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The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously, 14-0, to move forward with a proposal that would simplify approval requirements for certain small residential projects submitted before the city’s stormwater regulations changed in 2024.
The November 10, 2026, vote directs the City Attorney, working with the Bureau of Sanitation, to prepare an ordinance establishing an administrative relief process for qualifying projects.
In 2011, Los Angeles adopted stricter low-impact development (LID) requirements intended to manage stormwater runoff.
The city lowered the threshold for compliance from 2,500 square feet to just 500 square feet of added impervious surface, such as rooftops, driveways, and other surfaces that prevent rainwater from soaking into the ground.
As a result, relatively small residential projects, including backyard ADUs and home additions, could be required to install complex stormwater management systems.
These requirements increased construction costs and created additional permitting challenges for homeowners.
On April 2, 2024, Los Angeles restored the 2,500-square-foot threshold, bringing its low-impact development requirements back into alignment with regional standards.
The city determined that larger, regional stormwater infrastructure projects funded through Measure W, also known as the Safe, Clean Water Program, could provide more effective stormwater management than requiring individual homeowners to install specialized systems on small residential properties.
However, projects submitted before the 2024 change remained subject to the previous, stricter requirements.
This left some homeowners facing costs and permitting delays associated with regulations that no longer apply to newly submitted projects.
The City Council’s latest action seeks to address that inconsistency.
Introduced by Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez in May 2026, the motion calls for an administrative relief process covering pending residential projects involving between 500 and 2,499 square feet of added impervious area.
The proposed change could benefit homeowners planning:
The goal is to reduce unnecessary engineering expenses, resolve outstanding permitting issues, and help qualifying housing projects move forward.
Rodriguez argued that homeowners should not remain subject to outdated requirements that the city has already eliminated for newer applications.
Accessory dwelling units have become an increasingly important housing option throughout the San Fernando Valley, providing opportunities for multigenerational living, rental housing, and more flexible use of residential properties.
For homeowners whose projects were submitted before April 2, 2024, the proposed ordinance could offer a way to address stormwater requirements that have complicated construction.
The ordinance has not yet been adopted. The Council’s action directs city staff to prepare the necessary legislation. Any administrative relief process would depend on the final ordinance and its implementation.
Homeowners with pending ADU permits should continue working with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and monitor future City Council action for updates.
The City Attorney and Bureau of Sanitation will work on the proposed ordinance for future consideration by the Los Angeles City Council.
If adopted, the changes could remove a significant permitting obstacle for qualifying residential projects while maintaining the city’s broader stormwater management goals.
Residents considering an ADU or home addition can learn more about permitting through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.
