City Of Los Angeles Developer Contribution Ban Goes Into Effect

BY KIRA T. CONLON

LOS ANGELES (THE NATIONAL LAW REVIEW) - On December 4, 2019, the Los Angeles City Council adopted Ordinance No. 186477 which prohibits a “restricted developer” or “principal” from making contributions to the Mayor, City Attorney, City Councilmember, a candidate from one of these offices, or a City committee controlled by one of these individuals (“Restricted City Officials”), effective June 8, 2022. The contribution ban applies from the date the application of a significant planning entitlement is submitted to the City of Los Angeles Planning Department, and ends 12 months after the Letter of Determination for the project is issued, or the date the decision on the application is final. Contributions made prior to June 8, 2022 are not subject to the ban.

For purposes of Ordinance No. 186477, “restricted developer” is defined as any applicant or owner. “Principal” is defined as: (i) a restricted developer’s board chair, president, CEO, CFO, COO, and any individual who serves in the functional equivalent of one or more of these positions; (ii) a person who holds an ownership interest of 20% or more in a restricted developer; and (iii) an individual authorized to represent a restricted developer before the Planning Department concerning the entitlement application. Significant planning entitlements include the following:

Density Bonus, On Menu





Density Bonus, Off Menu


Development Agreement


General Plan Amendment


Height District Change


Major Development Projects





Oil Drilling District Establishment


Sign District Establishment


Site Plan Review


Specific Plan Establishment


Tentative Tract Map


Transfer of Floor Area Rights


Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentive


Vesting Tentative Tract


Vesting Zone Change


Zone Change


Zone Variance where Area Planning Commission or Citywide Planning Commission is the initial decision maker

Effective June 8, 2022, at the time of application filing, basic applicant and project information must be filed in the City’s Restricted Developer Filing System (“RDFS”). The Ethics Commission released a Flyer answering some Frequently Asked Questions and provides City contact information.

What does this mean for developers? This ordinance means that all developers seeking any of the significant planning entitlements identified above must register with the City and cannot make contributions of any kind to Restricted City Officials’ campaigns from June 8, 2022 onward. Anyone found in violation of the ordinance may not be involved in an application for 12 months after the determination of the violation, in addition to any other penalties established in the Los Angeles Municipal Code.

Aram Basmajian also contributed to this article. Aram is an assistant land use planner in Sheppard Mullin's Los Angeles office.