On December 5, 2006, City Council approved the following "Public Right-of-Way Administrative Policies" to regulate construction or modifications that impact the Public Right-of-Way. Copies are also available at both the Planning and Building & Safety counters.

POLICIES:

1. During the Engineering and/or Building permit process, all existing, privately owned structures (i.e. planters, benches, etc.) in the public right-of-way shall be removed unless specifically permitted by the City in a properly executed agreement.
2. All new residential/commercial/industrial construction (see #6 for definition) shall provide both the existing and the proposed new site drainage information. Site surface water shall be transported to the street gutter by means of gravity flow or a sump pump. Use of pervious surfaces is encouraged, and may be required to reduce stormwater runoff.
3. Any property that includes a driveway that slopes downward from the street shall be required to include a sump and sump pump on any proposed improvements to the property. The driveway approach shall be crowned to prevent stormwater entering the driveway from the street.
4. To preserve on-street parking spaces as well as to improve traffic safety, the following are the driveway approach rules:
   • Each interior lot shall be allowed only one driveway approach.
   • If the residential property is adjacent to an alley, the driveway shall be located off the alley. Exceptions may be considered based on unique safety and feasibility factors (i.e. location of commercial uses along the same alley, steep topography).
   • Multi-unit residential corner lots may be permitted to have one driveway approach per unit but not more than three (3) driveways total. This policy may not be applicable in the Coastal Zone (west of Pacific Coast Highway), pursuant to Section 10-5.1704(b)(7) requiring that driveways be located to prevent a net loss of on-street parking to the maximum extent feasible.
   • Residential corner lots may be permitted to have an additional driveway approach from a different street if the additional driveway would not impact traffic safety, on-street parking, and would otherwise fully comply with any other building, engineering, and planning requirements.
   • Any exception to the above rules will be subject to the approval by the City Engineer and Planning Director.
5. Where required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act in relation to sidewalk access, in conjunction with approval of new construction on a corner lot, the property owner shall dedicate a five foot (5’) triangular corner cut-off easement to the City.
6. For a demolition permit and site improvement purpose, a 50% rule for residential projects shall be in effect to determine whether proposed improvements constitute new construction.
   • Any improvement that requires demolition of more than 50% of the existing floor area shall be considered new construction.
   • Any improvement that results in an increase of more than 50% of the existing floor area shall be considered new construction for building code purposes (this is not a definition of new construction pursuant to the zoning ordinance).
7. All new construction (see #6 for definition) shall include public improvements adjacent to the properties, i.e., unsafe or damaged sidewalks, driveway approach, curb and gutter, etc.
8. In order to protect pedestrians using the sidewalk, properties with driveways that slope downward to the street require that a minimum 12” by 12” catch basin shall be provided to catch surface water in the driveway area upstream of the sidewalk and drain to the gutter via a 3” diameter underground cast iron pipe(s). A drainage study may be required as determined by the City Engineer to verify the proper drainage relief.
9. Additional storm drain/sewer/traffic mitigations will be required as needed for any development project of 5 or more units to correct existing deficiencies, or for projects of any size where required as a mitigation measure pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
10. During the building permit issuance process, property owners shall be required to correct any non-permitted construction and/or site issues.
11. Fees shall be waived for City projects only, or other governmental agency projects that would be of benefit to the community - subject to the express, written approval of the City Engineer/Chief Building Official for building or engineering permits, or of the Planning Director for planning permits.
12. No building permit shall be issued without an engineering permit or a determination by the Engineering Division that no engineering permit is required. The Building Division shall not issue a building permit unless an engineering permit is issued concurrently when a public right of way permit is necessary.
13. All sewer laterals for new construction shall be connected to the City sewer system unless the cost of connecting to the City system would be more than 150% of the cost of connecting to the County Sanitation District of the Los Angeles County (CSDLAC) system.
14. In the R-1 single family residential zone, the Planning Department is responsible for a determination of compliance with the residential design guidelines (i.e. percent of impervious surfaces, architectural finishing details). To assure compliance, the building inspector shall notify the Planning Department of anything not built as shown in the plans prior to final sign off. Where the plans include a notation that a floor area ratio bonus has been granted based on provision of a “Hollywood driveway” with a grass strip along the center of the driveway or based on providing a front setback area with less than 30% coverage by impervious surfaces, a final inspection sign off by the Planning Department shall be required.