The West Hollywood Planning Commission unanimously approved new parking regulations for residential properties at its March 5 meeting, though the sign-off came with reservations from the members. The ordinance, which will now move to a vote with the City Council, puts the city in alignment with current parking requirements at the state level.
California Assembly Bill 1317 and 984, respectively, require landlords to separate parking spaces from rent – giving tenants the option to opt-out of paying for a space and mandates cities allow for shared parking within 2,000 feet of any building with “underutilized parking.” According to a city staff report, if “20% or more of a development’s parking spaces are not occupied during the period proposed for sharing” they can be rented to non-tenants. These and other efforts by the state have aimed to encourage the development of mass transit alongside housing, limiting parking requirements and allowing for more apartment units to meet ambitious housing goals. State legislation has passed special exceptions for developments that land within a half mile of major transit stops.
The bills rendered the city’s current Parking Credits Program obsolete, staff reported, because now shared parking agreements do not necessitate the approval of city administration. Further, in May 2025, the West Hollywood City Council ordered the preparation of a zoning amendment that would eliminate parking minimums in the city, again putting it in alignment with state laws. There are exceptions to the new rules, including 100% affordable housing developments, and residential properties that have individual garages “that are functionally a part of the property,” such as some townhomes.
Commissioner Lynn Hoopingarner clarified that these new laws could mean that commercial parking could move into residential neighborhoods.
“So, a landlord could opt to make a premium dollar by renting all of their residential space to a commercial entity and not provide any residential parking for their renters,” Hoopingarner said, criticizing “assumptions” made by staff on the “minimal impact” the ordinances would have on residents. “This seems completely cattywampus,” she surmised, but added later that while “it just seems completely counterintuitive … that’s state law.”
“I think so much of state law is written not for us,” Hoopingarner added.
“I think that sort of as a nation, we lost the plot with parking and how much space and resources we devote to cars a long time ago,” Commissioner Jesi Harris said. “It’s just … become a factor that has been able to define the makeup and the design of our urban spaces in ways that have really caused a lot of harm to all of us.”
Harris added that she felt that the ordinance would have a positive impact on rent prices.
“As our housing market grows healthier, I think that renters have more of a say in what they’ll pay for a unit if it doesn’t come with a parking space, and I think that’s generally a good thing,” Harris said.
“I’m glad we’re moving in this direction, because we can start having a better conversation about what parking is really necessary, especially in light of the fact that cars are becoming more and more and more and more expensive,” Commissioner Mark Edwards said. “That is almost in the best interest of what we’re doing … hopefully will incentivize more public transportation, and we’re doing a good job of it locally. Because you can’t afford a car. It’s just getting way, way, way too expensive these days. And so, this is a move in the right direction.”
Hoopengarner reemphasized what she felt were important questions about the realities of car use in the city.
“On the day when everyone in these decision-making bodies can say that they’ve spent the last 90 days without ever getting in a car – that they’ve only used public transportation and they’ve only ridden their bike – we need to think about everybody who has to use their car,” she said. “Yes, I will be supporting this, but I’m not loving it.”
In addition to existing Metro bus lines, the city has long lobbied for expansion of Metro rail into the Rainbow District. Last month, members of the West Hollywood City Council were among the supporters at a rally in the city encouraging Metro Los Angeles to pick the Fairfax/San Vicente route of the K Line Extension, which would eventually tunnel directly down Santa Monica Boulevard.
“I don’t love the idea of unbundling parking, if I’m being totally honest,” Commissioner Stacey Jones said. “Parking is going to become a more and more, I think, intensely demanded resource in our city, and I like to think that will be tempered with other kinds of public transportation and other modes of transportation. That is my sincere wish, and I feel like we’re headed in the right direction, not just as a municipality, but as L.A. city and L.A. County. But I mean, anybody who’s ever been to The Grove or … the Beverly Connection, and you’re like, ‘Did I really just come to this place and spend like 20 bucks to park for an afternoon?’ Because it is a resource. So, I worry about the effect that that will have on … the cost of living in our city.”
“I believe in a future where we move away from personal ownership vehicles,” Commissioner Andrew Solomon said. “It’s not something that I do, and I hope that more people move towards that as we move towards our climate goals. And frankly, it’s just an easier way of getting around.”
The City Council will vote on the ordinances at a later date.