LA Wants To Make It Harder To Build Hillside Homes In An Aim To Protect Wildlife

LOS ANGELES, CA — In an aim to protect open space, natural resources, and animals' habitats and pathways, city officials have crafted a plan to further restrict hillside development across a wide swath of Los Angeles.

The proposal, known as the wildlife ordinance, has been in the works since 2016 and is currently making its way through the City Council's legislative process; the council is expected to vote on it later this year. The plan would make it harder to build large homes and additions in the Santa Monica Mountains between the 405 and 101 Freeways.

The roughly 35-square-mile zone applies on both sides of the hill: In the Valley, the boundary hovers north of Ventura Boulevard. In Central LA, it's north of Sunset Boulevard.

Under the proposal, plans for a new home 6,000 square feet or larger would undergo an additional Planning Department review. Today, that review is only required for homes larger than 17,500 square feet, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Development within 25 feet of open space would also require an additional review. And in some cases, homeowners would be required to keep more of their property as open space: Structures like buildings, pools and patios would only be allowed to cover 50 percent of a lot, the Times reported.

Wildfires, landslides and the degradation of animal habitats are among the reasons proponents cite for why the ordinance is necessary. Among the boosters are wildlife groups, and councilmembers Nithya Raman and Katy Yaroslavsky.

Opponents, including real estate agents and some homeowners (including Gwyneth Paltrow), have raised concerns that the new rules would hurt property values and burden land owners with excessive regulations.

You can read more about the proposal on the city's website.