01 / Start with the address, not the ordinance
Confirm the jurisdiction
These are City of Los Angeles research directions. Match the address to its parcel in ZIMAS, the City’s property mapping system. Save the parcel identifier and boundary; a mailing-city name alone is not your jurisdiction check.
If you cannot confidently match the site, stop the program screen there. Use the Los Angeles permit-history workflow to establish the responsible agency. A failed search leaves jurisdiction unresolved.
02 / Locate the site
Check the current official SB 79 / Low-Rise map
- Open Planning’s SB 79 hub. Check its adoption updates and current mapping links before using a saved map or an older presentation.
- Match the parcel in ZIMAS. Review the current SB 79 and Low-Rise information, linked notes, and map legend. Record the displayed category and any tier or exemption information exactly as shown, including an absent or unclear result.
- Use the StoryMap for orientation. It explains transit stops and potential coverage, but its map is labeled draft. A shaded transit area is a research lead, not a property approval.
SB 79 and Low-Rise are related, but distinct. The adopted Phased Implementation Ordinance sets out a citywide temporary-exemption approach and permanent exclusion criteria. The Low-Rise Ordinance updates the Mixed Income Incentive Program (MIIP). Being near transit does not tell you which provisions currently govern a project.
Verify the distinction in Ordinance 188968, Sections 1–6 (PDF) and Ordinance 188967, Sections 3–9 (PDF). The temporary-exemption period is tied to adoption of the City’s next Housing Element revision; do not substitute a general implementation target for the applicable rule.
03 / Read beyond the map color
Read the property’s zoning context
In ZIMAS, expand Planning and Zoning. Copy the full zoning designation, General Plan land use, and any Specific Plan. Keep linked conditions and overlays with the record. Planning’s MARD guide (PDF, ZIMAS instructions on pages 4–7) shows where to find those fields and related case documents.
Flag historic designations, coastal or fire/hillside information, and site-specific restrictions for review. Low-Rise has its own criteria and exceptions; one overlay label cannot safely be turned into a universal yes or no. Verify against the adopted Low-Rise ordinance, Sections 8–9 (PDF).
04 / Make the question specific
Define the project you are actually evaluating
Prepare a short project note before asking about a program. Mark estimates and unknowns clearly.
- Existing conditions: buildings, dwelling units, occupancy, and what the available permit record supports.
- Proposed work: new construction, addition, remodel, demolition, or retention of existing housing.
- Housing concept: proposed units, rental or ownership intent, and any planned restricted affordable units.
- Site concept: lot area, one parcel or an assembly, access, and whether a subdivision is contemplated.
Low-Rise has project and affordability requirements as well as geographic criteria. See Ordinance 188967, Sections 5–9 (PDF). A preliminary unit count is a project input, not a confirmed entitlement.
Check whether another housing program also matters
Low-Rise sits within MIIP, one of CHIP’s three pathways. A subdivision concept raises a different set of questions under the Starter Home Revitalization Act. Comparing this with CHIP or subdivision pathways? Use our Los Angeles housing-program decision guide to choose the next official sources to investigate.
05 / Leave with a usable research file
What records should you save?
- Property match: address, parcel identifier, and parcel-boundary image.
- Map evidence: URL, access date, map title/version, legend, and displayed result.
- Zoning evidence: full designation, overlays, linked notes, and relevant ordinances.
- Project note: existing conditions, proposed work, assumptions, and open questions.
Save both sources when they conflict. For an existing accessory unit, use the ADU permit-history checklist. If prior work is undocumented, the retroactive-permit guide helps identify the record questions to resolve.
Questions worth bringing to Planning
- For this parcel and project, which current map and ordinance provisions should I use?
- How does phased implementation affect the displayed SB 79 result?
- Which Low-Rise criteria, exceptions, or affordability requirements need review?
- Which application path and supporting records are needed to resolve the remaining questions?
For address-specific CHIP questions, the City’s CHIP page directs users to Affordable Housing Services at the Metro/Downtown Development Services Center. Use Planning services and appointments for current contact options.
What a map result does not tell you
SB 79 / Low-Rise property FAQ
How do I check whether SB 79 may apply to a Los Angeles property?
Confirm the jurisdiction and parcel, open Planning’s current SB 79 hub and ZIMAS links, review zoning context, and define the proposed project. Save the evidence and ask Planning to confirm unresolved applicability questions. These steps do not establish eligibility.
Is being near transit enough to determine whether SB 79 applies?
No. A transit location alone does not address the City’s phased implementation, site criteria, or project requirements. Check the current local maps and adopted ordinances linked above.
Where should I check the current Los Angeles SB 79 / Low-Rise map?
Start at the City Planning SB 79 page, which links to ZIMAS for local eligibility mapping. Its Citywide Potential Eligibility StoryMap is useful for orientation and remains labeled draft/exploratory.
Does PermitPulse determine zoning or development rights?
No. PermitPulse organizes available public records, source links, gaps, and contradictions. It does not make official eligibility, zoning, entitlement, legal, architectural, engineering, or approval determinations.
What if different public sources seem to conflict?
Keep both results with their dates, parcel identifiers, and source links. Ask Planning which materials govern the specific question. PermitPulse does not silently choose a source or turn an unresolved conflict into a conclusion.
Official source directory
Keep the source with the answer
Reviewed September 17, 2026. Reopen current agency materials before relying on this guide; they control over PermitPulse summaries.