Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between a Specific Plan and a Supplemental District?

Both Specific Plans and Supplemental Districts are zoning tools used in Los Angeles to provide more detailed regulations and guidelines for development within a specific area. However, they differ in their scope, purpose, and implementation.

Specific Plan:

• Scope: Broader in scope, often encompassing a larger area and addressing a wider range of development-related issues.
• Purpose: To guide the comprehensive development of an area, addressing land use, circulation, infrastructure, urban design, and environmental considerations.
• Implementation: Requires the drafting of a separate regulatory document outlining regulations that can override the regulations established in applied Zoning Districts.
• Content: Typically includes detailed maps, regulations, and guidelines for development, as well as provisions for infrastructure and public improvements.
• Flexibility: Historically offered more flexibility in design and development standards compared to conventional zoning. The New Zoning Code has incorporated many of these tools which should result in less need for specific plans moving forward.
• Examples: Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment District Specific Plan, Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan

Supplemental District:

• Scope: More limited in scope, focusing on specific zoning regulations and restrictions within a defined area.
• Purpose: To address unique or specific land use issues or to provide additional controls on development within a particular area that are not addressed by Zoning Districts.
• Implementation: Can be implemented through the New Zoning Code in a consistent manner without the need of a separate document, but can also be implemented via a regulatory document outside of the New Zoning Code.
• Content: Cannot override the regulations established in the applied Zoning Districts, and includes specific zoning regulations, restrictions, and development standards that supplement those that apply to the applied Zoning Districts.
• Flexibility: Less flexible than specific plans, as they primarily focus on supplementing existing zoning regulations.
• Examples: Community Plan Implementation Overlays, Historic Preservation Overlay Zones, Conservation Districts.

Key Differences:

In Summary:

Specific Plans are comprehensive planning tools used to guide the overall development of an area, while Supplemental Districts are zoning tools used to address specific land use issues or to provide additional controls on development that are not addressed by applied Zoning Districts within a particular area.