Procedure for Adoption, Amendment or Repeal of Certain Ordinances, Orders and Resolutions.
Los Angeles City Charter § 558
in effectSec. 558. Procedure for Adoption, Amendment or Repeal of Certain Ordinances, Orders and Resolutions.
(a) The requirements of this section shall apply to the adoption, amendment or repeal of ordinances, orders or resolutions by the Council concerning:
(1) the creation or change of any zones or districts for the purpose of regulating the use of land;
(2) zoning or other land use regulations concerning permissible uses, height, density, bulk, location or use of buildings or structures, size of yards, open space, setbacks, building line requirements, and other similar requirements, including specific plan ordinances;
(3) private street regulations;
(4) public projects; and
(5) the acquisition of, change of area or alignment to, abandonment of, or vacation of any public right of way, park, playground, airport, public building site or other public way, ground or open space, but not including easements for sewers, storm drains or slopes, nor the temporary transfer of jurisdiction over any portion of a street to another local agency.
(b) Procedures for the adoption, amendment or repeal of ordinances, orders or resolutions described in subsection (a) shall be prescribed by ordinance, subject to the following limitations:
(1) Initiation. An ordinance, order or resolution may be proposed by the Council, the City Planning Commission, or Director of Planning or by application of the owner of the affected property if authorized by ordinance.
(2) Recommendation of the City Planning Commission. After initiation, the proposed ordinance, order or resolution shall be referred to the City Planning Commission for its report and recommendation regarding the relation of the proposed ordinance, order or resolution to the General Plan and, in the case of proposed zoning regulations, whether adoption of the proposed ordinance, order or resolution will be in conformity with public necessity, convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice. The City Planning Commission shall act within the time specified by ordinance. After the City Planning Commission has made its report and recommendation, or after the time for it to act has expired, the Council may consider the matter. Failure to act within the time prescribed by ordinance shall be deemed to be a recommendation of approval by the City Planning Commission of the proposed ordinance, order or resolution.
(3) Action by the Council. Before adopting a proposed ordinance, order or resolution, the Council shall make the findings required in subsection(b)(2) of this section.
(A) Planning Commission Recommendation of Approval. If the City Planning Commission recommends approval of the proposed ordinance, order or resolution, the Council may adopt an ordinance, order or resolution conforming to the Commission recommendation by majority vote.
(B) Planning Commission Recommendation Against Approval. If the City Planning Commission recommends against approval of the proposed ordinance, order or resolution, and the matter has been initiated by the filing of an application, the City Planning Commission action shall be final, subject to appeal to the Council in accordance with procedures prescribed by ordinance. The Council shall review the action of the Commission appealed from and may adopt an ordinance, order or resolution contrary to the recommendation of the Commission only by a two-thirds vote. If the City Planning Commission recommends against approval of the proposed ordinance, order, or resolution, and the matter has been initiated by the Council, the Council may take action on the matter without an appeal. The Council may adopt the proposed ordinance, order or resolution only by a two-thirds vote.
(C) Failure of Planning Commission to Act. If the Commission fails to make any recommendation within the time specified by ordinance, an ordinance, order or resolution in conformity with that which was initiated by the Council or by application shall be prepared and presented to the Council, and may be adopted by majority vote.
Source: City of Los Angeles, Charter and Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/laac/0-0-0-2515Fetched: 10/24/2026