Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger that extends all conditional use permits issued to restaurants in unincorporated communities by 18 months.
“Our County’s restaurant industry, and small business owners in particular, are still recovering from the big setbacks they experienced during the pandemic,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Starting in 2020, public health orders required the County to institute significant restrictions on restaurants’ ability to operate. Many still feel negative financial ripple effects. I strongly believe we must do everything within our power to support the recovery of the restaurant industry. Extending conditional use permits is one way we can eliminate administrative and financial burdens so businesses can focus on their bottom lines. I’m hopeful restaurateurs, especially small business owners, find this support helpful so they can continue to work on their long-term revitalization.”
Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) are issued by the County’s Department of Regional Planning (DRP) and are granted to allow restaurants to operate according to zoning requirements and in ways that are compatible with their neighborhoods.
For a restaurant, a typical CUP renewal costs $11,000 and can take up to 12 months to execute – a timeframe that includes the coordination and execution of a public hearing process.
All restaurants in unincorporated communities within Los Angeles County that currently possess a CUP will have their permits automatically extended and rendered as valid through February 2024. An interactive mapping tool provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning can help restaurant owners identify if their restaurant is located in an unincorporated area.