The Public Art in Private Development Ordinance will be presented for final vote at the Board Hearing on September 15, 2021 at 9:30AM. This new ordinance would allocate 1% of the building valuation of private development projects in unincorporated areas of the County to fund public art, cultural facilities, conservation, artistic and cultural services, and programs within the project’s site area. At the hearing, the board will decide if the ordinance will apply to private residential development (excluding all affordable housing) in addition to private commercial and industrial development.

Background

The recommendation to develop a Public Art in Private Development Ordinance initially came forward as part of the Board motion for the LA County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative (CEII). The intention for the recommendation is to provide new cultural opportunities and funds particularly for residents of unincorporated areas of the County by extending LA County’s civic art requirement to private developers and enacting ordinances that encourage the creation of cultural assets. The Public Art in Private Development ordinance would allocate a 1% fee on new eligible private development projects in unincorporated areas of the County to fund public art, cultural facilities, conservation, and artistic and cultural services and programs within the project’s site area.

The purpose of the ordinance is to expand LA County’s artistic and cultural resources, enhance quality of life, and support the arts professionals who have a positive impact on our local creative economy. While there are similar ordinances in various cities in California, this would be the first Public Art in Private Development ordinance for the County of Los Angeles and its unincorporated communities.

On July 23, 2019 the LA County Board of Supervisors considered the Public Art in Private Development Ordinance. At the meeting, the Supervisors indicated their intent to approve the Ordinance as it relates to commercial and industrial development in unincorporated areas, while deferring a vote on whether or not to extend that fee to residential development projects.

As with all Board Meetings, the public may provide written or oral testimony in regards to an agenda item. You can provide written comment by sending an email to publiccomments@bos.lacounty.gov.

For any questions, please reach out to Grace Ramirez Gaston at GRamirezGaston@arts.lacounty.gov.