Brief

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion to amend the Los Angeles Municipal Code regarding affordable housing linkage fees. The proposal would establish a refund mechanism for developers who have paid linkage fees on projects that remain incomplete or are single-family developments. The Housing Committee approved the amended version on September 8, 2026, and transmitted it to Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which scheduled it for discussion on September 22, 2026.

Full summary

The City's Affordable Housing Linkage Fee, established by Ordinance 185342 in December 2017, requires developers to pay a fee as part of the building permit process to help fund affordable housing construction. Under current law, fees can be refunded only if a building permit expires before construction begins. This motion, introduced by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and seconded by Councilmember Heather Hutt, proposes to extend that refund eligibility to situations where construction started but was never completed and no Certificate of Occupancy was ever issued. The motion directs the Planning Department and the Department of Building and Safety, with help from the City Administrative Officer and City Attorney, to draft an ordinance amending Municipal Code Sections 19.18 and 16.02. The amendment would allow refunds of up to $35,000 for single-family home projects where construction stalled and permits expired, and it would apply retroactively to projects whose permits expired within the past three years. Blumenfield cited a specific constituent case to illustrate the problem: the owner of an unfinished single-family home at 5154 Campo Road in Woodland Hills paid all permit fees including the linkage fee, began construction, but was unable to finish. She ultimately lost her housing and is living out of her car — an outcome, the motion notes, that is directly contrary to the fee's intent of supporting affordable housing access. The file was referred to the Housing and Homelessness Committee and Planning and Land Use Management Committee in April 2025. The Palms Neighborhood Council submitted a Community Impact Statement in October 2025, signaling local interest in the matter. The Housing Committee approved the item as amended on September 8, 2026, and transmitted it to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee, which scheduled it for a hearing on September 22, 2026. The most recent development is that scheduling, meaning the file is now awaiting Planning Committee action before it can advance to a full Council vote.

Activity (7)

• 2026-09-18 Planning and Land Use Management Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 22, 2026.
• 2026-09-08 Housing Committee transmitted Council File to Planning and Land Use Management Committee.
• 2026-09-08 Housing Committee approved as amended .
• 2026-08-31 Housing Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 8, 2026.
• 2026-08-28 City Clerk rereferred item to Housing Committee; Planning and Land Use Management Committee, pursuant to Council File No. 26-2000.
• 2025-10-09 Community Impact Statement submitted by Palms Neighborhood Council.
• 2025-04-11 Motion referred to Housing and Homelessness Committee; Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

Documents (4)

• 2026-09-08 Communication from Council District 6 - Amendment · communication
• 2026-09-08 Transmittal Letter to Planning and Land Use Management Committee · transmittal
• 2025-10-09 Community Impact Statement submitted by Palms Neighborhood Council · cis
• 2025-04-11 Motion · motion