License: No. #1076712
Discover what you can build in the City of Hollywood. This city guide covers essential Custom Home regulations and zoning laws to help you navigate the process and make informed decisions for your property.
You can build one Custom Home on single-family property in Hollywood, as well as convert one existing space within the primary dwelling unit to a JCustom Home.
You can build up to two Homes on multifamily property in Hollywood. You can also convert existing non-habitable spaces within the structure into additional Homes, for a total number of Homes not to exceed 25% of the number of existing non-ADU units.
In Hollywood, an attached Custom Home can be a maximum of 1,200 square feet or 50% of the primary dwelling unit size, whichever is smaller..
In Hollywood, A Custom Home is usually limited in height to 16 feet. However, if the Custom Home is located within a half mile of public transit or on multifamily property, specific zoning rules may allow for a height of up to 18-25 feet..
Yes, you are allowed to build a 2-story Custom Home in Hollywood, but the standard 16-foot height restriction is usually insufficient for a viable 2-story building. If zoning variances allow for a greater height limit, a 2-story Custom Home may be much more feasible.
Yes, you are allowed to build a 2-story Custom Home in Hollywood, but the standard 16-foot height restriction is usually insufficient for a viable 2-story building. If zoning variances allow for a greater height limit, a 2-story Custom Home may be much more feasible.
Since only one Custom Home is allowed per single-family property in Hollywood, it is not possible to get approval for two Homes stacked on top of each other, one on each story. For multifamily property, which allows up to two detached Homes, these Homes can be stacked on top of each other, with one on each story, but height restrictions still apply. If you don’t qualify for an exception to the standard 16-foot height limit, it will be hard to design and permit a viable two-story structure.
Since only one Custom Home is allowed per single-family property in Hollywood, it is not possible to get approval for two Homes attached to each other. However, since you can build up to two detached Homes on multifamily property, you can get approval for two Homes detached from the main structure but attached to each other into one big structure as long as all other zoning and building rules are observed.
No, a JCustom Home by definition is built into existing space within the primary dwelling unit. It would be a contradiction in terms to have a JCustom Home attached to A Custom Home.
Yes, you are allowed to build A Custom Home with a roof deck in Hollywood. However, keep in mind that the required safety railing will count towards the total height limit of the Custom Home. The minimum safety railing height on a roof deck in California is 42 inches.
Hollywood requires that new Homes generally conform to the external appearance of the main dwelling unit — color, material, roof pitch, roofline, door and window style, and other general characteristics to help the Custom Home blend in with the primary dwelling unit and the rest of the neighborhood.
Hollywood requires 4-foot rear and side setbacks for new Homes. Homes built into existing structures are exempt from setback requirements.
Homes in Hollywood must maintain a minimum of 6 feet of separation from other structures.
No, Homes cannot be permitted for the front yard in Hollywood.
Hollywood is located within the limits of the City of Los Angeles. As of this writing, the LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) requires in-person plan checks by appointment. You can use this link to schedule an appointment. The City of Los Angeles has historically not required in-person submission of plans for A Custom Home. LADBS has historically provided a web portal for online submission of plans and an ePlan review system that allows the upload of digital plans for preliminary review.
The City of Los Angeles may require a soils report if the Hollywood property is located in an area prone to geological hazards — hillsides, liquefaction zones, areas prone to landslides. Requirements will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Depending on the specific zone, the City of Los Angeles may require between 20-40% of the lot to be maintained as open space for property in Hollywood — yards, landscaping, permeable surfaces.
Plans must be submitted to the Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety (LADBS). They must then be reviewed by a variety of departments to check for compliance with the California Building Code, zoning, fire safety, and Title 24 energy standards. The plans may be returned several times for questions, corrections, and revisions. The process takes approximately 6-8 weeks.
The City of Los Angeles requires that Hollywood residential property include at least one extra parking space per Custom Home. However, the additional parking requirement may be waived if any of the following apply:
If a new parking space is required, it can be located in the rear or side yard, or in the driveway. Tandem parking is allowed, and the parking space does not need to be covered.
Per California state law, solar panels of appropriate size and capacity are mandatory on new-construction Homes. Homes built from converted existing structures are exempt. Smaller Homes may be subject to reduced or modified solar panel requirements.
A Custom Home is not required to have a separate water or electrical meter. You can opt for the Custom Home to share service with the main dwelling unit. However, you can request separate water or electrical meters from the City of Los Angeles for your Hollywood Custom Home.
A Custom Home in Hollywood is usually assigned its own separate address by the City of Los Angeles, especially if the Custom Home is intended for rental or independent occupancy.
Low Impact Development (LID) is an approach to land development or redevelopment that seeks to preserve and conserve onsite water quality and natural features, with minimal detrimental effect to local waterways and ecosystems. The City of Los Angeles may require LID fees for larger Hollywood Homes.
Homes permitted after January 1, 2017 can not be used as a short term rental (30 days or less) in the City of Los Angeles, including Hollywood.
Hollywood is subject to the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) of the City of Los Angeles. Under these rules, any Custom Home built after January 1, 1978 is exempt from rent control. This means most new-build Homes are exempt. However, if the primary dwelling unit is subject to rent control, it might apply to the Custom Home as well.
While encouraging the use of electric appliances for efficiency and sustainability, Hollywood does not prohibit gas appliances in new Homes.
In Hollywood you are only required to install sprinklers in a new Custom Home if the primary dwelling unit has them as well. You may also be required to install them if the Custom Home is located within a special fire hazard zone.
