Project Background
The Revised Oil Well Ordinance builds upon the previously adopted Oil Well Ordinance by including updates to the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD) and the County of Los Angeles General Plan.
On September 15, 2021, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved three motions highlighting the County’s commitment to safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare for residents living near oil drilling sites, and initiating a just transition away from fossil fuels and towards economic decarbonization. These long-term initiatives involve multiple County departments and will span several decades for full implementation.
In response to these motions, particularly “Protecting Communities Near Oil and Gas Drilling Operations in Los Angeles County,” the Department of Regional Planning developed the Oil Well Ordinance. The Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 8, 2022, and recommended adoption of the project. The Board formally adopted the Oil Well Ordinance on January 24, 2023.
The Revised Oil Well Ordinance is now being proposed to reaffirm and extend this regulatory framework, integrating the previously recommended amendments to the Baldwin Hills CSD and amendments to the County of Los Angeles General Plan. This step is necessary to clearly establish and apply local regulatory authority granted by Assembly Bill 3233 (Addis), effective January 1, 2025, which explicitly authorizes local governments to limit or prohibit oil and gas operations within their jurisdictions.
Project Overview
This project is an ordinance amending the Los Angeles County Code and an amendment to the County of Los Angeles General Plan.
This ordinance and general plan amendment establish a regulatory framework to phase out oil production activities in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Specifically, the project includes amendments to the Los Angeles County Planning & Zoning Code (Title 22) including the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD), the County Environmental Protection Code (Title 12), and the County of Los Angeles General Plan. These updates will align County land use policies with regional sustainability and environmental justice goals, while ensuring the safe and orderly phase out of oil production activities.
1. Title 22 (Planning & Zoning) Oil Well Ordinance:
Under the proposed ordinance, no new oil wells or production facilities may be established in any zone. Pursuant to Section 22.172 of the County Code (Nonconforming Uses, Buildings, and Structures), existing, legally established oil wells or production facilities operating without an approved Conditional Use Permit or other discretionary permit will be considered nonconforming and subject to a 20-year amortization period. In addition, the ordinance establishes performance standards addressing signage, comment and complaint logging, site maintenance, bonding, well plugging, and site abandonment and restoration. This ordinance would apply to all oil wells in unincorporated Los Angeles County, except in the Coastal Zone.
2. Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD) Amendment:
The project amends the Baldwin Hills CSD to align with and fully implement the provisions of the Title 22 Oil Well Ordinance described above, ensuring consistent application of the new regulations and standards within the Baldwin Hills CSD area.
3. Removal of Title 12 (Environmental Protection) Exemption for Oil & Gas Wells:
The project eliminates the current exemption of oil and gas wells from the Noise Control regulations set forth in Title 12 of the County Code. Consequently, these wells will be subject to all provisions of the Noise Control chapter, ensuring better management of noise impacts related to oil and gas extraction activities.
4. General Plan Amendment:
The project amends the General Plan. Specifically, it revises the Land Use Element, Conservation and Natural Resources Element, and Safety Element to prohibit new oil well operations and remove designations that support oil production activities.
SCOPING MEETING
On April 17, 2025, the County conducted a virtual public scoping meeting for the purpose of soliciting oral and written comments from interested parties as to the appropriate scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report. A recording of this meeting may be viewed here.
CEQA DOCUMENTS
- Initial Study
- Notice of Preparation
- Notice of Preparation: State Clearinghouse Posting
- Notice of Preparation: Notice of Completion
- LA County Registrar-Recorder County Clerk CEQA Notice Search: Notice of Preparation, Filing Number 2025062483
