LABA’s Efforts to Streamline Inefficient Permit Clearances in the City of LA
Navigating the permitting process in Los Angeles often feels like an uphill battle. Applicants face a maze of approvals, conflicting department requirements, and inefficient clearance processes. Recognizing the urgent need for reform, the Los Angeles Builders Association (LABA) has been actively collaborating with various City of LA departments to identify and address inefficiencies within the clearance process. LABA’s goal is to bridge the gap between the user experience and the internal workflows of often understaffed city agencies, ensuring a smoother, more transparent, and timely permitting process.
Addressing Inefficiencies in Permit Clearances
Permit clearances are among the most significant hurdles in the development process, requiring sign-offs from multiple city agencies such as:
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
- Bureau of Engineering (BOE)
- Bureau of Street Services (BSS)
- Fire Department (LAFD)
- Housing Department (LAHD)
Each department operates with its own unique processes and timelines, which often lead to delays caused by a lack of communication and coordination. Many departments are understaffed, resulting in long review periods, inconsistent feedback, and redundant requirements that drive up costs and delay projects.
LABA’s Approach: Linking Departments to Close Workflow Gaps
LABA has taken a proactive approach by building relationships with key city departments and advocating for interdepartmental collaboration. Their efforts are focused on:
- Identifying Redundant Clearances: LABA is working closely with city officials to review clearance requirements and eliminate duplicative or outdated processes that do not add value to the permitting system.
- Improving Communication Between Departments: By fostering direct communication between departments, LABA is helping ensure that agencies are aligned in their expectations and requirements, reducing conflicting directives that developers and other stakeholders often face.
- Bridging the Gap with the User Experience: Developers, property owners, and architects often encounter confusion when navigating the clearance process. LABA is advocating for greater transparency, including clearer online resources, updated checklists, and improved customer service to better align expectations with the reality of the process.
Using ADU Laws as a Model for Reform
LABA is leveraging the success of Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) laws as a model for streamlined permitting and enforcement. California’s ADU legislation, such as Government Code Sections 66317 and 66320, introduced clear guidelines and timelines for permit processing, setting a precedent for efficiency. Key features of these laws include:
- Permitting agencies must approve or deny ADU applications within 60 days.
- Local agencies cannot impose discretionary reviews beyond objective standards.
- Redundant requirements that do not impact health and safety must be removed.
LABA is advocating for similar enforcement mechanisms across all permit clearance processes, ensuring departments adhere to established timelines and streamline their workflows to facilitate housing and infrastructure development.
The Path to Streamlined Workflows
Through ongoing collaboration, LABA is working to:
- Standardize Clearance Timelines: LABA is advocating for consistent processing timelines across departments to create predictability for developers and property owners.
- Leverage Technology: LABA is encouraging the adoption of digital tools that allow agencies to communicate and track clearances more efficiently.
- Increase Staffing and Resources: LABA is highlighting the need for additional staffing or outsourcing to handle high demand without compromising quality or efficiency.
Conclusion
LABA’s efforts are instrumental in transforming LA’s permitting landscape. By identifying inefficiencies, fostering interdepartmental cooperation, and advocating for a user-centered approach, LABA is leading the charge to streamline clearance processes. Leveraging the success of ADU laws, they demonstrate how practical enforcement and workflow improvements can benefit the city and its residents.
As LABA’s work progresses, stakeholders in the development community can look forward to a permitting process that is more predictable, transparent, and efficient—helping Los Angeles achieve its ambitious housing and infrastructure goals.
By: Andrew Slocum
January 26, 2025
