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The Department of Regional Planning is aware of phishing emails targeting Los Angeles County residents. Please be advised that all official correspondence from Regional Planning is issued solely from [Name]@planning.lacounty.gov or donotreply@lacounty.gov email addresses. Communications from other domains are not affiliated with the Department and should not be treated as an official communication. The County will never request personally identifiable information via email or ask for payment or funds through wire transfer. If you receive a suspicious email or have concerns about its legitimacy, please do not respond or click any links. Instead, contact Regional Planning directly to verify at info@planning.lacounty.gov or (213) 974-6411.

If you were impacted by the recent fires and need assistance, please visit the Disaster Recovery page.
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Conservation and Natural Resources Element

SEA Program Update

Updates to the SEA Policy Map and SEA Ordinance are proposed to align with the proposed policy revisions in the CNR Element.

2025 SEA Study

The 2025 SEA Study was conducted to inform the CNR Element Update to comply with SB 1425 and AB 1889. The objective of the 2025 SEA Study was to ensure that the biodiversity of the SEAs remain healthy and address climate resiliency, rewilding, and wildlife connectivity in the SEAs. The 2025 SEA Study is available for reference along with prior SEA studies. The 2025 SEA Study evaluated:

  • SEA boundaries to ensure that the SEAs are functioning as planned.
  • If the SEAs still accommodated natural biological processes, habitat linkages and corridors, and are sized sufficiently.
  • Current day issues, such as edge effects from encroaching development, and how habitats can adapt to climate change.
  • New information available since 2000 on rare and sensitive species were incorporated.

Visit the SEA Program Resources page to view the 2025 SEA Study: https://planning.lacounty.gov/long-range-planning/significant-ecological-areas-program/resources/

SEA Policy Map Update

The proposed revisions to the SEA Policy Map were informed by the 2025 SEA Study. The SEA Policy Map provides the boundaries where the General Plan policies and zoning regulations will apply.

Visit the Documents page to review the Draft SEA Policy Map (CNR Element Figures):  https://planning.lacounty.gov/long-range-planning/cnr/documents/

SEA Ordinance Update

The proposed revisions in the SEA Ordinance Update were made to meet requirements from the state legislation, and align with proposed CNR policies and results from the SEA Study. Adjustments to the ordinance provide clarifying revisions to development standards and permit processes.

Visit the Documents page to review the Draft SEA Ordinance revisions:  https://planning.lacounty.gov/long-range-planning/cnr/documents/

Look up your property on the SEA map

An interactive online map is available to explore the proposed boundary revisions, read the descriptions and ecological justification, and submit comments through the map. You can search by Assessor Identification Number (from your property tax bill) or property address to see if your property is within a proposed SEA.

VIEW THE PROPOSED SEA MAP

faqS

What are SEAs?

 SEAs are areas that have been determined to contain important biological resources and contribute to maintaining the biodiversity of Los Angeles County. More information on the SEA Program can be found at: planning.lacounty.gov/sea

How do SEAs affect my property?

Private properties in SEAs are allowed to be developed with a design that reduces the impacts to the biological resources based on the zoning rules in the SEA Ordinance. Since your property is proposed as a SEA, the SEA Ordinance zoning rules may apply when you submit an application to develop the vacant lot or make substantial changes to your already developed property. This will help to account for State or federal regulations you may encounter earlier in the permitting process rather than later. Activities that require a permit include removing trees and plants, moving dirt, piling material on top of resources, grading a driveway, installing fencing, and building structures.

If you do not plan on making changes to your already developed property, then the proposed changes do not affect how you currently use your property.

Why is the SEA map being updated now?

Recent State legislation, Senate Bill 1425 (Stern, 2022) and Assembly Bill 1889 (Friedman, 2024), directs local governments to enhance equitable access to open spaces, promote climate resilience, explore rewilding opportunities, and enhance wildlife connectivity with an emphasis on supporting biodiversity and mitigating the impacts of human activities on natural habitats. The County will implement these requirements through the SEA Program.

When will my property become a SEA?

The expansion of the SEAs and updates to the SEA Ordinance need to go through public hearings before it can be adopted. Public hearings may start as soon as Fall 2026. The public hearing notice will be published in local newspapers, and an email notification will be sent to the project’s email list. It is strongly recommended that you register on the email list for notifications.  

Visit the Contact page to sign up for the email list: https://planning.lacounty.gov/long-range-planning/cnr/contact/

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