Los Angeles may soon give developers more freedom in deciding how much parking new apartment projects require—even allowing projects with no parking at all. A recent 3-1 vote by the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee advanced a proposal to study citywide elimination of parking minimums, signaling a shift from the city’s historically car-centric planning policies.
Why Parking Rules Are Under Review
Currently, LA generally mandates at least one parking space per one-bedroom unit, with additional spaces for larger apartments. These requirements can significantly increase construction costs—studies estimate roughly $38,000 per unit—which often translates to around $200 more per month in rent for tenants.
Other cities, including San Jose, Culver City, and Austin, Texas, have already removed parking minimums to reduce development costs and improve housing affordability. In California, a 2022 state law already allows new developments within a half-mile of major transit stops to waive parking, a policy some LA projects are already using.
Council Members Emphasize Flexibility, Not Elimination
Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield, who co-introduced the motion with Councilmember Nithya Raman, stressed that the goal is to provide developers options, not eliminate parking entirely. “It’s about providing options,” Blumenfield said, noting that some districts remain car-dependent and will likely continue to see parking provided in market-rate projects.
Councilmember John Lee opposed the measure, warning that some developers might opt for zero-parking projects in certain neighborhoods, potentially straining local parking availability.
Balancing Housing Growth and Community Concerns
Advocates, such as Scott Epstein of Abundant Housing LA, argue that flexible parking rules could prevent projects from stalling due to feasibility constraints. “We want to prevent projects from not happening at all because parking requirements make them financially unfeasible,” Epstein said.
However, community groups have voiced concerns, particularly in areas with already limited street parking. For example, the Harbor Gateway North Neighborhood Council noted residents sometimes use trash bins to reserve parking spots, highlighting tensions that could arise if parking is reduced.
What This Means for Multi-Family Investors
If passed, the proposal could lower construction costs, increase density potential, and encourage transit-oriented development across LA. This could open new investment opportunities in neighborhoods previously constrained by stringent parking mandates.
The proposal must still pass a full council vote. If approved, the Planning Department would study the feasibility, benefits, and potential drawbacks of eliminating off-street parking requirements, followed by a separate vote to implement an ordinance.
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