City of Los Angeles
20% Building Coverage Threshold
Code Citation
LAMC §12.20.3 · Division 13B.8 (Historic Preservation), Chapter 1A LAMC
LAMC §12.20.3 · Division 13B.8 (Historic Preservation), Chapter 1A LAMC
Definition
A Certificate of Compatibility (CCMP) is the discretionary review procedure for new construction on vacant lots within a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, as well as building replacement and demolition-and-reconstruction proposals on Non-Contributing elements or sites that are not listed in the certified Historic Resources Survey. Older Preservation Plans use the abbreviation COC for this same review.
The CCMP process is established under the citywide HPOZ Ordinance (LAMC §12.20.3) and the procedural framework now codified at Division 13B.8 of Chapter 1A. The application framework parallels the COA framework — both are discretionary, both run through an HPOZ Board public hearing, both terminate in a Letter of Determination from the Director of Planning, and both carry a 15-day appeal period. The substantive question differs: a COA evaluates work on Contributing elements; a CCMP evaluates whether new construction is compatible with the district’s historic character.
What Flags It
The CCMP is the path for from-the-ground-up new buildings inside an HPOZ. It applies in three principal scenarios: new construction on a vacant lot in the district; new construction on a lot where a Non-Contributing structure is being demolished or replaced; and demolition-and-reconstruction of an element identified as Non-Contributing or not listed in the certified Historic Resources Survey. The CCMP does not apply to additions on existing Contributing structures — those go through COA review when over the conforming threshold.
An application requires a formal submittal through the Department’s Online Application System on the Department’s form, with all required information per the application instructions. Application fees apply. The HPOZ Board conducts a public hearing and submits a recommendation to the Director of Planning. The Director of Planning issues a Letter of Determination. The CCMP decision is based on the new construction’s compatibility with the district as evaluated against the Preservation Plan and the citywide framework. A 15-day appeal period runs from the date of the Letter of Determination.
Worked ExampleA vacant lot in Highland Park-Garvanza is sold to a developer who proposes a new two-story single-family residence. Because the work is new construction on a vacant lot inside the HPOZ, the project is reviewed under CCMP, not COA.
The design guidelines applicable to infill in the district govern: the proposal must demonstrate compatibility with the Highland Park-Garvanza Period of Significance (1886 to 1961), with the surrounding contributing fabric, and with the design guidelines published in the Highland Park-Garvanza Preservation Plan. A Board hearing follows; the Director issues a Letter of Determination; the 15-day appeal period runs from that date. Building permit plan check at LADBS occurs separately, after the CCMP approval is in hand.
Source: Citywide HPOZ Ordinance (LAMC §12.20.3) and Division 13B.8 (Historic Preservation), Chapter 1A LAMC. Procedural details and 15-day appeal period per Department of City Planning, Historic District Project Review (planning.lacity.gov/preservation-design/historic-district-project-review). Substantive criteria for compatibility set in each district’s adopted Preservation Plan.
Request a Review
Considering a project inside an HPOZ?
Each district has its own preservation plan and its own answer to what is permitted. Design 1 Studio reviews the district-specific framework, character-defining features, and the Certificate of Appropriateness pathway before design begins.
About Design 1 Studio
Building design firm based in Pasadena, California. Over a decade serving Los Angeles County with residential and commercial design, including ADUs, hillside projects, multifamily, and historic-district work. Inspector-led methodology focused on producing drawings that anticipate plan check rather than react to it. Specialty work in HPOZ navigation across LA’s preservation districts. Contact through design1.studio.