Supervisor Mitchell’s Statement on Amending the County’s Nonconforming Vehicle Ordinance to Include All Unincorporated Communities in LA County’s Second District

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the expansion of the Los Angeles County Nonconforming Vehicle Ordinance. For Los Angeles County’s Second District, represented by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, View Park-Windsor Hills, Ladera Heights and Marina del Rey have been included in the ordinance since 2017. Today’s action amends the existing ordinance to include all unincorporated communities in the Second District by adding: Del Aire, Lennox, East Rancho Dominguez, El Camino Village, Rancho Dominguez, Walnut Park, Florence-Firestone, West Carson, Willowbrook, Athens-Westmont.  

Supervisor Mitchell voted in support of amending the ordinance and provided the statement below. The final reading and vote to approve the ordinance will take place on Tuesday March 3.  

“Oversized vehicles—whether box trucks, semi-trucks, or recreational vehicles—continue to present significant safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers throughout the unincorporated communities in my district. In addition, these vehicles create quality-of-life challenges by occupying limited street parking, generating noise while idling, and, unfortunately, attracting illegal dumping. 

Expanding the County’s Nonconforming Vehicle Ordinance to include additional unincorporated communities is necessary, particularly given the increase in oversized vehicles in our unincorporated areas after neighboring cities adopted and began enforcing similar parking restrictions. 

I’m glad that this amendment – which was informed by residents – will now include all the unincorporated communities in my district. Amending this ordinance is an important step toward improving street safety as it relates to oversized vehicles. However, implementation will be just as—if not more—important to ensure residents see the tangible impact of the action we are taking today. 

We cannot discuss oversized vehicles without acknowledging our unhoused residents who rely on RVs as their only form of shelter. It is important to be clear that this ordinance does not change the lawful and humane process for responding to people living in vehicles. We will continue to pursue a human centered and urgent response to the homelessness crisis. That means following established outreach protocols, obtaining consent from individuals experiencing homelessness before relocation to interim or permanent housing, and lawfully addressing and disposing of vehicles when appropriate. 

The County’s Homeless Services and Housing Department remains responsible for addressing the standing list of encampment hot spots in the Second District and throughout the County. It is my expectation that we approach both the implementation of this ordinance and our outreach efforts to move residents off the streets with unwavering determination and steadfast action.”