2028 Olympic and Paralympic Planning and Zoning Exemption Ordinance

2025120661

City of Los Angeles

NOE - Notice of Exemption

12/16/2025

12/16/2025

Diego E. Janacua Cortez

City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning

City Planner

Lead/Public Agency

200 N Spring Street, Room 701
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 978-1657

diego.janacua@lacity.org

Citywide

PROJECT LOCATION: Citywide

Statutory Exemption

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 15272 - Olympic Games; and Pub. Res. Code § 21080(b)(7)

The Department of City Planning has determined, based on the whole of the administrative record, that the proposed 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Planning and Zoning Exemption Ordinance (Ordinance), ENV-2025-6190-SE, is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 21080(b)(7) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15272 – Olympic Games. PRC Section 21080(b)(7) reads: (7)(A) Activities or approvals for the bidding, hosting or staging of, and funding of, an Olympic Games and a Paralympic Games under the authority of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee, except for the construction of facilities necessary for the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the division does not apply to the construction of temporary facilities for the 2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. For purposes of this subparagraph, “temporary facility” means a facility that will be completely removed and the area restored to a clean and safe condition within six months after the end of the 2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (C) Any confirmed changes to the locations of the competition venues of the 2028 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games venue plan, pursuant to the host city contract and games agreement with the City of Los Angeles, shall be noticed publicly on the organizing committee's official internet website and shall be noticed in a newspaper or other medium of general circulation in the local jurisdiction notifying the public of the change in location of the venue. CEQA Guidelines Section 15272 reads: CEQA does not apply to activities or approvals necessary to the bidding for, hosting or staging of, and funding or carrying out of, Olympic Games under the authority of the International Olympic Committee, except for the construction of facilities necessary for such Olympic Games. If the facilities are required by the International Olympic Committee as a condition of being awarded the Olympic Games, the lead agency need not discuss the "no project" alternative in an EIR with respect to those facilities. Guideline Section 15272 was promulgated prior to Assembly Bill (AB) 149, adopted in 2025, which amended Section 21080(b)(7) to broaden the CEQA exemption to the construction of temporary facilities, requiring their removal within six months after the end of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Ordinance is exempt under PRC Section 21080(b)(7) because the City of Los Angeles will be hosting the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games starting on July 14 and concluding on July 30, 2028, and the Paralympic Games starting on August 15, 2028, and concluding on August 27, 2028. The Ordinance amends the Zoning Code to establish exemptions from existing requirements for certain temporary and permanent projects necessary to carry out the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The project amends the City’s processes and will facilitate development of facilities to host the Olympics but does not require or involve any particular construction project. Any permanent physical development or construction of facilities needed for the Games would remain subject to CEQA review unless separately exempt under other provisions of the CEQA Guidelines. The Ordinance does not change the zoning or land use designation of any properties. Instead, it establishes clear definitions, procedures, and administrative pathways that are intended to facilitate the supporting activities needed for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Because the Ordinance would allow the City to streamline administrative procedures to facilitate the hosting/staging and carrying out of the Games under the authority of the International Olympic Committee, as such it qualifies for the statutory exemption under CEQA pursuant to PRC Section 21080(b)(7) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15272. For this reason, the Department of City Planning concludes that CEQA does not apply and that no further environmental review is required for the adoption of the Proposed Ordinance.