Assessing the impact of LA’s Executive Directive 1

On Dec. 16, 2022, the LA Mayor’s Office issued Executive Directive 1 (ED1) to expedite the permitting process for qualifying 100% affordable housing projects.

A “100% affordable housing project” is defined as a  project with five or more units where:

• All units are at 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or lower, based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development rent levels; or

• Units are mixed-income, with up to 20% of units at 120% AMI, but the balance is at 80% AMI or lower.

Under ED1, LA city staff are required to approve applications for eligible housing developments within 60 days, and to issue building permits within five days.

Given ATC’s access to LA City Planning data and documents, we analyzed the ED1 figures for 2023.

• What was the impact of ED1 in 2023?
• How long were the approval timelines?
• And where are projects being proposed? 

Take a look for yourself.