HPOZ approval (Certificate of Appropriateness / Compatibility or Conforming Work): Los Angeles restaurant guide
LA City Planning — Office of Historic Resources
What it is
All exterior work in a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone — storefronts, signs, awnings, additions — needs Planning approval and/or HPOZ board review before construction.
When a restaurant needs it
The property is in an HPOZ (check ZIMAS) and you are changing anything on the exterior.
How to apply
Submit through the Online Application System; staff assign one of four review types: Certificate of Appropriateness, Certificate of Compatibility, Conforming Work on a Contributing Structure, or Conforming Work on a Non-Contributing Structure.
Documents you’ll need
- Photos of existing conditions
- Plans and elevations of proposed work
- Material and sign specifications
- Applicable HPOZ Preservation Plan references
Good to know
Conforming Work approvals aren't appealable and move fastest; designing to the district's Preservation Plan keeps you in that track. Designated Historic-Cultural Monuments have separate review.
Official source
City Planning — historic district project review · City Planning — HPOZs
Answer a few questions about your space and get every permit in order, with a timeline, a cost range, walkthroughs, and every application filled in for you to sign with Open.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Guidance only, not legal advice.