Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) – Historic District

SPAULDING SQUARE PRESERVATION PLAN

“Is that appropriate/approved?”

 Perhaps you want to make some changes to your landscape, paint your house, put on a roof, or change your driveway, windows or doors, or perhaps make an addition to your home. 

All such items are regulated by our Preservation Plan.

Or perhaps a neighbor appears to be doing something you believe is not in accordance with our preservation plan.  How to know if it’s been approved by the city and/or the HPOZ board?

First, recognize that the role of the board is to interpret the plan and provide guidance and approve projects submitted through the city planning commission for the HPOZ. 

The role of the neighborhood is to help maintain and enforce these rules by reporting them to the inspectors of the City’s Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).   (The Board does not have authority beyond those of a resident when it comes to enforcement actions.)

Second:  also recognize that ‘Conforming’ and ‘non-conforming’ properties have different rules as per the plan document.   

1. To see if a property in Spaulding Square is conforming or non-conforming:
   • Check the Spaulding Square HPOZ Architectural Survey. 
   • https://planning.lacity.gov/preservation-design/overlays/spaulding-square
     • Select the ‘map’ link
     • Note that the map sometimes has errors, but it’s a quick reference point 
     • If in doubt, ask the City Planning contact for Spaulding Square or check the actual survey document for that property.
2. To get guidelines for your project or a project you see in the neighborhood – reference the rules in the plan document:
   • https://planning.lacity.gov/preservation-design/overlays/spaulding-square
     • Select the link for “Preservation Plan”
   • If you are still unsure of a project you are undertaking –you can schedule a ‘consultation’ appointment with the HPOZ board through the city.  There, you can present and discuss your plan and get thoughts and feedback so you are the best prepared when submitting final plans for approval.
   • Some items are ‘delegated’ items under the plan and do not require full HPOZ approval.  Others will require you to present your plan at a public meeting of the HPOZ board. 
3. To see if the property has any outstanding reported HPOZ violations:
   • Check the ZIMAS system for the City of Los Angeles at:
     • https://zimas.lacity.org/
     •  This is NOT intuitive, frustrating, and often lacks details on why a final determination was made one way or another.  However, it’s where we start.
   • Enter the property address.
   • You can then check several places from the left-hand directory:
     • Case numbers
     •  ‘CityWide/Code Amendment cases
       • You can then check City Planning Commission Cases or Zoning Admin Cases
4. Once you determine (or can’t find) if the issue you believe is in violation of the HPOZ plan, please REPORT THIS VIOLATION To the city inspectors office via this link:  https://www.ladbs.org/reportviolations
   • The report is ‘anonymous’ and your information will not be shared with the neighbor; however, you must provide it so that the City inspector can call/reach out for additional information regarding the proposed violations.
5. Finally, patience.  The City does not move as quickly as we might like, and the city inspectors prioritize safety items (like a collapsing front porch) over non life threatening items (like hedge heights/ landscape compliance item).  They WILL get to it, just not quickly.
   • What happens? 
     • The city assigns the complaint a case #.
     • If there are multiple reports of the same issue, the city will close all but the first reported incident.
     • If the city is satisfied that there is no violation it will close the case.
       • The city will NOT respond to reports directly.  Only via Zimas.
     • If the city agrees there is a violation:
       • LADBS will reach out to the homeowner to discuss corrections methods. 
       • If the homeowner ignores or does not make the changes, the city will fine the homeowner.  (These fines can be steep)
       • Eventually, the city will place a lien on the property preventing sale/transfer until the fines are paid, and the items fixed.