Targets

2121 DELAWARE AVE
SANTA MONICA, CA 90404
849,000
5 Units

2928 EXPOSITION BLVD
SANTA MONICA, CA 90404
950,000
4 Units

Grants

Biodiesel

USDA R&D
Tax Credits

HUD Homes

Arts

Potential Funding for After School Arts Program

Summer School

Grant Writing Tutorial

Home Valuation Fundamentals

Calculating What to Pay for a Home

By DAMON DARLIN
Published: April 1, 2006

How do you know what to pay for a house?
Skip to next paragraph
Related "Bubble, Bubble, Where's the Housing Bubble?" by Gary Smith and Margaret Hwang Smith

You look at the "comps," of course. A real estate agent will tell you what comparable houses in the neighborhood sold for. Web sites like Zillow.com or HomeValues.com value homes the same way.

Is that not a little like thinking Yahoo stock is a bargain at $32 a share because Google is selling at $390 a share? With stocks, you would want to know how the price relates to the company's future earnings. Gary and Margaret Hwang Smith, Pomona College economics professors, argue that with housing you similarly want to know how the price relates to the future stream of rent from a home, whether you intend to rent or not.

It is not an unheard notion among investment professionals. Redbrick Partners, an investment fund that buys and rents single-family homes, evaluates a property's cash flow, as well as the economic prospects of the neighborhood and larger region, before buying it. "Just because you pay 5 percent less than somebody else doesn't mean it is a good price," said Thomas Skinner, a managing partner.

You will need some math skills and some software or a financial calculator to do this. The Smiths said they might offer a program on their Web site, www.smithfinancialplace .com, to automate the process, but until then, you'll have to read the formulas in their new research paper found there and work out the numbers using a spreadsheet.

To see how this would be useful to a buyer, take a look at a house on Silver Cloud Drive in Diamond Bar, Calif. It is an 1,812-square-foot four-bedroom two-bath split-level ranch built in 1964.

It sold last July for $560,000. First, you need to know how much the house could rent for. As it happens, just across the street is a nearly identical house that was renting at the that time for $2,295 a month.

Determining how much rent a house can fetch may turn out to be one of the more difficult tasks in this entire process, especially if you live in a single-family home in a neighborhood where few homes are rented. If you own a condominium or an apartment, it's easy because there are always comparable units renting.

Now you need to calculate the annual cash inflow, that is, the rent, and subtract it from the outflow, things like mortgage payments, taxes and maintenance. You'll have to make some assumptions of how much any of those factors will change over time. The cash flow may be negative in the first few years of ownership, but as rents increase and the mortgage payments don't, the returns flip positive.

Plug these numbers into a spreadsheet set up to calculate net present value — what the future payments are worth right now. You can find advice at http://office.microsoft .com/en-gb/assistance/HP052091991033.aspx. In our example provided by the Smiths, assuming (economists love to assume) the buyer makes a 20 percent down payment, secures a 30-year fixed mortgage at 5.7 percent, and spends about 2 percent of the price of the house each year on maintenance as rents rise 3 percent a year, you discover that with a 6 percent after-tax annual rate of return, the house price would be $696,000. That's about 24 percent more than the actual selling price and 18 percent above Zillow's estimate of $588,502.

The calculation doesn't mean that as a seller you'd necessarily get that much. Supply and demand — and the Greater Fool Theory — will still determine the price. It means as a buyer you could go that high and still be happy with the decision in years to come.

Given the price it did sell for, for someone in a 28 percent federal income tax bracket, the long-run after-tax annual rate of return will be 7.4 percent. (Use an internal rate of return, or I.R.R., function in a spreadsheet.) Given that a 30-year bond was yielding about 4.83 last week and some banks will give you 4.5 percent interest, 7.4 percent isn't a bad return.

What if the price drops? That's the risk in owning over renting. Certainly, if you had waited you would pay less and probably get an even better return. But that's the reason you analyze the fundamentals. If you computed a healthy return and are holding it for the long term, you minimize the danger of losing your investment.

At the risk of sounding like a real estate agent, Mr. Smith said there are two risks to consider when buying a house. One is that you buy and the price goes down. The other is that you don't buy and the price goes up. "The second is more scary," he said.

Home Valuation

Very Detailed and lists the Whittier area.

Tax Deferral Tactics

METHOD #5 – TAX-FREE INVESTING WITHIN YOUR ROTH I.R.A. A great way to create tax-free income during realty ownership without capital gains tax when selling a property is to invest in real estate within your Roth IRA. If you have a regular IRA, or another retirement plan such as a 401(k) or 403(b), you can often "rollover" those assets, paying the tax, into your Roth IRA where you can buy investment real estate within your tax-free Roth IRA.

To do this, the Roth IRA must be set up to be self-directed with a trustee who allows real estate investments. For more information, good Web sites include www.entrustadmin.com (Entrust Administration), www.Sterling-trust.com (Sterling Trust Services), and www.midoh.com (Mid Ohio Securities). Entrust has an extensive Web site with lots of

Entrust - Fully Self Directed IRA's

Buffettology

Including Pick List

Berkshire-Hathaway

Tax Lien Links

Arizona Association of Counties site has links to all county sites including those below.

Coconino County - Flagstaff site with interactive GIS parcel map.

Yuma County - Yuma site also has a parcel mapper that requires a username and password. (Used standard low security).

La Paz - Parker site

Expanded Tax Lien Info

Section #6: List of Tax Lien States State Interest Rate Redemption Period
Alabama 12% 3 years
Arizona 16% 3 years
Colorado Varies (9 percentage points above the federal discount rate; interest rates range between 11% to 15% 3 years Florida 18% 2 years Georgia 20% to 40% (20% first year, no matter when redeemed, 40% second year.) 1 year

Illinois 18% (18% for regular sale; leftover liens-48%+) 6 months, 2 years, 2.5 years

Indiana 10% to 25% (1-6 months - 10%; 6 months-1 year - 15%; after 1 year - 25%; 10% on surplus bid; 12% on subsequent taxes and assessments) 1 year

Iowa 24% 21 months
Kentucky 12% none
Louisiana 17% 3 years
Maryland Varies depending on county (ex. 24% Baltimore City County, 20% Montgomery County) 2 to 6 months

Massachusetts 16% 6 months
Michigan 15% - 50% (15% first year, 50% flatfee for second year)12 to 18 months
Mississippi 18% 2 years
Missouri 10% 2 years
Nebraska 14% 3 years
New Hampshire 18% 2 years
New Jersey 18% + 2% - 6% 2 years
New York (only in some counties) 10% 2 years
North Dakota 12% 3 years
Oklahoma 8% 2 years
Rhode Island 16% (10% flat fee 1-6 months; 1% for each succeeding month)1 year
South Carolina 8% 1 year
South Dakota 12% 4 years
Vermont 6% to 12% 1 year
West Virginia 12% 18 months
Wyoming 18% (15% interest first year, plus flat fee of 3%, no matter when redeemed) 4 years

Section #7: States Where Tax Lien Investing Is Most Profitable The previous section listed all the states in the continental U.S. that sell tax lien certificates. Of the approximately 27 states on that list, not all of them pay a high rate of return on their tax lien certificates. It’s best to focus on states where your investment will bring you a high rate of interest with a high level of security. Remember, each state (and each county within the state) can differ on their exact tax lien procedures, so be sure to find out. The variety of state laws governing tax lien procedures ensures you that there is a state whose system will fit your needs. Here is the list of states where tax lien investing is most profitable: For more information on the different types of bidding systems, please see page 55.

List of the Most Profitable Tax Lien States
State Interest Rate Redemption Period Bidding System
------ ------------ ----------------- --------------
Arizona 16% 3 years Bidding On Interest Rates:The successful bidder is the one willing to accept the lowest amount of percentage upon the amount so paid, in order to redeem the property from the sale, which shall not exceed the rate of 16% per year simple.

Colorado Varies (9 percentage points above the federal discount rate; interest rates range between 11% to 15% 3 years Premium Bidding: Bidder willing to pay the largest amount of cash [called a premium bid] over the amount of the tax lien. Premium bid is not refundable and does not earn interest.

Florida 18% 2 years Bidding On Interest Rates:Winning bid goes to the person who will accept the least rate of interest on the amount of tax due. Bidding starts at 18% and goes down from there.

Georgia 20% to 40% (20% first year, no matter whenredeemed, 40% second year.) 1 year Bidding On Property:Property is sold to the highest bidder; excess goes to tax sale surplus fund. If redeemed, tax purchaser to receive excess money back, if not redeemed, excess goes to county general fund.

Illinois 18% (18% for regular sale;leftover liens-48%+) 6 months, 2 years, 2.5 years Bidding On Interest Rates:Winning bid goes to the person who will accept the least rate of interest on the tax lien to be paid by the property owner. Biddingstarts at 18% and goes down from there.

Indiana 10% to 25% (1-6 months - 10%; 6 months-1 year - 15%; after 1 year - 25%; 10% on surplus bid; 12% on subsequent taxes and assessments) 1 year Bidding On Property:Property is sold to the highest bidder; excess goes to tax sale surplus fund. If redeemed, tax purchaser to receive excess money back, if not redeemed, excess goes to county general fund.

Iowa 24% 21 months Dividing Ownership:Winning bid is the person who pays the total amount due, which is a lien on the property, for the smallest percentage of the property. If the property is foreclosed, and the purchaser agreed to take less than a 100% interest in the property, he becomes the co-owner with the delinquent taxpayer.

Louisiana 17% (12% flat fee + 5% penalty, no matter whenredeemed) 3 years Dividing Ownership:Winning bid goes to the person willing to pay the total amount due, which is a lien on the property, for the smallest percentage of the property. Louisiana has a 5% mandatory penalty, no matter when redeemed.

Maryland Varies depending on county (Ex. 24% Baltimore City County, 20% Montgomery County)2 to 6 monthsBidding On Property:Property sold at auction for the least amount of taxes, interest, penalties and expenses. Buyer must pay taxes due at auction andthen must pay the rest during foreclosure.

Massachusetts 16% 6 months Dividing Ownership: Winning bid is the person who pays the total amount due, which is a lien on the property, for the smallest percentage of the property. If the property is foreclosed, and the purchaser agreed to take less than a 100% interest in the property, he becomes the co-ownerwith the delinquent taxpayer.

Michigan 15% - 50% (15% first year, 50% flat fee for second year) 12 to 18 months Dividing Ownership: Winning bid is the person who pays the total amount due, which is a lien on the property, for the smallest percentage of the property. If the property is foreclosed, and the purchaser agreed to take less than a 100% interest in the property, he becomes the co-ownerwith the delinquent taxpayer.

Mississippi 18% 2 years Premium Bidding: Bidder willing to pay the largest amount of cash in excess of amount due. If property is redeemed, the excess amount is refunded to the buyer.

New Jersey 18% + 2% - 6% 2 years Bidding On Interest Rates: Winning bid goes to the person who will accept the least rate of interest on the amount of tax due. Bidding starts at18% and goes down from there. Premium bid is allowed if rate of interestis bid down to less than 1%, then premium bid starts upward.

North Dakota 12% 3 years Bidding On Interest Rates: Winning bid goes to the person who will accept the least rate of interest on the amount of tax due. Bidding starts at12% and goes down from there.

Wyoming 18% (15% interest first year, plus flat fee of 3%, nomatter whenredeemed) 4 years Lottery: The first person willing to pay the taxes, interest, penalties and costs including charges is the successful bidder. Your number is drawn and you either accept to pay or decline. Wyoming has a 3% flat fee, no matter when redeemed.


Section #8: Contact Information For The Most Profitable Tax Lien States Page 83 of 89

Now that you know the states where your tax lien investment dollars will bring you the highest rate of interest, here is contact information for each of the most profitable tax lien states listed in the previous section. For a complete list of counties in each of these states, please visit the County Phone List section on our website at http://taxliensalecertificate.com/countylist.htm.

Our County Phone Lists give you the name, phone number, and address of every single county in states where tax lien investing is most profitable. The following addresses and phone numbers will help you get started:

ArizonaArizona State Treasurer 1700 W. Washington St. Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Phone: (602) 542-1463 http://www.az.gov/webapp/portal/ (State of Arizona website)

ColoradoState Treasurer's Office 140 State Capitol Denver, CO 80203 Phone: (303) 866-2441 http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/governor_office.html(Office of the Governor website)

FloridaState Treasurer’s Office 200 E. Gaines St. Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Phone: (850)413-3100http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/counties.html(Website with list of Florida counties) GeorgiaGeorgia Dept. of Revenue Property Tax Division 4245 International Pkwy, Suite A Hapeville,

Georgia 30354-3918 Phone: (404) 968-0707 http://www.state.ga.us/ (State of Georgia website)

Illinois State Treasurer’s Office100 West Randolph, Suite 15-600Chicago, Illinois 60601Phone: (312)814-1700http://www100.state.il.us/government/county.cfm(Website with list of Illinois counties)

Indiana State Treasurer's Office 242 State House Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Phone: (317)232-6386 http://www.in.gov/tos/ (State of Indiana website)

Iowa Treasurer of State State Capitol First Floor South Des Moines, Iowa 50319 Phone: (515)281-5368http://www.state.ia.us/ (State of Iowa website)

Louisiana State Treasurer’s Office900 North Third Street 3rd Floor, State Capitol Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802 Phone: (225)342-0010 http://www.treasury.state.la.us/ (Department of the Treasury website)

MarylandState Treasurer’s Office 80 Calvert St. Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Phone: 1-800-974-0468 http://www.mec.state.md.us/ (State of Maryland website)

MassachusettsDepartment of State Treasurer State House-Room 227 Boston, Massachusetts 02133 Phone: (617)367-6900 http://www.state.ma.us/treasury/ (State Treasurer’s website)

Michigan Michigan Department of Treasury Lansing, Michigan 48922 Phone: (517)373-3200http://www.michigan.gov (Office of the Governor website)

Mississippi State Treasurer’s Office 1101 Woolfolk State Office Building, Suite A Jackson, Mississippi 39205 Phone: (601)359-3600 http://www.treasury.state.ms.us/ (State Treasurer’s website)

New Jersey Office of the State Treasurer State House, 1st Floor Trenton, New Jersey 08625 Phone: (609)292-5031 http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/index.html (State Treasurer’s website)

North DakotaState Treasurer’s Office 600 East Boulevard 3rd Floor Bismarck North Dakota 58505-0600 Phone: (701)328-2643 http://www.discovernd.com/ (State Treasurer’s website)

Wyoming State Treasurer’s Office200 West 24th Street Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002 Phone:(307)777-7408 http://treasurer.state.wy.us/ (State Treasurer’s website)

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Page 87
Conclusion: Tax Lien Certificates Are An Excellent Investment Page 87 of 89 TaxLienSaleCertificate.com 5207 McKinney Ave. #18 Dallas, TX 75205 www.taxliensalecertificate.com questions@taxliensalecertificate.comConclusion: Tax Lien Certificates Are An Excellent Investment So, there you have it – all the information you need to successfully invest in property tax liens. You’ve learned all the specifics, including: • What tax liens are. • What why you should invest in tax liens. • How to buy tax lien certificates, including the steps involved before, during, and after the tax sale. • An explanation of tax sale procedures in the state of Colorado. • Useful tips to help you double or even triple your tax lien investment dollars. • The risks involved in tax lien investing. • A complete list of states that sell tax lien certificates. • A list of states where tax lien investing is most profitable. • Contact information for the most profitable tax lien states.
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Page 88
Conclusion: Tax Lien Certificates Are An Excellent Investment Page 88 of 89 TaxLienSaleCertificate.com 5207 McKinney Ave. #18 Dallas, TX 75205 www.taxliensalecertificate.com questions@taxliensalecertificate.comKeep these points already mentioned in the report in mind: • Tax liens earn a higher rate of interest than Certificates of Deposit (upwards of 10% and more like 20% to 25% interest!). • Tax liens are a low-risk investment. 98% of tax liens are eventually paid off in the state that offer them. • The law is on your side. You are not responsible for pursuing the delinquent property owner to pay you for the tax lien. State law requires that delinquent taxpayers redeem tax liens or risk losing their property. • If property owners do not pay you back for the tax lien, you can foreclose and own the property after the redemption period, which ranges between 1 to 3 years, and gain valuable real estate for pennies on the dollar. • Investing in tax liens is very easy, much easier to figure out than investing in the stock market. • You don’t have to have a lot of money to invest in tax liens. You can invest as little as $100! • You do not have to live in the state to invest in their tax liens. States that
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Page 89
Conclusion: Tax Lien Certificates Are An Excellent Investment Page 89 of 89 TaxLienSaleCertificate.com 5207 McKinney Ave. #18 Dallas, TX 75205 www.taxliensalecertificate.com questions@taxliensalecertificate.comsell tax liens offer them to virtually anyone, anywhere. • Even if you miss out on a state’s scheduled tax sale auction(s), you can still invest in their counties’ leftover liens and find some great bargains. Most importantly, tax liens are by far one of the most powerful and safe investments you can make, because you will get a guaranteed return on your investment that is backed by the government itself. You can’t say the same for the stock market where so many people have lost millions of dollars. Making money on tax liens is not a game of luck as it is in the stock market. With tax liens, you know the exact interest rate your investment will make in a relatively short period of time. And, remember, tax liens from the government is a real opportunity that many people all over the United States are doing and earning lots of money doing it. This report is simply intended to give you the facts you need to quickly figure out the ins and outs of tax lien investing so that you don’t have to spend hours of research figuring it out yourself. If you follow the guidelines in this comprehensive report, you will be well on your way to earning safe, high-interest, low-risk investment returns.

Trust Republic/Parks for People

Here

Assessor's Map Online & Google Local Link

Assessor's Tool
Google Local

Homebuilding Resources

Trade Secrets for High-Value Low Cost Construction.

http://www.buildingaffordable.com/

Open Source Housing

The RedHat House

Building America energy efficiency specs & designs

Subdivision One Stop Info

From LA County website

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

General Plan, Zoning and Subdivision information, application forms, and fee schedules may be obtained by contacting the Department of Regional Planning Land Development Coordinating Center in Room 1360, Hall of Records, 320 West Temple Street West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Telephone (213) 974-6411. Telephone hours are 7:00 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday. Public counter hours are 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Although not required, you may wish to schedule a "One Stop" counseling appointment in order to obtain additional information from representatives of the Department of Public Works and the Fire Department as well as Regional Planning staff. You may schedule a "One Stop" appointment by calling (213) 974-6438.

Links for Grant CDC Info

Here is info for low cost loans for using recycled construction material.

Recycled Materials Exchange

Green Building Guidelines

Substandard Conditions Notice

Called at 8am Elizabeth Garcia not in will call back @9:30am.

Advised that residents complained to Board of Supervisors. No boat storage available ever. Need to rototill the lot and remove debris.

Cool Financial Calculators

At MSN no less

Permit Primer

Browsing the Building Code section of the LA County Site I found that one needs a "Combined building permit" in addition to a grading permit, a landscaping permit, and a permit for the sewer connections. Interesting. Reading the fees validates G&R's estimate.

Avocado Heights

Zoning Updates

LA County Property Tax

Their site indicates that new construction is grounds for a new appraisal. However, replacement of structures does not require a reappraisal. That should clear the first house at least.

Los Angeles County Zoning Ordinances

As described on their web site (which also has applications for zoning and subdivision, as well as contacts for the offices).

Also, "How to Request a Subdivision"

ZONE R-1: Single Family Residence

Permitted Uses:
Single family residences (22.20.070 - 22.20.100)

Minimum Required Area:
Unless otherwise specified: 5,000 sq. ft./lot (22.52.100, 22.52.250)

Maximum Height Limit:
35 feet from existing or excavated grade (22.20.110) (unless modified by a special standards district such as a community standards district.)

Minimum Required Parking:
2 covered parking spaces per single family residence (22.52.1180)

Standard Yard Requirements:
Front Yard: 20 feet (22.20.120), except as provided in special Standards District

Rear Yard: 15 feet or 20% of average depth of shallow lot, but not less than 10 feet (22.20.120 and 22.48.110)

Side Yards: Interior Lot: 5 feet or 10% of average width of narrow lot, but not less than 3 feet (22.20.120 and 22.48.100)

Corner Lot: 5 feet except on reversed corner lot, which is 10 feet (22.20.120)

Development Standards:
(See 22.20.105 regarding development standards for single-family residences)

=====================================================================

ZONE R-2: Two Family Residence

Permitted Uses:
Two family residences (or duplex), single family residences (22.20.170 - 22.20.200)

Minimum Required Area:
Unless otherwise specified:
- 5,000 sq. ft./lot (22.52.100)
- 2,500 sq. ft./unit (22.52.270)

Maximum Height Limit:
35 feet from existing or excavated grade (22.20.210). See special standards district

Minimum Required Parking:
- 1 1/2 covered spaces + 1/2 uncovered space per unit for each 2- family residence (duplex)
- Single Family Residence, same as in R-1 zone (22.52.1180)

Standard Yard Requirements:
Front Yard: 20 feet (22.20.220)
Rear Yard: 15 feet or 20% of average depth of shallow lot, but not less than 10 feet (22.20.220 and 22.48.110)
Side Yards: Interior lot: 5 feet or 10% of average width of narrow lot, but not less than 3 feet (22.20.220 and 22.48.100)
Corner lot: 5 feet, except on reversed corner lot, which is 10 feet (22.20.220)

=====================================================================

ZONE R-3: Limited Multiple Residence

Permitted Uses:
Apartment houses, uses permitted in Zone R-1 and R-2 (22.20.260 - 22.20.290)

Minimum Required Area:
Unless otherwise specified:
- 5000 sq. ft./lot (22.52.100)
- 1452 sq. ft./unit or as otherwise limited by the General Plan (22.20.310 and 22.20.060)

Maximum Height Limit:
35 feet from existing or excavated grade (22.20.300)

Minimum Required Parking:
- Each bachelor apartment unit, 1 covered space
- Each efficiency or 1 bedroom apartment unit, 1 1/2 covered spaces
- Each 2 bedroom apartment unit, 1 1/2 covered + 1/2 uncovered spaces
- See R-1 and R-2 zones
- Guest parking required for apartments with a minimum of 10 units at a ratio of 1 space for each 4 units (22.52.1180 and 22.20.330)

Standard Yard Requirements:
Front Yard: 15 ft., except as provided (22.20.320)
Rear Yard: 15 ft. or 20% of average depth of lot, not less than 10 ft. (22.20.320 and 22.48.110)
Side Yards: Interior Lot: 5 feet or 10% of average width of narrow lot, but not less than 3 feet (22.20.320 and 22.48.100) Corner Lot: 5 ft., except on reversed corner lot, which is 7 1/2 feet (22.20.320)

=====================================================================

ZONE R-4: Unlimited Residence

Permitted Uses:
Apartments, rooming and boarding houses, uses permitted in zones R-1 and R-2 (22.20.340 - 22.20.370)

Minimum Required Area:
Unless otherwise specified:
- 5000 sq. ft./lot (22.52.100)
- 871 sq. ft./dwelling or as otherwise limited by the General Plan (22.20.390 and 22.20.060)

Maximum Height Limit:
Total floor area not to exceed 13 times the buildable area (22.52.050)

Minimum Required Parking:
Same as R-1, R-2, and R-3, based on the type of structure (22.52.1180 and 22.20.400)

Standard Yard Requirements:
Front Yard: 15 feet (22.20.380), except as provided in Special Standards District
Rear Yard: 15 feet or 20% of average depth of shallow lot, but not less than 10 feet (22.20.320 and 22.48.110)
Side Yards: Interior Lot: Same as in R-1, plus 1 foot for each story above 2 stories, maximum required 16 feet (22.20.380)
Corner Lot: 5 feet, except on reversed corner lot which is 7 1/2 feet (22.20.380)

=====================================================================

ZONE R-A: Residential Agriculture

Permitted Uses:
- Single family residences
- Crops (field, tree, bush, berry, row and nursery stock) (22.20.410 - 22.20.440)

Minimum Required Area:
Unless otherwise specified 5000 sq. ft./lot (22.52.100, 22.52.250)

Maximum Height Limit:
35 feet (22.20.450)

Minimum Required Parking:
2 covered parking spaces per single family residence (22.52.1180)

Standard Yard Requirements:
Front Yard: Same as R-1 (22.20.450)
Rear Yard: Same as R-1 (22.20.450)
Side Yards: Same as R-1 (22.20.450)
Corner Lot: See 22.20.105 regarding development standards for single family residences

=====================================================================

Building Permits & Inspections

The Planning Division of the Community Development Department is responsible for implementing the City’s Zoning Code, which regulates the types of land uses and buildings that can be located in each part of the City. As such, the Division reviews business licenses to ensure that each business is in the appropriate zone, processes conditional use permits for certain uses pursuant to the Zoning Code, and reviews and processes (as necessary) plans for constructing or modifying buildings and structures.

Planning approval must be secured prior to the issuance of building permits for all new construction and modifications to existing buildings and structures. Depending on the location, use, size and type of building or structure planned, Planning Approval may involve any or all of the following entities: Staff, the City’s Design Review Board, the Historic Resources Commission and the Planning Commission.

The City of Whittier Zoning Code has been developed to ensure a high standard of design and materials for all buildings in the City. In order to more easily interpret the requirements of the Code, the City has adopted Design Guidelines for commercial and residential structures. If you are planning to modify or construct a new building in the City of Whittier, it is recommended that you visit the Community Development Department at City Hall between 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM Monday through Friday or call (562) 464-3380 to request a copy of the Design Guidelines.

Building Permits and Inspections

Under State Law, structures must be built pursuant to locally adopted building codes, in Whittier’s case the Adopted California Model Codes. The Building Division of the Community Development Department is responsible for implementing the City’s Building Code. This includes regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings and structures within the city of Whittier. As part of its responsibility to ensure that buildings and structures are built to minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and public welfare, the City requires that a building permit be obtained prior to the construction of improvements to private property. Once a permit is obtained, City building inspectors visit the property at appropriate times to ensure that the construction is occurring pursuant to the plans and the Building Code.

Building permits are required to build, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building. Permits are also required for most plumbing and electrical improvements.

For further information on Building Permits, please call the Community Development Department at (562) 464-3380 or visit any time between 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. Building personnel are available at all times, but specific Building Inspectors are in the office between 8:00 and 9:00 AM and 1:00 and 2:00 PM Monday through Friday.

Set Out Stakes

As of today there are two possible places for the first house, and the loan has tenattive approval. I'm going to start Googling for zoning ordinances in advance of Tuesday.