www.squarecoil.com
be liable for any obstruction of delivery due to delay in obtaining such permission, and if customer executes this contract of sales without ever obtaining permission from a party or parties necessary for the installation of said sign, then he/she purchases same and is bound to the terms and conditions of this contract as though he/she had obtained said permission and he/she agrees to relieve the company from any liability.
4. Customer agrees to provide electrical feed wire of suitable capacity and approved type to the location within 4 unobstructed feet of display in advance of installation. Unless specifically stated in writing to the contrary, buyer shall pay for costs of relocating power lines, or other obstacles, to comply with laws of federal, state, or municipal agencies.
5. The price fixed herein is based on the assumption that installation will be in normal soil. In the event adverse soil conditions or underground obstructions are encountered, the parties agree to adjust the extra installation cost based on seller’s additional cost. +
6. Letters to be mounted on exterior side of wall, electrical system to be contained in transformer box with Flex crossovers on interior of wall unless raceway is specified (additional cost), access for installation in front of and behind wall must be available at time of installation. Wall installation is assumed to be on normal stucco, wood, or soft brick facing, if unique circumstances inside wall are discovered by installer, buyer if available, will be notified. In any event, buyer shall be billed for special labor on a time-spent basis. In any event, installation shall be considered complete at the time that the sign is tested.
7. All dimensions are close approximate and may vary due to existing conditions at job site.
8. All products manufactured by the company are guaranteed unconditionally against defective parts, materials and workmanship for Two (2) years, with exception of neon, transformers, ballasts, incandescent, Digital Print and fluorescent lamps as they are guaranteed for one (1) year. The cost of labor, however, will be charged at hourly rates. Any extended warranty must be stated above.
9. This price does not include electrical hookup, permits, engineering or tax; unless specifically stated above.
10. Painting exterior walls will only be done if the customer/client provides the paint or Paint Color. Signergy is not responsible for exact match.
Painting Interior walls are excluded from this contract.
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *506
1 TO: City Council
FROM: Adrian Fernandez, Community and Economic Development Director
PREPARED BY: Erika Molina, Assistant Planner
MEETING DATE: February 3, 2026
SUBJECT: Request to Continue to the City Council Meeting on February 17, 2026 - Tentative Parcel Map No. 84865, Site Plan Review No. 1223, Modification No. 2, and Height Variation Permit No. 119
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Staff recommends that the City Council continue the subject item to the February 17, 2026, City County meeting due to improper public hearing noticing. Staff mailed and posted a public hearing notice with an omitted project address. A new public hearing notice with the project address will be mailed and posted in accordance with the public hearing requirements in advance of the new meeting date.
Reviewed by: Approved by:
_______________________ ______________________
Adrian Fernandez Andrew Vialpando
Community and Economic City Manager
Development Director
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. 9a
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *507
1 TO: City Council
FROM: Andrew Vialpando, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Adrian Fernandez, Community and Economic Development Director
MEETING DATE: February 3, 2026
SUBJECT: Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-02 – An update to the Lomita Municipal Code Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units to Comply with Recent Changes in State Law
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Waive full reading and introduce for first reading by title only an ordinance entitled: “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Lomita approving Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-02, amending Section 11-1.30.06 of Lomita Municipal Code (LMC) Title XI (Planning and Zoning) Chapter 1 (Zoning) to comply with recent changes to State law that impose new limits on local authority to regulate Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs), and finding the action to be statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Public Resources Code Section 21080.17.”
BACKGROUND
On December 16, 2025, the City Council adopted urgency Ordinance No. 879 to update ADU regulations pursuant to recently passed State law. The urgency ordinance took effect immediately allowing the City’s ADU ordinance to remain applicable beyond January 1, 2026.
On January 12, 2026, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the subject item and adopted Resolution No. 2026-02, unanimously recommending that the City Council adopt the proposed non-urgency ordinance. The proposed ordinance would replace the temporary urgency ordinance extending the City’s ADU regulations.
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. 9b
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *508
2 AB 462 – Coastal Development Permits; Disaster Affected Areas Assembly Bill (AB) 462 modifies several permitting requirements associated with processing Coastal Development Permits for ADUs located in the Coastal Zone.
Beyond changes to CDP processing, AB 462 modifies the rules governing the issuance of a certificate of occupancy (CofO) for an ADU. Historically, state law has prohibited a local agency from issuing a CofO for an ADU before one is issued for the primary dwelling (i.e., the primary dwelling must have a CofO before the ADU can receive one).
AB 462 creates a narrow exception to this prohibition for detached ADUs when all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the Governor has declared a state of emergency for the county on or after February 1, 2025; (2) the primary dwelling was substantially damaged or destroyed by an event referenced in the state of emergency proclamation; and (3) the ADU has been issued construction permits and passed all required inspections. (Gov. Code, § 66328(b).) If these conditions are satisfied, the detached ADU can receive a CofO before the primary dwelling.
In all other scenarios, the primary dwelling still needs a CofO before one can be issued for an ADU.
AB 462 was enacted as an urgency measure that took effect immediately when signed by the Governor (on October 10, 2025).
The following three bills were enacted as non-urgency measures and take effect on January 1, 2026.
AB 1154 – JADU Owner-Occupancy; Short-Term Rental
When a JADU is developed, existing state law requires a property owner to reside in the JADU or remaining portion of the single-family dwelling. AB 1154 narrows this requirement to now only apply when a JADU shares sanitation facilities (bathroom) with the single-family dwelling. If the JADU has its own bathroom, then the property owner does not have to reside on the property at all. (See amended Gov. Code, § 66333(b).)
AB 1154 also expressly prohibits JADUs from being used as short-term rentals (i.e., rented for a term shorter than 30 days). (See amended Gov. Code, § 66333(g).) Most ADU ordinances already included this prohibition (as well as prohibiting ADUs from being used as short-term rentals). But now it’s required by state law.
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3 SB 9; SB 543 – ADU Ordinance Submittal to HCD; Approval Under existing law, local agencies are required to submit a copy of their ADU ordinance to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) within 60 days of adoption.
This year’s Senate Bill (SB) 9 (different than the SB 9 “lot-splitting” law from 2021) and SB 543 create a penalty for failing to do so by rendering null and void any local ordinance that is not submitted to HCD within 60 days of adoption. (See amended Gov. Code, § 66326(d); new Gov. Code, § 66333.5(d).) The bills further specify that a local ADU ordinance is null and void if HCD issues findings that the ordinance does not comply with state law and the local agency fails to respond to HCD within 30 days.
SB 543 – ADU Size; Number of ADUs; Impact Fees; Application Timeline SB 543 makes numerous changes and clarifications to state ADU law, the most notable of which are summarized below.
ADU & JADU Size
Existing law limits the maximum size of a JADU to 500 square feet and prohibits local ADU ordinances from imposing certain development standards that would prevent an ADU created under Government Code sections 66314 through 66322 from being at least 800 square feet.
SB 543 amends state ADU law to specify that allowable square footage of an ADU or JADU refers to square footage of “interior livable space.” (See amended Gov.
Code, § 66313(d), 66321(b)(2).)
Impact Fees
Existing law exempts ADUS that are 750 square feet or smaller from development impact fees (DIFs).
SB 543 clarifies that DIFs may not be imposed on an ADU that has 750 or fewer square feet of interior livable space or on a JADU with 500 or fewer square feet of interior livable space.
The bill also exempts an ADU or JADU with fewer than 500 square feet of interior livable space from school impact fees. (See amended Gov. Code, § 66311.5.) Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *510
4 Quantity of ADUs Created Under Government Code Section 66323 Existing state law creates four categories of ADUs that must be approved if they comply with the limited standards provided in Government Code section 66323(a)(1)–(4). These are:
(1) a converted ADU and JADU created on a lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling (Gov. Code, § 66323(a)(1));
(2) a detached ADU created on a lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling (Gov. Code, § 66323(a)(2));
(3) converted ADUs created in an existing multifamily dwelling (Gov. Code, § 66323(a)(3)); and
(4) detached ADUs created on a lot with a proposed or existing multifamily dwelling.
For some time, there has been uncertainty as to whether ADUs created under Government Code section 66323 could be combined. Some practitioners interpreted the statute to not require local agencies to allow combinations. Initially, HCD took the same position, in its 2020 ADU Handbook. But for the last few years, HCD has taken the opposite position: that yes, combinations are permitted. (See HCD January 2025 ADU Handbook, at p. 19 [“[P]ursuant to Government Code section 66323, subdivision (a), local governments must allow units created pursuant to subparagraphs (1) and (2) together or (3) and (4) together”].) SB 543 codifies HCD’s most recent interpretation by amending Government Code section 66323 to specifically allow combinations. Thus, a lot with a multifamily dwelling can now have a converted ADU or ADUs created under section 66323(a)(3) and detached ADUs created under section 66323(a)(4). And a lot with a single family dwelling can now have a converted ADU and a JADU created under section 66323(a)(1) and a detached ADU created under section 66323(a)(2).
ADU Permitting Process
Existing law has long required local agencies to approve or deny an ADU application within 60 days of receiving a complete application. However, state law was silent with respect to incompleteness determinations, subsequent resubmittals, and appealing local decisions on ADU applications.
SB 543 requires local agencies to now:
(1) determine whether an ADU application is complete within 15 business days of submittal;
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *511
5 (2) if the application is incomplete, within the same 15 days, provide the applicant with a list of incomplete items and how to address them; (3) review a resubmitted application for completeness within 15 business days; (4) provide the applicant with a written appeal process for any incompleteness determination or denial (to the Planning Commission or City Council, or both); and
(5) provide a final written determination on the appeal within 60 business days of receiving the appeal. (See amended Gov. Code, §§ 66317 [ADUs], 66335 [JADUs].)
NEXT STEPS & RECOMMENDATION
AB 462 took effect immediately when signed, but technically it doesn’t require any change to a local ADU ordinance; the City just needs to follow the new rules for CDP processing and issuance of a CofO, if applicable. But the remaining bills take effect January 1, 2026, and for the City’s ADU ordinance to remain valid and enforceable, it must comply with the new changes in state law. Adopting the proposed ordinance (Exhibit A to Attachment 1) ensures that the City’s ADU ordinance will remain in compliance with state law. For these reasons, staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the attached resolution (Attachment 1), recommending that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Under California Public Resources Code section 21080.17, CEQA does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code, which is California’s ADU law and which also regulates JADUs, as defined by Section 66313. Therefore, the proposed ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA in that the proposed ordinance implements state ADU law.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of this hearing dated January 23, 2026, was published in The Daily Breeze Newspaper and posted at City Hall, Lomita Park, and on the City’s website.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no financial implications resulting from this recommendation.
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6 OPTIONS
1. Approve the attached ordinance.
2. Do not approve the ordinance.
3. Provide staff with further direction.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Ordinance and Exhibit A (Amended ADU Regulations) Approved by:
______________________
Andrew Vialpando
City Manager
Prepared by:
.
__________________________
Adrian Fernandez, Community and Economic Development Director Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *513
ORDINANCE NO. 883
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING LOMITA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 11-1.30.06
RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080.17
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA HEREBY FINDS AND ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals.
A. The City of Lomita, California is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the constitution and laws of the State of California.
B. State law authorizes cities to act by ordinance to provide for the creation and regulation of accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”) and junior accessory dwelling units (“JADUs”).
C. In recent years, the California Legislature has approved, and the Governor has signed into law, numerous bills that, among other things, amend various sections of the Government Code to impose new limits on local authority to regulate ADUs and JADUs.
D. In 2025, the California Legislature approved, and the Governor signed into law, further amendments to state ADU law.
E. New updates to state ADU law take effect on January 1, 2026, and for the City’s ADU ordinance to remain valid, it must be amended to reflect the most recent changes to state law.
F. The City desires to amend its local regulatory scheme for the construction of ADUs and JADUs to reflect the most recent changes to state law.
G. On January 12, 2026, the Planning Commission held a duly-noticed public hearing and considered the staff report, recommendations by staff, and public testimony concerning this proposed Ordinance. Following the public hearing, the Planning Commission voted to forward the Ordinance to the City Council with a recommendation in favor of its adoption.
H. On February 3, 2026, the City Council held a duly-noticed public hearing to consider the Ordinance, including: (1) the public testimony and agenda reports prepared in connection with the Ordinance, (2) the policy Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *514
Ordinance No. 883
considerations discussed therein, and (3) the consideration and recommendation by the City’s Planning Commission.
Section 2. Incorporation. The recitals above are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council.
Section 3. CEQA. Under California Public Resources Code section 21080.17, the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) does not apply to the adoption of an ordinance by a city or county implementing the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code, which is California’s ADU law and which also regulates JADUs, as defined by section 66313. Therefore, adoption of the Ordinance is statutorily exempt from CEQA in that it implements state ADU law.
Section 4. General Plan. The City Council hereby finds that the adoption of the urgency Ordinance is consistent with the General Plan as a matter of law under Government Code section 66314(c).
Section 5. Code Amendment. Lomita Municipal Code Section 11-1.30.06 is hereby amended to read in its entirety as provided in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect 30 days after its adoption.
Section 7. HCD Submittal. As required by Government Code section 66326, the City Clerk is directed to submit a copy of this Ordinance to the California Department of Housing and Community Development within 60 days after adoption.
Section 8. Publication. The City Clerk directed to certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and post or publish this Ordinance as required by law.
Section 9. Custodian of Records. The custodian of records for this Ordinance is the City Clerk and the records comprising the administrative record are located at 24300 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, CA 90717.
Section 10. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity has no effect on the other provisions or applications of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this extent, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any portion thereof.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Lomita, California, at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 17th day of February, 2026.
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *515
Ordinance No. 883
Cindy Segawa, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kathleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Trevor Rusin, City Attorney
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *516
Ordinance No. 883
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *517
EXHIBIT A
Amended ADU and JADU Regulations
Section 11-1.30.06 Accessory Dwelling Units
(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow and regulate accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs) in compliance with Chapter 13 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the California Government Code. (B) Effect of Conforming. An ADU or JADU that conforms to the standards in this section will not be:
(1) Deemed to be inconsistent with the city’s general plan and zoning designation for the lot on which the ADU or JADU is located.
(2) Deemed to exceed the allowable density for the lot on which the ADU or JADU is located.
(3) Considered in the application of any local ordinance, policy, or program to limit residential growth.
(4) Required to correct a nonconforming zoning condition, as defined in subsection (C)(8) below. This does not prevent the city from enforcing compliance with applicable building standards in accordance with Health and Safety Code section 17980.12.
(C) Definitions. As used in this section, terms are defined as follows:
(1) “Accessory dwelling unit” or “ADU” means an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. An accessory dwelling unit also includes the following:
a. An efficiency unit, as defined by section 17958.1 of the California Health and Safety Code; and
b. A manufactured home, as defined by section 18007 of the California Health and Safety Code.
(2) “Accessory structure” means a structure that is accessory and incidental to a dwelling located on the same lot.
(3) “Complete independent living facilities” means permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same parcel as the single-family or multifamily dwelling is or will be situated.
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *518
(4) “Efficiency kitchen” means a kitchen that includes all of the following:
a. A cooking facility with appliances.
b. A food preparation counter and storage cabinets that are of a reasonable size in relation to the size of the JADU.
(5) “Junior accessory dwelling unit” or “JADU” means a residential unit that satisfies all of the following:
a. It is no more than 500 square feet of interior livable space in size. b. It is contained entirely within an existing or proposed single-family structure. An enclosed use within the residence, such as an attached garage, is considered to be a part of and contained within the single-family structure. c. It includes its own separate sanitation facilities or shares sanitation facilities with the existing or proposed single-family structure.
d. If the unit does not include its own separate bathroom, then it contains an interior entrance to the main living area of the existing or proposed singlefamily structure in addition to an exterior entrance that is separate from the main entrance to the primary dwelling.
e. It includes an efficiency kitchen, as defined in subsection (C)(4) above. (6) “Livable space” means a space in a dwelling intended for human habitation, including living, sleeping, eating, cooking, or sanitation. (7) “Living area” means the interior habitable area of a dwelling unit, including basements and attics, but does not include a garage or any accessory structure. (8) “Nonconforming zoning condition” means a physical improvement on a property that does not conform with current zoning standards.
(9) “Passageway” means a pathway that is unobstructed clear to the sky and extends from a street to one entrance of the ADU or JADU.
(10) “Proposed dwelling” means a dwelling that is the subject of a permit application and that meets the requirements for permitting.
(11) “Public transit” means a location, including, but not limited to, a bus stop or train station, where the public may access buses, trains, subways, and other forms of transportation that charge set fares, run on fixed routes, and are available to the public.
(12) “Tandem parking” means that two or more automobiles are parked on a driveway or in any other location on a lot, lined up behind one another.
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *519
(D) Approvals. The following approvals apply to ADUs and JADUs created under this section:
(1) Ministerial ADU and Building Permits Required. Every ADU and JADU requires an ADU permit and a building permit. The city will review and approve permit applications in accordance with subsection (D)(3) below. (2) Processing Fee. The city may charge a fee to reimburse it for costs incurred in processing ADU permits, including the costs of adopting or amending the city’s ADU ordinance. The ADU-permit processing fee is determined by the director of community and economic development and approved by the city council by resolution.
(3) Process and Timing.
a. Completeness.
(i) Determination in 15 days. The city will determine whether an application to create or serve an ADU or JADU is complete and will provide written notice of the determination to the applicant within 15 business days after the city receives the application submittal. (ii) Incomplete items. If the city’s determination under subsection (D)(3)a(i) above is that the application is incomplete, the city’s notice must list the incomplete items and describe how the application can be made complete.
(iii) Cure. After receiving a notice that the application is incomplete, the applicant may cure and address the items that were deemed by the city to be incomplete.
(iv) Subsequent submittals. If the applicant submits additional information to address incomplete items, within 15 business days of the subsequent submittal the city will determine in writing whether the additional information remedies all the incomplete items that the city identified in its original notice. The city may not require the application to include an item that was not included in the original notice.
(v) Deemed complete. If the city does not make a timely determination as required by this subsection a, the application or resubmitted application is deemed complete for the purposes of subsection (D)(3)c below.
(vi) Appeal of incompleteness. An applicant may appeal the city’s determination that the application is incomplete by submitting a written appeal to the city clerk. The planning commission will review the written appeal and affirm or reverse the completeness Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *520
determination and provide a final written determination to the applicant within 60 business days after receipt of the appeal. b. No discretion or hearing. Ministerial permits for an ADU or JADU are considered and approved without discretionary review or a hearing. c. Deadline to approve or deny ministerial approvals. The city must approve or deny an application to create an ADU or JADU within 60 days from the date that the city receives a complete application. If the city has not approved or denied the complete application within 60 days, the application is deemed approved unless either:
(i) The applicant requests a delay, in which case the 60-day time period is tolled for the period of the requested delay, or
(ii) When an application to create an ADU or JADU is submitted with a permit application to create a new single-family or multifamily dwelling on the lot, the city may delay acting on the permit application for the ADU or JADU until the city acts on the permit application to create the new single-family or multifamily dwelling, but the application to create the ADU or JADU will still be considered ministerially without discretionary review or a hearing. d. Denial. If the city denies an application to create an ADU or JADU, the city must provide the applicant with comments that include, among other things, a list of all the defective or deficient items and a description of how the application may be remedied by the applicant. Notice of the denial and corresponding comments must be provided to the applicant within the 60- day time period established by subsection (D)(3)c above. e. Appeal of denial. An applicant may appeal the city’s denial of the application by submitting a written appeal to the city clerk. The planning commission will review the written appeal and affirm or reverse the denial and provide a final written determination to the applicant within 60 business days after receipt of the appeal.
f. Concurrent review of demolition. A demolition permit for a detached garage that is to be replaced with an ADU is reviewed with the application for the ADU and issued at the same time.
(E) Classes.
(1) Class 1: Statutorily Regulated. Class 1 ADUs and JADUs are approved under Government Code section 66323. If an ADU or JADU complies with each of the general requirements in subsection (F) below, it is allowed in each of the scenarios provided in this subsection Error! Reference source not found.. An ADU and JADU approved under subsection (E)(1)a may be combined with an ADU approved under subsection (E)(1)b, and
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *521
ADUs approved under subsection (E)(1)c may be combined with ADUs approved under subsection (E)(1)d.
a. Converted on Lot with Single-Family: One ADU as described in this subsection (E)(1)a and one JADU on a lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling on it, where the ADU or JADU:
(i) Is either: within the space of a proposed single-family dwelling; within the existing space of an existing single-family dwelling; or (in the case of an ADU only) within the existing space of an accessory structure, plus up to 150 additional square feet if the expansion is limited to accommodating ingress and egress; and (ii) Has exterior access that is independent of that for the single-family dwelling; and
(iii) Has side and rear setbacks sufficient for fire and safety, as dictated by applicable building and fire codes.
(iv) The JADU complies with the requirements of Government Code sections 66333 through 66339.
b. Limited Detached on Lot with Single-Family: One detached, newconstruction ADU on a lot with a proposed or existing single-family dwelling, if the detached ADU satisfies each of the following limitations:
(i) The side- and rear-yard setbacks are at least four feet. (ii) The total floor area is 800 square feet of livable space or smaller. (iii) The peak height above grade does not exceed the applicable height limit in subsection (F)(2) below.
c. Converted on Lot with Multifamily: One or more ADUs within portions of existing multifamily dwelling structures that are not used as livable space, including but not limited to storage rooms, boiler rooms, passageways, attics, basements, or garages, if each converted ADU complies with state building standards for dwellings. Under this subsection (E)(1)c, at least one converted ADU is allowed within an existing multifamily dwelling, up to a quantity equal to 25 percent of the existing multifamily dwelling units.
d. Limited Detached on Lot with Multifamily: No more than two detached ADUs on a lot with a proposed multifamily dwelling, or up to eight detached ADUs on a lot with an existing multifamily dwelling, if each detached ADU satisfies all of the following:
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *522
(i) The side- and rear-yard setbacks are at least four feet. If the existing multifamily dwelling has a rear or side yard setback of less than four feet, the city will not require any modification to the multifamily dwelling as a condition of approving the ADU.
(ii) The peak height above grade does not exceed the applicable height limit provided in subsection (F)(2) below.
(iii) If the lot has an existing multifamily dwelling, the quantity of detached ADUs does not exceed the number of primary dwelling units on the lot.
(2) Class 2: Locally Regulated. Class 2 ADUs are approved under Government Code sections 66314–66322. Except for Class 1 ADUs approved under subsection Error! Reference source not found. above, all ADUs are subject to the standards set forth in subsections (F) and (G) below.
(F) General Requirements. The following requirements apply to all Class 1 and Class 2 ADUs and JADUs:
(1) Zoning.
a. A Class 1 ADU approved under subsection Error! Reference source not found. above may be created on a lot in a residential or mixed-use zone. b. A Class 2 ADU approved under subsection (E)(2) above may be created on a lot that is zoned to allow single-family dwelling residential use or multifamily dwelling residential use.
c. In accordance with Government Code section 66333(a), a JADU may only be created on a lot zoned for single-family residences. (2) Height.
a. Except as otherwise provided by subsections (F)(2)b and (F)(2)c below, a detached ADU created on a lot with an existing or proposed single family or multifamily dwelling unit may not exceed 16 feet in height. b. A detached ADU may be up to 18 feet in height if it is created on a lot with an existing or proposed single family or multifamily dwelling unit that is located within one-half mile walking distance of a major transit stop or high quality transit corridor, as those terms are defined in Section 21155 of the Public Resources Code, and the ADU may be up to two additional feet in height (for a maximum of 20 feet) if necessary to accommodate a roof pitch on the ADU that is aligned with the roof pitch of the primary dwelling unit.
Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *523
c. A detached ADU created on a lot with an existing or proposed multifamily dwelling that has more than one story above grade may not exceed 18 feet in height.
d. An ADU that is attached to the primary dwelling may not exceed 25 feet in height or the height limitation imposed by the underlying zone that applies to the primary dwelling, whichever is lower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, ADUs subject to this subsection (F)(2)d may not exceed two stories. e. For purposes of this subsection (F)(2), height is measured from existing legal grade or the level of the lowest floor, whichever is lower, to the peak of the structure.
f. Extra Height Available.
(i) An ADU may exceed the applicable height limit in subsections (a) through (d) above if the space below the ADU is used to provide parking spaces on grade, in which case the ADU may reach the maximum height for a principal structure under LMC Section 11-
1.30.03. (ii) The portion of the ADU that is within the increase in height that is allowed by this subsection (f) is subject to the principal structure setbacks.
(iii) South of Pacific Coast Highway, any extra height under this subsection (f) requires a Height Variation Permit under LMC Section 11-1.70.11.
(iv) The extra height allowed under this subsection (f) is not available for an ADU that is on a lot with an existing or proposed multifamily dwelling that is over 1,000 square feet in floor area.
(v) For an application that uses the extra height under this subsection (f) to be complete, the application must include an executed and notarized, ready-to-record deed restriction in a form approved by the City that limits the use of the at-grade parking area below the ADU to permanent parking and requiring the owner to remove the extraheight portion of the structure before the ground-level area may be used for anything other than parking.
(3) Fire Sprinklers.
a. Fire sprinklers are required in an ADU or JADU if sprinklers are required in the primary residence.
b. The construction of an ADU or JADU does not trigger a requirement for fire sprinklers to be installed in the existing primary dwelling.
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(4) Rental Term. No ADU or JADU may be rented for a term that is shorter than 30 days. This prohibition applies regardless of when the ADU or JADU was created. (5) No Separate Conveyance. An ADU or JADU may be rented, but, except as otherwise provided in Government Code section 66341, no ADU or JADU may be sold or otherwise conveyed separately from the lot and the primary dwelling (in the case of a single-family lot) or from the lot and all of the dwellings (in the case of a multifamily lot).
(6) Septic System. If the ADU or JADU will connect to an onsite wastewater-treatment system, the owner must include with the application a percolation test completed within the last five years or, if the percolation test has been recertified, within the last 10 years.
(7) Owner Occupancy.
a. ADUs. ADUs are not subject to an owner-occupancy requirement. b. JADUs.
(i) Generally. As required by state law, JADUs are generally subject to an owner-occupancy requirement. A natural person with legal or equitable title to the property must reside on the property, in either the primary dwelling or JADU, as the person’s legal domicile and permanent residence.
(ii) Exceptions. The owner-occupancy requirement in this subsection (F)(7)b does not apply in either of the following situations:
(I) The JADU has separate sanitation facilities (i.e., does not share sanitation facilities with the existing primary dwelling unit structure).
(II) The property is entirely owned by another governmental agency, land trust, or housing organization.
(8) Deed Restriction. Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for a JADU, a deed restriction must be recorded against the title of the property in the County Recorder’s office and a copy filed with the community and economic development director. The deed restriction must run with the land and bind all future owners.
The form of the deed restriction will be provided by the city and must provide that:
a. The JADU may not be sold separately from the primary dwelling. b. The JADU is restricted to the approved size and to other attributes allowed by this section.
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c. The deed restriction runs with the land and may be enforced against future property owners.
d. The deed restriction may be removed if the owner eliminates the JADU, as evidenced by, for example, removal of the kitchen facilities. To remove the deed restriction, an owner may make a written request of the Director, providing evidence that the JADU has in fact been eliminated. The community and economic development director may then determine whether the evidence supports the claim that the JADU has been eliminated.
Appeal may be taken from the Director’s determination consistent with other provisions of this Code. If the JADU is not entirely physically removed, but is only eliminated by virtue of having a necessary component of a JADU removed, the remaining structure and improvements must otherwise comply with applicable provisions of this Code. e. The deed restriction is enforceable by the director or his or her designee for the benefit of the city. Failure of the property owner to comply with the deed restriction may result in legal action against the property owner, and the city is authorized to obtain any remedy available to it at law or equity, including, but not limited to, obtaining an injunction enjoining the use of the JADU in violation of the recorded restrictions or abatement of the illegal unit. (9) Building & Safety.
a. Must comply with building code. Subject to subsection (F)(9)b below, all ADUs and JADUs must comply with all local building code requirements. b. No change of occupancy. Construction of an ADU does not constitute a Group R occupancy change under the local building code, as described in Section 310 of the California Building Code, unless the building official or Code Enforcement Division officer makes a written finding based on substantial evidence in the record that the construction of the ADU could have a specific, adverse impact on public health and safety. Nothing in this subsection (F)(9)b prevents the city from changing the occupancy code of a space that was uninhabitable space or that was only permitted for nonresidential use and was subsequently converted for residential use in accordance with this section.
(10) Certificate of Occupancy Timing.
a. Generally. No certificate of occupancy for an ADU or JADU may be issued before the certificate of occupancy is issued for the primary dwelling unit. b. Limited Exception for State-declared Emergencies. Notwithstanding subsection (F)(10)a above, a certificate of occupancy for an ADU may be issued before a certificate of occupancy for the primary dwelling if each of the following requirements are met:
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(i) The county is subject to a proclamation of a state of emergency made by the California Governor on or after February 1, 2025. (ii) The primary dwelling was substantially damaged or destroyed by an event referenced in the Governor’s state of emergency
proclamation.
(iii) The ADU has been issued construction permits and has passed all required inspections.
(iv) The ADU is not attached to the primary dwelling.
(G) Specific ADU Requirements. The following requirements apply only to Class 2 ADUs approved under subsection (E)(2) above. This subsection (G) does not apply to Class 1 ADUs or JADUs approved under subsection Error! Reference source not found. above. (1) Maximum Size.
a. The maximum size of a detached or attached ADU subject to this subsection (G) is 850 square feet of interior livable space for a studio or one-bedroom unit and 1,000 square feet of interior livable space for a unit with two or more bedrooms.
b. An attached ADU that is created on a lot with an existing primary dwelling is further limited to 50 percent of the floor area of the existing primary dwelling.
c. Application of other development standards in this subsection (G), such as FAR or lot coverage, might further limit the size of the ADU, but no application of the percent-based size limit in subsection (G)(1)b above or of an FAR, front setback, lot coverage limit, or open-space requirement may require the ADU have less than 800 square feet of interior livable space. (2) Floor Area Ratio (FAR). No ADU subject to this subsection (G) may cause the total FAR of the lot to exceed 60 percent, subject to subsection (G)(1)c above. (3) Setbacks.
a. ADUs that are subject to this subsection (G) must conform to 4-foot side and rear setbacks. ADUs that are subject to this subsection (G) must conform to 20-foot front setbacks, subject to subsection (G)(1)c above. b. No setback is required for an ADU that is subject to this subsection (G) if the ADU is constructed in the same location and to the same dimensions as an existing structure.
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(4) Lot Coverage. No ADU subject to this subsection (G) may cause the total lot coverage of an R2 or R3 zoned lot to exceed 80 percent, subject to subsection (G)(1)c above.
(5) Passageway. No passageway, as defined by subsection (C)(9) above, is required for an ADU.
(6) Parking.
a. Generally. One off-street parking space is required for each ADU or bedroom, whichever is less. The parking space may be provided in setback areas or as tandem parking, as defined by subsection (C)(12) above. b. Exceptions. No parking under subsection (G)(6)a is required in the following situations:
(i) The ADU is located within one-half mile walking distance of public transit, as defined in subsection (C)(11) above.
(ii) The ADU is located within an architecturally and historically significant historic district.
(iii) The ADU is part of the proposed or existing primary residence or an accessory structure.
(iv) When on-street parking permits are required but not offered to the occupant of the ADU.
(v) When there is an established car share vehicle stop located within one block of the ADU.
(vi) When the permit application to create an ADU is submitted with an application to create a new single-family or new multifamily dwelling on the same lot, provided that the ADU or the lot satisfies any other criteria listed in subsections (G)(6)b(i) through (v) above. c. No Replacement. When a garage, carport, covered parking structure, or uncovered parking space is demolished in conjunction with the construction of an ADU or converted to an ADU, those off-street parking spaces are not required to be replaced.
(7) Architectural Requirements.
a. The materials and colors of the exterior walls, roof, and windows and doors must be the same as those of the primary dwelling.
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b. The roof slope must match that of the dominant roof slope of the primary dwelling. The dominant roof slope is the slope shared by the largest portion of the roof.
c. The exterior lighting must be limited to down-lights or as otherwise required by the building or fire code.
d. The ADU must have an independent exterior entrance, apart from that of the primary dwelling.
e. The interior horizontal dimensions of an ADU must be at least 10 feet wide in every direction, with a minimum interior wall height of seven feet. f. No window or door of the ADU may have a direct line of sight to an adjoining residential property. Each window and door must either be located where there is no direct line of sight or screened using fencing, landscaping, or privacy glass to prevent a direct line of sight. g. All windows and doors in an ADU less than 30 feet from a property line that is not a public right-of-way line must either be (for windows) clerestory with the bottom of the glass at least six feet above the finished floor, or (for windows and for doors) utilize frosted or obscure glass. (8) Allowed Stories. No ADU subject to this subsection (G) may have more than one story, except that an ADU that is attached to the primary dwelling may have the stories allowed under subparagraph (F)(2)d of this section. (H) Fees. The following requirements apply to all Class 1 ADUs and JADUs and Class 2 ADUs that are approved under subsections Error! Reference source not found. or (E)(2) above. (1) Impact Fees.
a. No impact fee is required for a JADU or for an ADU that has less than 750 square feet of interior livable space. For purposes of this subsection (H)(1), “impact fee” means a “fee” under the Mitigation Fee Act (Gov. Code § 66000(b)) and a fee under the Quimby Act (Gov. Code § 66477). “Impact fee” here does not include any connection fee or capacity charge for water or sewer service.
b. A JADU or ADU with less than 500 square feet of interior livable space does not increase assessable space by 500 square feet for purposes of Education Code section 17620(a)(1)(C), and is therefore not subject to school fees under Education Code section 17620.
c. Any impact fee that is required for an ADU that has 750 square feet or more of interior livable space must be charged proportionately in relation to the square footage of the primary dwelling unit. (E.g., the floor area of the Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *529
ADU, divided by the floor area of the primary dwelling, times the typical fee amount charged for a new dwelling.)
(2) Utility Fees.
a. If an ADU or JADU is constructed with a new single-family home, a separate utility connection directly between the ADU or JADU and the utility and payment of the normal connection fee and capacity charge for a new dwelling are required.
b. Except as described in subsection (H)(2)a, JADUs and converted ADUs on a single-family lot that are created under subsection (E)(1)a above are not required to have a new or separate utility connection directly between the JADU or ADU and the utility. Nor is a connection fee or capacity charge required. Notwithstanding the rest of this paragraph, a direct utility connection is required for separate conveyance of an ADU when separate conveyance is allowed under this code.
c. Except as described in subsection (H)(2)a, all ADUs that are not covered by subsection (H)(2)b require a new, separate utility connection directly between the ADU and the utility for any utility that is provided by the city.
All utilities that are not provided by the city are subject to the connection and fee requirements of the utility provider.
(i) The connection is subject to a connection fee or capacity charge that is proportionate to the burden created by the ADU based on either the floor area or the number of drainage-fixture units (DFU) values, as defined by the Uniform Plumbing Code, upon the water or sewer system.
(ii) The portion of the fee or charge that is charged by the city may not exceed the reasonable cost of providing this service.
(I) Nonconforming Zoning Code Conditions, Building Code Violations, and Unpermitted Structures.
(1) Generally. The city will not deny an ADU or JADU application due to a nonconforming zoning condition, building code violation, or unpermitted structure on the lot that does not present a threat to the public health and safety and that is not affected by the construction of the ADU or JADU.
(2) Unpermitted ADUs and JADUs constructed before 2020. a. Permit to Legalize. As required by state law, the city may not deny a permit to legalize an existing but unpermitted ADU or JADU that was constructed before January 1, 2020, if denial is based on either of the following grounds:
(i) The ADU or JADU violates applicable building standards, or Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *530
(ii) The ADU or JADU does not comply with state ADU or JADU law or this ADU ordinance (section 11-1.30.6).
b. Exceptions:
(i) Notwithstanding subsection (I)(2)a above, the city may deny a permit to legalize an existing but unpermitted ADU or JADU that was constructed before January 1, 2020, if the city makes a finding that correcting a violation is necessary to comply with the standards specified in California Health and Safety Code section 17920.3. (ii) Subsection (I)(2)a above does not apply to a building that is deemed to be substandard in accordance with California Health and Safety Code section 17920.3.
(J) Nonconforming ADUs and Discretionary Approval. Any proposed ADU or JADU that would otherwise be allowed under this section but that does not conform to the objective design or development standards set forth in subsections (A) through (I) of this section may be allowed by the city with a conditional use permit, in accordance with the other provisions of this title.
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1 TO: City Council
FROM: Andrew Vialpando, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Lina Hernandez, Assistant City Manager
MEETING DATE: February 3, 2026
SUBJECT: Amendment to the Lomita Municipal Code Granting the City Authority to Initiate Vehicle Tows and Establishing Vehicle Removal, Abatement, and Impound Procedures
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Introduce an Ordinance amending the Lomita Municipal Code related to vehicle towing and abatement authority for first reading, waive further reading, and schedule the ordinance for second reading and adoption at a subsequent City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND
The City of Lomita has transitioned to an integrated Community Safety model that includes Community Safety Officers (CSOs) operating in coordination with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Under this model, certain parking and vehicle abatement actions may be initiated by the City Manager or their designee, including Community Safety Officers, Parking Enforcement Officers, Code Enforcement Officers, or the County Sheriff, as authorized by the Lomita Municipal Code. This approach is intended to provide consistent, visible, and responsive handling of parked vehicle and nuisance vehicle issues, while maintaining coordination with the Sheriff’s Department for matters outside the scope of City-initiated towing and abatement.
While the Lomita Municipal Code currently authorizes vehicle removal and abatement in various circumstances, several provisions within Title 8 continue to reference enforcement authority exclusively to the Sheriff or do not clearly identify which City personnel may initiate towing or abatement actions. As a result, staff has identified operational ambiguity that can delay enforcement, create uncertainty for residents and towing contractors, and complicate coordination between City staff and the Sheriff’s Department.
The proposed amendments are intended to modernize and clarify existing provisions by
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. 9c
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2 expressly authorizing Community Safety Officers, acting as designees of the City Manager, to initiate vehicle removals and abatement actions consistent with state law.
DISCUSSION
The proposed ordinance makes technical and clarifying updates to the Municipal Code related to vehicle towing and abatement. The changes do not create new violations or expand the types of vehicles subject to removal. Instead, the amendments clarify existing authority, clean up outdated language, and align the Code with how towing enforcement is currently handled by the Community Safety Division.
The proposed amendments are intended to improve the City’s ability to respond promptly to vehicle-related safety and quality-of-life concerns while maintaining consistency with state law and existing enforcement practices. Clarifying City authority to initiate vehicle towing and abatement actions allows for faster response times to abandoned and longterm parked vehicles, helps ensure that fire lanes, hydrants, driveways, and emergency access routes remain clear, and allows the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to remain focused on higher-priority law enforcement and emergency response duties.
Community Safety Officers, Parking Enforcement Officers, and Code Enforcement Officers involved in vehicle abatement and towing activities will receive training on the proper completion of the CHP-180 (Notice of Stored Vehicle), documentation requirements, and coordination with the City’s contracted towing provider. Training will emphasize compliance with applicable provisions of the California Vehicle Code, due process requirements, and internal supervisory review prior to tow authorization.
The proposed amendments apply only to vehicles that are parked and in violation of existing municipal or state parking regulations, including vehicles parked for seventy-two (72) hours or more without lawful movement, vehicles blocking fire lanes, hydrants, or driveways, and vehicles declared abandoned or a public nuisance pursuant to existing code provisions. The amendments do not change responsibility for vehicles involved in traffic collisions, disabled vehicles resulting from accidents, or vehicles associated with criminal investigations, which will continue to be handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Prior to towing, vehicles are subject to established notice, documentation, and verification procedures consistent with the Lomita Municipal Code and California Vehicle Code. The general process includes observation and documentation of the violation, issuance of required warnings or notices when applicable, verification that statutory time thresholds or violation conditions have been met, supervisory confirmation, and initiation of towing by a City-authorized officer or the Sheriff, as appropriate. All vehicle removals remain subject to due process protections, including notice, the opportunity for an administrative hearing, and appeal rights.
No additional agreement is required as part of the proposed amendments. The City does Tuesday, February 03, 2026 Reg CC MTG, Page *533
3 not rely on the Sheriff’s Department’s towing contracts for vehicle abatement activities addressed in this ordinance. Towing under the proposed authority will continue to occur in accordance with existing City arrangements and applicable state law, and the amendments do not create or require a new towing contract or interagency agreement.
Several sections of Title 8 are amended to clarify that Community Safety Officers, acting as designees of the City Manager, are authorized to initiate vehicle towing and abatement actions. Existing LMC language references enforcement by the Sheriff and does not clearly identify City staff who may initiate these actions. The proposed amendments resolve this ambiguity and provide clear direction for staff, residents, and contracted towing providers.
The ordinance also adds a new Chapter 8-2.5 to consolidate vehicle towing and abatement procedures that are currently spread across multiple code sections. The new chapter establishes clear and consistent standards related to authorized personnel, lawful inspection and entry for vehicle abatement, City-initiated towing requirements for contracted tow operators, 72-hour vehicle removal criteria, abatement of abandoned or inoperative vehicles visible from the public right-of-way, and notice, hearing, appeal, cost recovery, and vehicle release procedures. Placing these provisions into a single chapter improves clarity, reduces confusion, and makes the Municipal Code easier for both staff and the public to follow.
Finally, the ordinance clarifies that vehicles towed under City authority may only be released once a Community Safety Officer verifies that the underlying violation has been corrected or otherwise lawfully resolved, ensuring consistent enforcement and preservation of due-process protections.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no financial implications resulting from this recommendation.
VISION, MISSION, VALUES, AND STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
The City’s Vision, Mission, and Values set the standard for the organization, establish priorities, uniformity and guidelines; and provide the framework for policy decision making. The Strategic Outcomes were implemented to provide a pathway to achieving the City’s Vision. This item aligns with Strategic Outcome No. 1: Safety & Security - Keeping Lomita safe, prepared and resilient.
OPTIONS
1. Approve the attached ordinance.
2. Do not approve the ordinance.
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4 ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance
2. Exhibit A – Proposed Lomita Municipal Code Amendments (Redline indicate deleted language and proposed additions)
Reviewed by: Approved by:
_______________________ ______________________
Lina Hernandez Andrew Vialpando
Assistant City Manager City Manager
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ORDINANCE NO. 884
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS 8-1.05, 8-2.05, AND 8-5.02 OF TITLE 8 (VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC) OF THE LOMITA MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADDING CHAPTER 8-2.5 RELATED TO VEHICLE ABATEMENT
AND TOWING AUTHORITY, AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LOMITA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals.
A. Title 8 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Lomita Municipal Code establishes regulations related to the parking, removal, and abatement of vehicles within the City.
B. Certain provisions of Title 8 currently reference enforcement authority exclusively to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department or do not clearly identify City personnel authorized to initiate vehicle towing or abatement actions.
C. The City Council desires to clarify and modernize enforcement authority to reflect current operations of the City’s Community Safety Division while maintaining consistency with state law and due-process requirements.
Section 2. Incorporation. The recitals above are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council.
Section 3. CEQA. Adoption of the Ordinance does not constitute a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080(a) and State CEQA Guidelines section 15378 since adoption of the Ordinance does not have the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Moreover, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3), the adoption of this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA because there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment.
Section 4. Code Amendment. Sections 8-1.05, 8-2.05, and 8-5.02 of Title 8 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the Lomita Municipal Code are hereby amended, and Chapter 8-
2.5 is hereby added, as set forth in Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 5. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.
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Ordinance No. 884
Section 6. Publication. The City Clerk is directed to certify the adoption of this Ordinance and to post or publish this Ordinance as required by law.
Section 7. Custodian of Records. The custodian of records for this Ordinance is the City Clerk and the records comprising the administrative record are located at 24300 Narbonne Avenue, Lomita, CA 90717.
Section 8. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity has no effect on the other provisions or applications of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this extent, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any portion thereof.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this ___ day of __________, 2026.
Cindy Segawa, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kathleen Horn Gregory, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Trevor Rusin, City Attorney
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EXHIBIT A
Proposed Lomita Municipal Code Amendments – Vehicle Abatement and Towing Authority Sec. 8-1.05. - Abandoned vehicles on highways.
(a)Removal to safe place. The sheriff shall remove to a safe place Towing or removal under this section may be initiated by the City Manager or his or her designee, including but not limited to the City’s Community Safety Officers, Parking Enforcement Officers, Code Enforcement Officers, or the County Sheriff, to remove to a safe place every vehicle which has been parked or left standing upon a highway for seventy-two (72) or more consecutive hours.
(1)"Safe place" defined. As used in this section the words "safe place" include, but are not confined to, any garage, parking lot or open space owned by, maintained by, or under the jurisdiction of, the County of Los Angeles, and also every privately owned garage the owner or proprietor of which will accept such vehicles.
(2)For the purposes of this section, the vehicle shall be considered to have remained parked/left standing, unless the vehicle has been moved at least one hundred (100) feet from the position previously located. The only exceptions being vehicles which moved across the street from their location or around the corner of their location, if moved less than one hundred (100) feet.
Secs. 8-1.06 through 8-1.20 – No Change
The following sections of the Lomita Municipal Code were reviewed as part of this ordinance and no amendments are proposed:
• Sec. 8-1.06 – Vision safety parking zones
• Sec. 8-1.07 – Parking within the downtown commercial zone • Secs. 8-1.08 through 8-1.15 – Reserved
• Sec. 8-1.16 – Vehicles weighing in excess of six thousand pounds prohibited on Pennsylvania Avenue
• Sec. 8-1.17 – Truck routes
• Sec. 8-1.18 – Exceptions
• Sec. 8-1.19 – Parking time limitation
• Sec. 8-1.20 – Vehicles transporting hazardous materials Secs. 8-2.01 through 8-2.04 – No Change
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The following sections of Chapter 8-2 were reviewed and remain unchanged by the proposed ordinance:
• Sec. 8-2.01 – Intent
• Sec. 8-2.02 – Definitions
• Sec. 8-2.03 – Exemptions
• Sec. 8-2.04 – Nonexclusive regulation
Sec. 8-2.05. - Enforcement.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the sheriff's department. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, enforcement shall be administered by the City Manager or his or her designee, including but not limited to the City’s Community Safety Officers, Parking Enforcement Officers, Code Enforcement Officers, or the County Sheriff. In the enforcement of this chapter such officer and his deputies such authorized personnel may enter upon private or public property to examine a vehicle or parts thereof, or obtain information as to the identity of a vehicle, and to remove or cause the removal of a vehicle or part thereof declared to be a nuisance pursuant to this chapter.
Chapter 8-2.5 – Vehicle Removal, Abatement, and Impound Procedures (New) Sec. 8-2.5.030 – Seventy-Two-Hour Removal. (Revised per CA3) A vehicle parked or standing upon a public street or highway for seventy-two (72) consecutive hours or more without being moved a minimum distance of at least onetenth (0.1) mile may be removed pursuant to this chapter and applicable provisions of the California Vehicle Code.
Sec. 8-2.5.040 – Inoperative or Abandoned Vehicles Declared a Public Nuisance. (Revised per CA4 and CA5)
A. Leaving an inoperative, wrecked, dismantled, or abandoned vehicle in any outdoor area visible from a public right-of-way on public or private property for more than five (5) consecutive days is unlawful and constitutes a public nuisance subject to abatement under this chapter.
B. This section shall not apply to any of the following:
1. Vehicles stored within a fully enclosed structure.
2. Vehicles stored behind a legally permitted opaque fence so as not to be visible from public view.
3. Vehicles lawfully stored in connection with the business of a licensed dismantler, licensed vehicle dealer, junk dealer, or other lawful commercial enterprise, pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 22661(b).
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Sec. 8-2.5.050 – Notice, Hearing, and Appeals.
Notice, hearing, appeal, cost recovery, and disposal procedures under this chapter shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 8-2 of this title, including but not limited to provisions relating to certified mail notice, administrative hearings, appeals to the City Council, Department of Motor Vehicles notification, and disposal timelines.
Sec. 8-2.5.060 – Release of Vehicle Hold and Compliance Verification. (Revised per CA6 and CA7)
A. When a vehicle is towed under City authority, the registered owner or legal owner shall demonstrate that the violation leading to the tow has been corrected or otherwise resolved, or that lawful authorization exists to retrieve the vehicle notwithstanding the violation, as determined by the City Manager or his or her designee.
B. Upon verification, the City shall issue a written “Release of Vehicle Hold” authorization. The registered owner or legal owner shall present such authorization to the City’s contracted towing provider and satisfy all applicable towing and storage charges prior to release of the vehicle.
C. No vehicle shall be released unless authorized by the City.
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