GIS-NET Public Layers Glossary

GIS Layers

Agricultural Resource Area (ARA)

This layer was introduced with the adoption of the Antelope Valley Area Plan on June 16, 2015. It identifies areas that should be preserved for agricultural use. For more information regarding ARAs, please refer to Chapter 4 of the Antelope Valley Area Plan.

Source: Antelope Valley Area Plan (2015).

AV Integrated Regional Water Management Plan

This is the "water adjudication" layer for the Antelope Valley. Please click here for more information on the plan and the layer.

Source: Antelope Valley Regional Water Management Group; plan adopted: January 2008; updated 2013.

Building Outline (2023)

The purpose of this dataset is to show the building shape and building locations within select portions of Los Angeles County of photo scale 1:100. Building footprint data was digitized from the imagery captured from January 2023 to June 2023 for buildings larger than 300 sq. ft to update existing building footprints. The building footprints contain attributes to detail the area, height, elevation and other identifications. Data was acquired from stereo imagery pairs from the 2023 LARIAC7 ortho imagery, and the building outlines were created by Pictometry/EagleView (DRP's oblique imagery vendor). More detailed information, click here.

Extensive quality control was performed to ensure the accuracy of the building outlines in relation to other GIS layers, especially the parcel layer. However, it is not perfect. No attribute data for buildings exists at this time, except that each building polygon contains a single “z” (elevation) attribute representing the highest point on the building (excluding flagpoles, chimneys, and other features smaller than four square feet). Therefore, it is recommended to use this layer with a measure of caution and for reference purposes only.

As planimetric features, the building outlines/representations are topologically correct and meet the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) accuracy standards for large scale Class 1 maps - for mapping at 1” = 100’ (and 1” = 200’ in some areas) - in order to be incorporated into existing GIS systems.

Source: LARIAC and Pictometry/EagleView, 2023. For more information regarding the LARIAC project, click here

CAMS Address Points

This layer displays address points derived from the Los Angeles County Countywide Address Management System (CAMS). CAMS is a system designed to enhance efforts to maintain address information in the County. It was developed by several County departments to support: 1) multi-user editing; 2) multiple jurisdictions; 3) maintain wider variety of location information, including address points and landmarks; and 4) publicly provide this information.

For more information regarding CAMS address points, click here.

Catalina Harbor (100 meter buffer)

From the Santa Catalina Island Local Coastal Plan - Page 14. "Identifies areas within 100 meters of Catalina Harbor wherein sensitive environments need to be protected."

Census Tract (2010)

A small, relatively permanent statistical subdivision of a county delineated by a local committee of census data users for the purpose of presenting demographic and socio-economic data. These tracts are designed to be relatively homogeneous units with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions. At the time of establishment, census tracts average approximately 4,000 inhabitants. 2010 refers to the 2010 Decennial Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; last update: 2010.

Census Tract (2020)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; last update: March 2021.

City and Community

This layer features boundaries of incorporated cities (88 total) and unincorporated areas with names for cities displayed. The unincorporated areas encompass more than 2,600 square miles and represent two-thirds of the County's land and one-tenth of its population (unofficially grouped into 137 non-contiguous areas). Some of these unincorporated areas are as small as a few blocks of unincorporated land surrounded by cities. Others are urban communities with more than 150,000 residents. Still others cover hundreds of square miles with sparse populations in the mountainous national forests and high desert. If incorporated as a city, these areas would represent the third largest in California, after Los Angeles and San Diego. For annexation information, please click here to access an annexations mapping app hosted by the Department of Public Works (DPW). The app allows for entering an APN, address, or annexation name to obtain relevant documents.

Source: DRP GIS Section, DPW, and LAFCO; last update: 6/20/24 - added three new unincorporated communities resulting from the East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan update: North Whittier, Pellissier Village, South El Monte.

Community Standards District (CSD)

Community standards districts are established to provide a means of implementing special development standards contained in adopted neighborhood, community, area, specific, and local coastal plans, or to provide a means of addressing special issues which are unique to certain geographic areas.

Source: Title 22 (DRP GIS Section); last update: 6/20/24 - following the Metro Area Plan update (became effective on this day), the following CSDs were modified: East Los Angeles, Walnut Park, West Athens - Westmont, and West Rancho Dominguez - Victoria. These CSDs were rescinded - Willowbrook and East Rancho Dominguez.

Community Standards District (CSD) Area Specific Boundary

These are the boundaries pertaining to "Area Specific Standards" within Community Standards Districts (CSDs). Examples include Union Pacific in East Los Angeles and Lake Avenue in Altadena.

Source: Title 22 (DRP GIS Section); last update: 6/20/24 - following the Metro Area Plan update (became effective on this day), the Sub-Areas in the following CSD were modified: East Los Angeles, and West Athens - Westmont. The East Rancho Dominguez CSD subarea was rescinded.

Contours - 10 feet

These layers are based on Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets acquired in late 2015 for all of Los Angeles County. The DEM posting interval for elevation points was 2.5 feet (1 meter), except in National Forest areas (10 feet, or 3 meters), with a vertical precision of +/-2 feet.

Source: LARIAC Project; data received in 2016.

Contours - 50 feet

This layer shows 50' interval index elevation contours created from 10' elevation contours.

Source: LARIAC Project; data received in 2016.

All Contours (cached)

Contours derived from the 2016 LAR-IAC4 program. Includes all levels in a cached service.

Source: LARIAC Project; data received in 2016.

DRP Field Office

This layer shows the location of Department of Public Works field offices where staff from the Department of Regional Planning are also stationed. Click here for locations and office hours (from the DRP website).

Source: DRP GIS Section; created: March 2006; last modified: November 2016.

DRP Field Office Service Area

This non-visible layer works in conjunction with the Identify Tool to determine the DRP Field Office that services a particular location (e.g., parcel, census tract, subdivision, etc.). The layer encompasses unincorporated areas only, and thus identifies no field office for areas within incorporated cities. Click here for locations and office hours (from the DRP website).

Source: DRP GIS Section; last update: 12/20/22 for Reorganization (Tesoro Del Valle) between Santa Clarita and Santa Clarita Valley

DRP Service Area

Service Areas were created as a key component of DRP’s reorganization and restructuring efforts aimed at enhancing service delivery, meeting staffing requirements, and improving operational effectiveness. This DRP Service Areas layer shows the County divided into three major areas: North Service Area, West Service Area and East Service Area.

Source: DRP GIS Section; last update: November 2016.

Economic Opportunity Area (EOA)

This layer was introduced with the adoption of the Antelope Valley Area Plan on 6/16/15, and it identifies three areas where major infrastructure projects are being planned by state and regional agencies, which would bring tremendous opportunities for growth and economic development in the Antelope Valley. For more information regarding EOAs, please see Chapter 2 of the Antelope Valley Area Plan.

Source: DRP GIS Section; created June 16, 2015, last updated November 22, 2016.

Equestrian District (EQD)

The equestrian district is established as a supplemental district in order to recognize particular areas where the keeping or maintaining of horses and other large domestic animals for the personal use of members of the family residing on the premises has become, or is intended to become, an integral part of the character of the area. The application of this district permits the keeping of horses and other large domestic animals for personal use as accessory to residential use, subject to standards and conditions which are intended to ensure compatibility with surrounding areas and within the district itself, while also taking the individual characteristics of the particular area under consideration.

Source: Title 22 (DRP GIS Section); last update: November 22, 2016.

Fire Hazard - Very High Fire Hazard Zone Only

Shows only Very High Fire Hazard Zone Category. From California Department of Forestry and the Fire Resource and Assessment Program (FRAP) - these are the Very High, High, and Moderate Fire Hazard areas. These hazard areas were adopted in 2007 for the State Responsibility areas. Please see separate layer for the Federal, State, and Local Responsibility Areas. More information about the project can be found here.

Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP), CALFIRE, County of Los Angeles Fire Department; Current as of 2007 / 2008.

Freeway

This layer features all freeways in Los Angeles County classified as Interstates, U.S., and State highways. Source: Los Angeles County Address Management System (CAMS).

Green Zones - 500' Sensitive Use Buffers

These are areas within Green Zones Districts that are 500 feet from a Sensitive Use as defined by the ordinance: "Sensitive use. A land use where individuals are most likely to reside or spend time, including dwelling units, schools and school yards – including trade schools, public and private schools, faith-based and secular schools, parks, playgrounds, daycare centers, preschools, nursing homes, hospitals, licensed care facilities, shelters, and daycares or preschools as accessory to a place of worship, that are permitted in the zones where they are located. A sensitive use shall not include a caretaker residence". For more information about the Green Zones Program and Ordinance, click here. Layer was updated to remove non-conforming residential Assessor uses from within an industrial zone, which reduced some of the buffers within Avocado Heights, East Los Angeles, West Rancho Dominguez-Victoria, and Willowbrook (June, 2022). NOTE: The Green Zones Ordinance was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 14, 2022, and is effective on July 14, 2022.

View the Green Zones Ordinance Summary, click here.

Source: DRP GIS Section; last update: July 26, 2022.

Hillside Management Area

The Hillside Management areas are identified as areas of having 25% or greater slope, and this layer shows that using the Digital Elevation Model as extracted in 2006 by the LARIAC project. The resolution of this dataset is 5 feet for the urban areas, and 20 feet for the National Forest area. For the Castaic CSD and Santa Monica Mountains, the slope is broken down into two categories: 25 - 50% slope, and 50% or greater slope due to those ordinances / plans having those additional requirements. For more information regarding the countywide Hillside Management Ordinance, click here. NOTE: This higher resolution dataset was generated in 2006 (5 feet for urban areas, 20 feet for the National Forest), and therefore replaces the 2001 slope layers that were of a lower resolution (5 meter). It should be further noted that this layer includes BOTH manufactured and natural slopes, so a parcel covered by this layer should still be investigated using the imagery to determine if the slope is natural or manufactured.

Source: LARIAC Project, 2006

Historic Resources

This layer identifies historic resources and their attributes located in unincorporated areas or on County owned land. This is an update to the previous version of Historic Resources that was done in February and March of 2024 to also include the various Historic Context Statements and Surveys. This layer was further updated in May and June of 2024 to include additional State and National sites that were identified in the Built Environment Resources Directory (BERD). Please click here for further information regarding the LA County Historic Preservation Program, including program coordinator contact information. Please click here for the Historic Resource Identification Guidelines.

DATA NOTE: The historic resource sites are mapped to the parcel, or groups of parcels whenever possible. There are several places where there may be overlapping information due to the fact that historic sites are often tied to buildings or other structures. The ultimate example of this is in the "West LA - Sawtelle" unincorporated community that has a few very large parcels that contain multiple buildings within it. When this site is identified in GIS-NET, just over 90 "parcels" are identified, however, the individual records indicate different buildings within the large parcel. This layer will be further developed to be as granular as possible, to get to the actual structure locations. It should also be noted that some of the sites from the BERD dataset have some duplicated information that will take time to clean up. Data updates resulting from these cleanup efforts will be noted here.

Source: Los Angeles County designated landmarks, California Register of Historical Resources (CA State Parks), National Register of Historic Places (NPS), Built Environment Resources Directory (BERD). Updated 11/18/24 for County Landmark 'Old Glory' heritage oak in the Santa Clarita Valley that was adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 9/24/24.

Housing Element (2021-2029) – Rezoning

This layer identifies parcels that are included in the Rezoning Program of the Revised County of Los Angeles Housing Element (2021-2029). Unincorporated Los Angeles County has an assigned Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 90,052 units for the 2021-2029 Housing Element planning period. Under existing zoning and land use regulations, the County is unable to accommodate the entirety of its RHNA obligation. As required by State law, the County will rezone sites to meet its RHNA shortfall. The Rezoning Program is comprised of vacant and underutilized sites that were selected based on specific criteria, such as proximity to transit; proximity to other residential, commercial or mixed use developments; protection from environmental hazards; and other criteria unique to unincorporated Los Angeles County. For nonvacant parcels, factors such as the age of buildings, land and improvement value, and existing site conditions were also considered to determine the likelihood of housing development during the Housing Element planning period. The County will implement the rezoning through the Florence-Firestone Transit-Oriented District Specific Plan, East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, Metro Area Plan, and the Gateway Planning Area Rezoning Program by 2023, and through the West San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, South Bay Area Plan, and the Westside Area Plan by 2024. For more information about the Rezoning Program and the site selection methodology, please see the Revised County of Los Angeles Housing Element (2021-2029).

Source: DRP: Certified May 27, 2022; added to GIS-NET: May 31, 2022. Modified on October 20, 2024 resulting from the Westside Area Plan and South Bay area plan updates (addition / removal of sites in Ladera Heights / Viewpark - Windsor Hills, and addition of sites in Alondra Park).

Housing Element (2021-2029) – Sites Inventory

This layer identifies parcels that are included in the Sites Inventory of the Revised County of Los Angeles Housing Element (2021-2029). The Sites Inventory is comprised of vacant and underutilized sites within unincorporated Los Angeles County that are zoned at appropriate densities and development standards to facilitate housing development during the 2021-2029 Housing Element planning period. These sites were selected to accommodate a portion of the County’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) based on specific criteria, such as proximity to transit; proximity to other residential, commercial or mixed use developments; protection from environmental hazards; and other criteria unique to unincorporated Los Angeles County. For more information about the Sites Inventory and the site selection methodology, please see the Revised County of Los Angeles Housing Element (2021-2029).

Source: DRP: Certified May 27, 2022; added to GIS-NET: May 31, 2022.

Inclusionary Housing Submarket Area

The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) establishes the boundaries of the submarket areas based on geographic and housing/real estate market data. Within each submarket area, a financial analysis was conducted to assess whether an inclusionary housing requirement can be supported for three residential types (single family homes, condominium, and apartments), and if so, what level of requirement can be supported. The IHO was adopted on November 10, 2020 by the Board of Supervisors (for full ordinance, click here).

Source: Department of Regional Planning and Impact Sciences (EIR); Added layer December 12, 2020.

Inland Water Body

Channel: Contains many water-polygon features that are in addition to the Water body layer. One of the more important items is the stream/river feature. It represents the areal extent of the water in a wide stream/river with a basic set of attributes.

Waterbody: This dataset contains waterbodies such as lake/pond features , which portray the spatial geometry and the attributes of the feature.

Source: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (click here).

Land Use Dist. - Catalina Zoning (Santa Catalina Island)

Santa Catalina Island falls under a specific plan (22.46.050 et.al.), which designates land use districts for the unincorporated area of the island. These land use districts serve the same role as zones, but supersede the basic zones in Title 22. This has been in effect as of the adoption of the Santa Catalina Island Specific Plan in 1989. Sources: GIS and Community Studies West sections; last update: July 2011.

Land Use Policy - Community / Area Plan

These are the Area, Community, Coastal, and Neighborhood Plans that supersede the General Plan for selected communities. Please click the link below to view a map of these plans, legends, and links to the plans themselves. NOTE: Following the adoption of the East San Gabriel Valley and Metro Area Plans, several community / neighborhood plans were rescinded, and are listed here. These can now be found in the 'Land Use Policy - General Plan 2035' layer: East Los Angeles Community Plan, Florence - Firestone Community Plan, Hacienda Heights Community Plan, Rowland Heights Community Plan, Walnut Park Neighborhood Plan, and West Athens - Westmont Community Plan. Source: GIS Section; last updates: 11/07/24 - misalignment corrections relative to updated Assessor parcels in the Wrightwood and Big Tujunga Canyon areas of Unincorporated Antelope Valley; 6/20/24 for the adoption of the East San Gabriel Valley and Metro Area plans (adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 5/21/24).

Land Use Policy - General Plan 2035

Land Use Policy as created by the General Plan 2035, which provides the policy framework for how and where the unincorporated County will grow through the year 2035. NOTE: Following the adoption of the East San Gabriel Valley and Metro Area Plans, several community / neighborhood plans were rescinded, and removed from the 'Land Use Policy - Community / Area Plan' layer. The land use policy data for these communities have been added to this 'General Plan 2035' layer: East Los Angeles, Florence - Firestone, Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, Walnut Park, and West Athens - Westmont. Source: GIS Section; last update: 10/30/2024 for the Royal Vista Residential Project in Rowland Heights (adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 10/1/24, effective on 10/31/24).

CLICK HERE for links to all Land Use Plans.

Leased Parcel (Marina del Rey)

These are special parcels that have long-term leases to entities within Marina Del Rey. These were updated in 2012 with adoption of the Marina del Rey Land Use Plan. An additonal update was made in August, 2024 regarding a spatial adjustment in the boundary between Lease Parcels 56 and W per Amendment No. 1 to the lease agreement for LP 56 (dated 02-11-1969).

View the Leased Parcels map from Beaches and Harbors, (click here).

Source: DRP, DPW, Beaches and Harbors; last update: August, 2024.

Major Fire Perimeters

This layer includes the 3 most recent major fire perimeters in Los Angeles County (Bobcat, Lake, and Woolsey). Historic Fire Perimeters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Fire perimeter data exists from 1966 through current day. Fire perimeter data is collected from field personnel during a major fire incident.

Source: Los Angeles County Fire Department, GIS Section. Last update January 2023.

Master Plan of Bikeways (2012)

The Master Plan of Bikeways was by the Board of Supervisors on March 13, 2012, and replaces the 1975 Plan of Bikeways. For more information, please see the Master Plan of Bikeways website. Source: County of Los Angeles DPW: March 13, 2012.

Master Plan of Highways

The Master Plan of Highways was originally developed by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works (DPW); it designates roadways in Los Angeles County by their planned capacity. Categories include major highway, secondary highway, limited secondary highway, parkway, and expressway. Source: County of Los Angeles DPW; last update: January 10, 2017 for removal of Limited Secondary Highway near Castaic along Sloan Canyon.

Mineral Resource Zone (MRZ)

Shows Mineral Resource Zones in Los Angeles County as mapped by the State of California Department of Conservation. This layer also is depicted in the Antelope Valley Area Plan on 6/16/15; for more information about this, please see Chapter 4 of the Antelope Valley Area Plan. Source: Antelope Valley Area Plan (2015).

Parcel Boundary

Parcel data from the Assessor is a combination of three main sources of information: Parcel Boundaries (polygons), Parcel Fabric (lines - see layer below), and Taxroll information. Parcel attribute information was obtained from the 'Tax Roll', which has detailed ownership / building information for each unique parcel. Images of map book pages show a scanned map showing legal description information and lot dimensions (live link to Assessor site).

Source: Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor. The Parcel Boundary and the Parcel Fabric layers are updated weekly by the Internal Services Department (ISD) and are served to numerous County departments, including DRP.

Parcel Fabric

Supplemental lines that make up parcels (but don't have to), include lot lines, cut/deed lines, right-of-ways, subdivision boundaries and easement lines (this information is now provided through a weekly feed). Parcel attribute information was obtained from the 'Tax Roll'. This data has detailed ownership information for each unique parcel. Images of map book pages show a scanned map showing legal description information and lot dimensions.

Planning Areas

This layer shows the division of the County of Los Angeles into 11 Planning Areas, whose purpose is to provide a mechanism for local communities to work with the County to develop plans that respond to their unique and diverse characteristics. The Planning Areas are sometimes referred to as the "Planning Areas Framework" - please see Figure 5.1 of General Plan 2035.

Source: DRP GIS Section; Last update: 6/20/24 following the adoption of the East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan which adjusted the western boundary in the vicinity of Pellissier Village.

Planning Area Standards District (PASD)

Following the adoption of the East San Gabriel Valley and Metro Area Plans in May 21, 2024, the Planning Area Standards District (PASD) Zoning Overlay was established to cover regulations in all communities within a Planning Area. The PASD establishes a new regulatory framework in Title 22, and covers both area-wide development standards and zone-specific standards. Community Standards Districts (CSDs), Setback Districts, Equestrian Districts, and Significant Ridgelines are also incorporated into this PASD regulatory framework. The geography of this layer is defined by unincorporated areas within the Planning Area, as these Area Plans get updated.

Source: DRP GIS Section; Data layer created on 6/14/24

River, Channel, or Stream

This is the fundamental flow network consisting predominantly of stream/river and artificial path vector features. It represents the spatial geometry, carries the attributes, and contains linear referencing measures for locating features or “events” on the network.

Source: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (click here).

Rural Outdoor Lighting District (Dark Skies)

The "Dark Skies" layer was adopted by the BOS in January 2012, prior to final adoption of the Rural Outdoor Lighting District ordinance in November 2012. Please click here to view the full-size Supplemental Districts map in the DRP Map Catalog. "Rural Outdoor Lighting District" is one of the featured layers in this map. For further information, please contact the Ordinance Studies Section, or visit the Rural Outdoor Lighting District Ordinance page on the DRP website.

Source: DRP Ordinance Studies and GIS Sections; last update: 12/20/22 for Reorganization (Tesoro Del Valle) between Santa Clarita and Santa Clarita Valley.

Rural Outdoor Lighting District Changes

This layer highlights areas in which the lighting standards changed from Rural (LZ2) to Urban (LZ3) and vice versa, per modifications made to the Rural Lighting District by the State of CA Energy Commission. For the change modifications map, click here, and for their descriptions click here. For further information, please contact the Ordinance Studies Section, or visit the Rural Outdoor Lighting District Ordinance page on the DRP website.

Source: DRP Ordinance Studies and GIS Sections; last update: October 2014 (Lighting District removed from the Santa Monica Mountains Coastal Zone).

Rural Preservation Area

This layer classifies various areas of unincorporated Antelope Valley as Rural Preserve Areas, Rural Town Areas, Rural Town Centers, Open Space, Economic Opportunity Areas, etc., in accordance with the Antelope Valley Area Plan (adopted June 16, 2015). The intent of rural preservation is to create opportunities in the Antelope Valley that allow for: a) change and growth, while maintaining the rural lifestyle enjoyed by current residents, and b) supporting a vibrant economy. For more information, please see Chapter 2 of the Antelope Valley Area Plan.

Source: DRP GIS Section; created June 16, 2015; updated November 22, 2016.

Safety Related Stations

This is fire, police, CHP, ranger station information as provided by the LA County Enterprise GIS (eGIS) Location Management System.

Source: Los Angeles County eGIS; updated regularly.

SCAG Existing Land Use (2005)

Existing land use data layer from the Southern California Association of Governments. From SCAG's website: "The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has completed the 2005 land use data update using 2005 digital aerial imagery. The 2005 land use database includes land use information for the counties of Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Mexicali, Mexico. Regional and local agencies, academic institutions and the private sector can use the land use data for transportation and land use planning analyses and reports."

Click here for more planning data and tools from SCAG.

Click here for information from AIS, the company that created the data for SCAG. Note: DRP worked with AIS on the 2006-07 ZCIP.

Source: SCAG; Last update: 2007.

Scenic Drives (Antelope Valley)

This layer was introduced with the adoption of the Antelope Valley Area Plan on 6/16/15, and it identifies major roads as having scenic qualities and to help ensure that incompatible development is discouraged. For more information about this, please see Chapter 4 of the Antelope Valley Area Plan. Source: Antelope Valley Area Plan (2015).

Scenic Highway

Per the California Department of Transportation, “California's Scenic Highway Program was created by the State Legislature in 1963 … to protect and enhance the natural scenic beauty of California highways and adjacent corridors through special conservation treatment." Source: State of California DOT, California Scenic Highway Program; last update: March 2017 (designation of portion of Topanga Canyon Boulevard as an official State Scenic Highway).

Section Line / Rancho / Township and Range

This dataset contains the boundaries of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) – Township Range Section boundaries, as well as the boundaries of the Ranchos and Land-grants that pre-dated the PLSS. In general these match the USGS topographic Quad Sheets from the US Geological Survey.

Note – some boundaries may not match parcel boundaries where that is logical – we haven’t had the time to complete that movement.

These are historic boundaries that still have impacts upon the names and geography of Los Angeles county today. For example, where does the name “Verdugo Mountains” come from – it comes from the Rancho established there.

Click here to view a diagram that further explains the PLSS.

Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, Mapping & GIS Services (mapping@dpw.lacounty.gov); last udpate: 2023.

Setback District

There are 15 Setback Districts located in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. Setback Districts are defined in the Los Angeles County Code, Title 22 (previously - Chapter 22.44, Part 5).

Source: DRP GIS Section; last update: last updated 06-23-2024 - for the changes resulting from the East San Gabriel Valley and Metro Area Plan updates. These actions modified existing setbacks, and also corrected the data that had referenced the establishing setback map, but not the subsequent amendments.

Setback District Setbacks

These are the setbacks that exist within the 15 Setback Districts located in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Setback Districts are defined in the Los Angeles County Code, Title 22 (previously - Chapter 22.44, Part 5). Source: Title 22(GIS Section); last update: 06-23-2024 - for the changes resulting from the East San Gabriel Valley and Metro Area Plan updates. These actions modified existing setbacks, and also corrected the data that had referenced the establishing setback map, but not the subsequent amendments.

SEAs (prior to OVOV / AV / GP adoption)

This layer shows the delineation of the SEA's prior to the adoption of the Santa Clarita Valley Area Plan (2012), Antelope Valley Area Plan (2015), and General Plan 2035 (2015). These boundaries are no longer applicable and are displayed for reference only. Source: DRP General Plan; last update: November 5, 2015 following the effective date of General Plan 2035.

Significant Ecological Area (SEA)

An area that is determined to possess an example of biotic resources that cumulatively represent biological diversity, for the purposes of protecting biotic diversity, as part of the Los Angeles County general plan or the city general plan. Additional regulations shall be applied based on County Code (previously section 22.56.215: Hillside management and significant ecological areas) -- Additional regulations. Please see DRP’s SEA website for more information - click here. Source: DRP General Plan; last update: November 5, 2015 following the effective date of General Plan 2035. last update: 4/14/2024 Updated the community of West Claremont following an annexation to the city of La Verne (effective on March 31, 2024).

Significant Ridgeline

This layer delineates ridgelines within selected Community Standards Districts, whereupon restrictions are established for grading and ridgeline development.

Source: DRP GIS Section; last update: 6/21/24 - added ridgelines in the East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan after the adoption of that plan update. For the mapping of these ridgelines, click here.

Specific Plan - All Boundaries

This layer shows all the Specific Plans boundaries (not individual land uses) for easier reference for staff. For information on each individual specific plan and their legends, please click here.Source: GIS Section; last update: March 20, 2024 for the Mission Village portion of the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan with parcel-specific data from the developer (previously, the linework was was from 2003, and was more conceptual in nature).

CLICK HERE for links to all Specific Plans.

Specific Plan - 3rd Street (East Los Angeles)

3rd Street Specific Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors on November 12, 2014, and is within the community of East Los Angeles.

Specific Plan - Catalina / Two Harbors

Catalina Island Land Use Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 15, 1983 and certified by the California Coastal Commission on November 17, 1983.
Santa Catalina Island Specific Plan Appendices A through G

Specific Plan - Centennial

Centennial Specific Plan Located in the community of Antelope Valley, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 30, 2019.

Specific Plan - Connect Southwest LA TOD

Connect Southwest LA TOD Specific Plan Located in the community of West Athens - Westmont, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on May 12, 2020.

Specific Plan - Florence-Firestone TOD

Florence-Firestone TOD Specific Plan Located in the community of Florence-Firestone, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on February 7, 2023. Updated on 6/24/24 following the adoption of the Metro Area Plan.

Specific Plan - La Vina

La Vina Specific Plan Located in the community of Altadena, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on December 26, 1989. Amended 4/16/19 for Specific Plan Amendment 2007-00005-(5).

Specific Plan - Marina Del Rey

Marina Del Rey Land Use Plan, and Specific Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors on March 20, 2012 and certified by the California Coastal Commission on February 8, 2012.

Specific Plan - Newhall Ranch

Newhall Ranch Specific Plan A large planned community in Santa Clarita Valley, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on May 27, 2003. Updated on March 20, 2024 for the Mission Village portion of the Newhall Ranch Specific Plan with parcel-specific data from the developer (previously, the linework was was from 2003, and was more conceptual in nature).

Specific Plan - Northlake

NorthLake Specific Plan Located in the Santa Clarita Valley, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on June 1, 1992.

Specific Plan - Universal Studios

Universal Studios Specific Plan, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on April 30, 2013. Last Updated August 31, 2015 for boundary re-organization between the City of Los Angeles and Universal City.

Specific Plan - West Carson TOD

West Carson TOD Specific Plan, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on October 1, 2019.

Specific Plan - Willowbrook TOD

Willowbrook TOD Specific Plan, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 18, 2018.

Street Labels (white)

Detailed street network labels for all of Los Angeles County. Shown at zoomed in scales only and draws white to showup on various dark basemaps. Source: Los Angeles County Address Management System (CAMS).

Subdivision Activity

The Subdivision Activity layer represents land subdivisions (tentative parcel maps and tentative tract maps) in the unincorporated area that are approved, or pending in the subdivision process. Source: DRP Land Divisions and GIS sections; updates to both layers occur on an ongoing / as needed basis.

Supervisorial District

The Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the County of Los Angeles. Provisions of the Los Angeles County Charter call for a five-member Board of Supervisors that fulfills three major powers in County government: executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial. There are five members of the Board and each represents one of five Districts. The Board responds to the needs of the people of the County of Los Angeles, establishes policies, and adopts ordinances and resolutions pertaining to unincorporated County territory. Board members, in partnership with County staff, work to ensure the delivery of services and programs essential to the continued prosperity of the Los Angeles County region. This layer shows the five (5) Supervisorial Districts that compose Los Angeles County.

Source: RRCC/eGIS; last update: December 16, 2021.

Supervisorial District (2011)

Source: RRCC/eGIS; last update: January 6, 2021.

Town Council / Community Group

A Town Council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch. Community Group is a blanket term for other groups that are not considered "Town Councils", such as Coordinating Councils, Homeowner Associations, Improvement Associations, etc. NOTE: In many cases, boundaries for Town Councils and Community Groups are approximate. Different groups describe their boundaries in varying levels of details in their bylaws or other covenants. These are not to be considered official political boundaries.

Source: Individual town councils and the DRP GIS Section; last update: 12/20/22 for Reorganization (Tesoro Del Valle) between Santa Clarita and Santa Clarita Valley.

Township and Range (and Section Line)

Note – some boundaries may not match parcel boundaries where that is logical – we haven’t had the time to complete that movement.

Click here to view a diagram that further explains the PLSS.

Source: Los Angeles County Public Works, Mapping & GIS Services (mapping@dpw.lacounty.gov); last udpate: 2023.

Transit Oriented District (TOD)

This layer represents the Transit Oriented Districts depicted in Figure 6.5 in the General Plan 2035. These are urban and suburban areas with access to major transit and commercial corridors that have the most potential for infill development, and are well-suited for higher density housing and mixed uses. With the exception of the TOD Specific Plans, all of these are 1/2 mile buffers around a major transit stop.

Source: General Plan 2035, effective November 5, 2015. Last update: 3/10/23 for the adoption of the Florence-Firestone TOD Specific Plan (adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 2/7/23)

Tribal Cultural Resources (AB 52)

A geographical area of interest identified by a California Native American Tribe, who has contacted Los Angeles County, for purposes of establishing the area in where they will receive project notifications for, as required by AB 52. Contact information for California Native American Tribes identified within this layer are found at California Native American Tribes; last update: October 2023.

USGS Quad Sheet (Topo Map) Grid

Reference grid for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5 minute quad sheets, usually referred to simply as a USGS "quads" or "topo maps".

Source: U.S. Geological Survey; last update: 2007.

U.S. National Grid (USNG)

The United States National Grid (USNG) is a point reference system of grid references commonly used in United States. It provides a nationally consistent language of location in a user friendly format. The USNG is an alpha-numeric reference system that overlays the UTM coordinate system. A USNG spatial address is broken down into three parts, the:

Grid Zone Designation

100,000-meter Square Identification, for regional areas

Grid Coordinates, for local areas.

For information on how to read a USNG Spatial Address – click here. Executive Summary on the USNG (from the FGDC) - click here.

Watershed

An area bounded by drainage divides (ridgelines) in which all drainage flows into a particular water body. Click here for DPW's watersheds webpage. Source: DPW (based on USGS Quads); last update: 2010.

ZIP Code

This layer shows parcel-based postal zip code boundaries encompassing all of Los Angeles County.

Sources: United States Postal Service, County of Los Angeles Office of the Assessor, County of Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder / County Clerk (RRCC) Countywide Address Management System (CAMS), Thomas Bros. Maps, U.S. Census Bureau TIGER line data, LARIAC digital orthographic and oblique aerial imagery, and Google Maps / Street View. Created: 2010 (synthesized from the above sources by the DRP GIS Section). Last Updated: 09/01/2022 - Update to various ZIP Codes (91710, merged 92821 into 91748, merged 92823 into 91765) to match USPS (these zipcodes are all Brea).

Zoned District (ZD)

There are 91 Zoned Districts encompassing all of Los Angeles County. These were originally adopted to facilitate zoning in the County. It should be noted that Zoned Districts are not a form of zoning per se. Rather, they simply represent geographic areas associated with established developed areas (i.e., cities, communities, major subdivisions, etc). Today, they are used by DRP as a geographic reference for organizing all historic, recent, and pending zone changes and permits in the unincorporated area. The Zoned District layer is updated whenever annexations and/or de-annexations are adopted. Additional information regarding Zoned Districts can be found in the Los Angeles County Code, Title 22 (previously - Chapter 22.16, Part 1).

Source: Title 22 (DRP GIS Section); last update: 4/14/2024 Updated the community of West Claremont following an annexation to the city of La Verne (effective on March 31, 2024).

Zoning (Boundary and Shading)

This layer features the adopted zoning for all unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County except Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands. Santa Catalina Island is zoned differently from the mainland portion of the County (see below), and San Clemente Island is a U.S. military installation with no zoning. This layer was created as part of the Zoning Map Conversion and Integration Project (ZCIP). Shown as both a boundary and shaded (for cartographic and ease-of-use purposes). For a summary of the zoning categories, please see our Zoning Summary page here. For complete information, see Title 22 (Planning and Zoning) of the Los Angeles County Code. Source: GIS Section; last updates: 11/07/24 - misalignment corrections relative to updated Assessor parcels in the Wrightwood and Big Tujunga Canyon areas of Unincorporated Antelope Valley; 10/30/2024 for the Royal Vista Residential Project in Rowland Heights (adopted by the Board of Supervisors on 10/1/24, effective on 10/31/24).

Zoning Index Map Grid

Reference grid for Zoning Index Maps, which encompass the same area as 25 contiguous Zoning Maps. Because of their smaller scale, Zoning Index Maps contain less detail than the larger scale Zoning Maps.

Source: DRP GIS Section (from Zoning Map Conversion and Integration Project); last update: 2007.

Zoning Map Grid

Reference grid for Zoning Maps, which cover a majority of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Each map is identified based on the numbering system used in DPW's House Number Map (HNM) grid.

Source: DRP GIS Section (from Zoning Map Conversion and Integration Project); last update: April, 2015 for annexation in Florence-Firestone (Jordan Downs).

Zoning SP Category

This layer shows all the Specific Plans boundaries (not individual land uses) for easier reference for staff. For information on each individual specific plan and their legends, please click here

Source: GIS Section; last update: June 11, 2020 the adoption of the Connect Southwest LA TOD Specific Plan in West Athens-Westmont.

Basemaps

**The basemaps listed below only include those authored by the county and do not include any 3rd party basemaps found in the app**

LA Landbase

Data in this basemap consists of centerlines (streets), easements, blocks, lots, tracts, and labels the locations of some recorded survey maps. It was derived from digital engineering drawings (CAD), and is routinely updated and developed by the Assessor and Public Works Departments.

Source: LA County Assessor, LA County Public Works, LA County Enterprise GIS.

LA County Streets

This is the default basemap for this application. Data in this basemap consists of places of interest, roads, addresses, building footprints, and administrative boundaries. It also visually displays local terrain. It was developed by the Assessor Department.

Source: LA County Assessor, LA County Enterprise GIS.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '23

Provides unobstructed orthographic aerial imagery of Los Angeles County. This imagery is made available at 4-inch and 1-foot resolutions depending on the focal point of the area/region being viewed. The imagery available was captured in 2023 in this seventh major iteration.

Source: Los Angeles Region - Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) Program 7, referred to as LARIAC 7.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '20

Source: Los Angeles Region - Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) Program 6, referred to as LARIAC 6.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '17

Source: Los Angeles Region - Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) Program 5, referred to as LARIAC 5.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '14

Source: Los Angeles Region - Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) Program 4, referred to as LARIAC 4.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '11

Source: Los Angeles Region - Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) Program 3, referred to as LARIAC 3.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '08

Source: Los Angeles Region - Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) Program 2, referred to as LARIAC 2.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '06

Source: Los Angeles Region - Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) Program 1, referred to as LARIAC 1.

Ortho Aerial Imagery: LA County Aerial '01-'02

Digital orthographic aerial imagery obtained primarily in 2001 with 1-foot resolution (each pixel represents a 1-foot by 1-foot area). Extensive quality control was performed to ensure the accuracy of the imagery in relation to other GIS layers, including the parcel layer. Imagery at this resolution exists for nearly 3,000 sq. miles of Los Angeles County, excluding the areas covered by the 1- and 2-meter imagery. Those areas included the national forests, Santa Catalina Island, and Edwards Air Force Base.

Source: The Emerge Project.

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