Zoning Changes Could Bring More Affordable Homes to WeHo
In response to the ongoing housing crisis that has left thousands across Los Angeles County struggling with affordability and overcrowding, the City of West Hollywood is preparing a major update to its zoning regulations. City officials say the changes are aimed at increasing housing supply, improving affordability, and ensuring more equitable access to housing.
The initiative comes amid growing state pressure on local governments to remove barriers to housing development. California grapples with decades of underbuilding in the face of steady population growth, and this imbalance has hit the region’s most vulnerable residents hardest, contributing to cost burdens, limited access to homeownership, and rising displacement risk.
West Hollywood’s zoning update will examine how current land use policies have either helped or hindered new housing construction. Proposed changes will focus on expanding affordable housing, aligning new development with community needs, and leveraging proximity to key infrastructure like major transit hubs—including the planned Metro K-Line extension—employment centers, public services, and green space.
Officials emphasize that zoning reform will be approached incrementally to ensure development fits the character of existing neighborhoods while promoting broader access to diverse housing options.
“Our goal is to adopt land use strategies that promote housing for everyone—while also protecting what makes our neighborhoods unique,” city planners stated in an overview of the project.
To shape its recommendations, the city is conducting in-depth mapping and data analysis to evaluate the effects of zoning at both citywide and lot-specific levels. Planners are studying lot dimensions, existing regulations, and economic feasibility to better understand the potential for various forms of housing.
Public input is a central component of the process. Community members, developers, and housing advocates are being asked to provide feedback through online mapping tools and upcoming workshops. Participants are encouraged to help identify areas that should be preserved, enhanced with added density, or transformed entirely—such as underused commercial sites suitable for mixed-use housing.
- Production: Increase housing supply through strategies that prioritize equity and meet local needs.
- Affordability & Accessibility: Promote the construction of a range of housing types and prices throughout the city.
- Equity: Ensure fair access to housing and mitigate displacement in high-risk areas.
- Environmental Stewardship: Focus on new housing near transit and services to reduce environmental impacts.
- Neighborhood Preservation: Encourage development that respects historical character and protects existing affordable housing stock.
The city’s timeline for the project includes a site-level zoning and feasibility analysis through mid-2025, followed by a second community workshop in September 2025 to review potential zoning options. A final plan is expected to be completed and presented to the Planning Commission and City Council between July 2025 and January 2026 for formal approval.
City officials encourage residents to participate in the planning process and contribute to shaping West Hollywood’s housing future.
Residents are invited to visit the City of West Hollywood’s planning website here for more information or to participate in community engagement efforts.
