Community Development

Our Mission

To ensure that La Palma remains a livable, competitive, & sustainable community through effective land use planning, supportive construction management, proactive code enforcement, & innovative economic development activities. 

The La Palma Community Development Department carries out the Planning, Building & Safety, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Redevelopment and Affordable Housing functions for the City. The Department is responsible for business retention and attraction activities, and developing and maintaining relationships with local businesses; real estate brokers; property owners; and tenants.

The Department also coordinates “fast tracking” of land use and permitting applications and directly responds to problems/issues identified by high priority businesses.

The Community Development Department is divided into six divisional areas, which include:

Building & Safety

The Building & Safety Division provides plan checking, permit issuance, building inspection, and other building and construction related services. This division also issues Garage Sale permits.

Code Enforcement

The Code Enforcement Division is responsible for code enforcement throughout the City, and performs inspections and enforcement actions for compliance with the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit.

Planning

The Planning Division is responsible for all of the current and advance planning functions of the City. Current Planning includes the processing of applications for Conditional Use Permits, new developments, residential remodels, signs, and temporary uses. Advance Planning includes the review and update of the City’s General Plan. The Planning Division also issues film permits, block party permits, and community event permits.

Economic Development

Economic Development includes business retention and attraction activities by developing relationships with real estate brokers, property owners, and business tenants.

Redevelopment

The Governor abolished Redevelopment in 2011 and mandated cities to wind down the affairs of their former Redevelopment Agencies. For a status on La Palma’s former Redevelopment Agency click on this page.

Affordable Housing

This includes both local affordable housing activities as well as participation in county, state, and federal housing programs.