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City of Los Angeles · Mulholland Specific Plan

Slope Band Analysis Form

Code Citation
CP-7848 / CP-7851 · LAMC §12.21 C.10

Definition

The Slope Band Analysis is a Baseline Hillside Ordinance instrument required by the Mulholland Specific Plan packet. It allocates the lot to slope bands (0–15%, 15–30%, 30–45%, 45–60%, 60%+) and calculates the Residential Floor Area (RFA) eligibility under LAMC §12.21 C.10. The form (CP-7848) and exhibit (CP-7851) must be prepared, stamped, and signed by a State of California registered Civil Engineer or Licensed Land Surveyor, and verified by City Planning staff before submission to Zoning Plan Check.

Why It Matters for Mulholland

The BHO RFA cap is independent of the Specific Plan’s height bands and grading caps. A project may comply with all Mulholland provisions and still exceed BHO RFA. The Slope Band Analysis is the determinant. Specific Plan compliance does not waive BHO compliance — both apply.

What the Analysis Determines

  • The lot’s allocation across slope bands (0–15, 15–30, 30–45, 45–60, 60+ percent).
  • The base Residential Floor Area under LAMC §12.21 C.10, by applying the per-band area factors to lot area.
  • Hillside Construction Regulations applicability based on the slope distribution.
  • Average Natural Slope, calculated by formula: S = (I × C) / A × 100, where I is the contour interval, C is the total length of all contour lines, and A is the lot area in square feet.
Average Natural Slope FormulaS = (I × C) / A × 100, where S is average natural slope in percent, I is contour interval in feet, C is the combined length of all contour lines in feet, and A is the area of the site in square feet.

What Plan Check Looks For

  • The CP-7848 form prepared, stamped, and signed by a registered Civil Engineer or Licensed Land Surveyor.
  • The CP-7851 exhibit (Slope Band Analysis Worksheet) consistent with the topographic survey.
  • City Planning staff verification of the form before submission to Zoning Plan Check.
  • The BOE Hillside Referral Form for streets and sewers, completed by the Department of Public Works.
  • Average Natural Slope calculation matching the topographic survey.
  • RFA calculation consistent with the proposed building floor area shown on the architectural set.

Upstream Decisions

  • Engage the Civil Engineer or Land Surveyor early. The Slope Band Analysis cannot be back-derived from architectural drawings — it must come from a stamped survey.
  • Run the BHO RFA calculation in parallel with the Specific Plan height/grading analysis. A project that maxes the Specific Plan but fails BHO is still non-compliant.
  • Coordinate the Hillside Referral Form for streets and sewers with the project’s Civil Engineering scope. BOE review is a separate gate.
  • Confirm Hillside Construction Regulations applicability before locking the building footprint and parking layout.
Worked ExampleA 14,000-square-foot Inner Corridor lot has slope bands distributed as roughly 20 percent in the 0–15 percent band, 35 percent in 15–30 percent, 30 percent in 30–45 percent, and 15 percent in the 45–60 percent band. The CP-7848 prepared by the Civil Engineer calculates a base RFA of approximately 4,200 square feet.

The proposed building totals 4,800 square feet. The project complies with the Specific Plan (height under the 30-foot upslope cap; grading under the 1:4 ratio), but exceeds BHO RFA by 600 square feet. The applicant either redesigns to fit the BHO cap or pursues an Adjustment under the BHO process — independent of any Specific Plan relief.

Related Entries

Source: City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning, Slope Band Analysis Form (CP-7848) and Slope Band Analysis Exhibit A (CP-7851). Underlying RFA framework at LAMC §12.21 C.10 (Baseline Hillside Ordinance). Required by Mulholland Specific Plan Project Compliance Filing Instructions (CP13-3618).

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