and subject to the rules and regulations of the department; (e) revoke any assignment made under subsection (c) or (d) of this section, in accordance with Section 634(b); and (f) carry out all powers and duties of the department delegated by the board.

Los Angeles City Charter § 634 Limitations upon Permits and Licenses.

Sec. 634. Limitations upon Permits and Licenses. In addition to the limitations set forth in Section 607, permits or licenses shall be subject to the following: (a) Reservation for Departmental Purposes. Every assignment of space shall reserve to the department the right to use the space or facility for Departmental Purposes when the space is not required for the use of the grantee. (b) Revocation Upon Notice. Every assignment of space shall be revocable without compensation to the grantee, upon notice. (c) Common Use Requirement. Every assignment of space shall include a provision that use of airport facilities shall be in common with others, but only to the extent necessary to exercise the rights granted by the permit or license.

Los Angeles City Charter § 635 Airport Revenue Fund.

Sec. 635. Airport Revenue Fund. (a) Creation of Fund. All fees, charges, rentals and revenue from every source collected by the Department of Airports in connection with its possession, management and control of the Airport Assets shall be deposited in the City Treasury to the credit of the Airport Revenue Fund. However, there shall be excluded from the Airport Revenue Fund any revenues received or to be received for the payment of any special purpose indebtedness of the Department payable solely out of the monies received or collected by the Department for the use or operation of special purpose facilities. This fund shall be exempt from the end of year transfer provisions of Section 344. The Board may create for each airport, heliport and related facility operated by the Department, one or more separate revenue and expense accounts within the Airport Revenue Fund. The Board may place in said account all or a portion of the revenues, income and expenses derived from or allocated to one or more airports owned, operated or controlled by the Department. If separate accounts are created in the Airport Revenue Fund, the Board may create corresponding separate accounts in the Maintenance and Operation Reserve Fund. With respect to one or more airports, the Board may choose to fund Maintenance and Operation Reserve Fund and to pay debt service and maintenance and operations expenses attributable to said airport or airports solely from the monies placed in a specified account or accounts in the Airport Revenue Fund or may choose to pay such amounts and expenses from any monies held in the Airport Revenue Fund or in any account or subaccount thereof, all in such manner as the Board shall determine. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if separate accounts are created in the Airport Revenue Fund and/or Maintenance and Operation Reserve Fund, the Board shall have the power to direct that such monies can be used solely for a specified purpose related to the airport, heliport and related facility from which such monies are derived or to which such monies have been allocated. The implementation or subsequent modification of any of the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall be subject to approval by ordinance. (b) Use of Funds. The money in the Airport Revenue Fund may not be appropriated or expended for any purpose except the following: (1) Operation and Maintenance. For the necessary expenses of operating the Department of Airports, including the operation, promotion and maintenance of the Airport Assets for Departmental Purposes. (2) Development of Assets. For the acquisition, construction, completion and maintenance of airport improvements, works, utilities, facilities, services and aircraft for Departmental Purposes, and for the acquisition or taking by purchase, lease, condemnation or otherwise of any property, real or personal, or other interest necessary or convenient for Departmental Purposes. (3) Payment of Debt. For the payment of the principal and interest of bonds issued by the department or by the City for Departmental Purposes. (4) Pension Contributions. For defraying the expenses of any pension or retirement system applicable to the employees of the department. (5) Reimbursements. For reimbursement to another department or office of the City on account of services rendered, or materials, supplies or equipment furnished to support Departmental Purposes. (6) Discretionary Transfer to General Fund. For transfer to the General Fund of money determined by the board to be surplus, but only to the extent not inconsistent with federal or state law, regulation or contractual obligations.

Los Angeles City Charter § 636 Airport Police.

Sec. 636. Airport Police. The Airport Police shall remain under the independent and autonomous control of the Department of Airports.

Los Angeles City Charter § 637 Department Name.

Sec. 637. Department Name. The Department of Airports also may be referred to and known as the Los Angeles World Airports. SECTION HISTORY Added by Charter Amendment II, approved November 5, 2024, effective January 8, 2025.

Source: City of Los Angeles, Charter and Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/laac/0-0-0-3119Fetched: 10/24/2026