The Los Angeles City Council’s recent adoption of the DTLA 2040 Community Plan Update (DTLA 2040) was a major milestone in a nearly decadelong process to create a long-range land use plan and guiding policy document that will advance Downtown’s vibrancy and growth through the year 2040.

Drafted by city staff with input from many stakeholders, DTLA 2040 doubles the area in Downtown where housing can be built, eliminates parking requirements and implements the city’s new zoning code for the very first time.

DTLA 2040 includes updates to the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (ARO) to make adaptive reuse even more effective in its goal of unlocking greater opportunities for creating housing, promoting sustainable development and preserving historic buildings. DTLA 2040s updates include removing minimum and average unit size requirements and allowing buildings built as recently as 10 years prior to conversion to be eligible for the provisions of ARO. The updates also allow basements and rooftop features to be used and not count against how much can be built on a site.