LA Hillside Ordinance Guide (2026)
If your LA parcel has any meaningful slope, the hillside ordinance probably applies. This guide covers what triggers it, what grading is allowed, and why every hillside addition needs a geotechnical report.
What triggers the hillside ordinance
Lots with 15% or greater average slope, OR lots that cross a hillside-suffixed zone (R1-H, RE-H, etc.).
Most of: Hollywood Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood (north of Sunset), Pacific Palisades (hills), Studio City (south of Ventura), Sherman Oaks (south of Ventura), Encino (south), Tarzana (south), Silver Lake, Echo Park, Mount Washington, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Baldwin Hills, View Park.
Grading limits
Maximum cut: 50% of the lot area (varies by base zone).
Maximum slope of finished grades: 2:1 (horizontal:vertical) on graded slopes, steeper if engineered.
Drainage mandatory to approved public storm system; no discharge onto adjacent properties.
Setbacks — stricter than flat-lot setbacks
Front yard: typically 20 ft.
Side yards: 5–10 ft depending on lot width.
Rear yard: greater of 15 ft or 20% of lot depth.
Measured from top-of-slope, not from street — this catches many homeowners off-guard.
Driveway slope
Maximum 20% slope for up to 20 feet.
Maximum 15% for longer driveways.
Transitions required at top and bottom (2 ft at 8% or less) so vehicles don't bottom out.
Geotechnical report — the $5K–$15K add
Required for most hillside additions and all new hillside construction.
Typical cost: $5,000–$15,000 depending on parcel complexity, existing landslide flags, proximity to faults.
Report covers: slope stability, soil bearing capacity, foundation recommendations, drainage, seismic amplification factors.
LADBS will not accept structural drawings without an accepted geotechnical report.
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LA Hillside Ordinance Guide (2026) — scoped by Baily.
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