Planning

1. Pre-review: Plan on adding to your home, converting your garage into an ADU, etc. and you would like for our Planning Division to review your plans before submitting your project proposal, please email plans to planninginfo@sogate.org.To schedule an appointment, please click here.
2. Ready to submit: Please submit two sets of the architectural plans along with a completed Plan Check Application(PDF, 460KB), photographs of the project address, and a colors & materials sheet. We will contact you once your application has been processed and your project has been placed in queue to be reviewed.
3. Review: Once your project plans have been reviewed, you will receive notification of approval or of items that need to be addressed. Please email any resubmittal to the Planner who did the initial review.
4. Approved: Your next step is to contact either Building & Safety or Public Works/Engineering.

Step 1: Pre-Application Review

A preliminary meeting with Planning Staff is recommended, though not required. The meeting will give you and Staff a chance to review your project and the applicable Zoning standards. It also helps to determine what permits are required and calculate the fees.

Step 2: Application Submittal

Prepare and submit ALL required application(PDF, 276KB) materials(PDF, 178KB) to the Planning Division along with the required fees. You will receive a case number for your project and a receipt for your fee payment. Five (5) sets of plans are required for the initial review. Remember that all required forms must be completed and filled out legibly. It should be noted that for larger projects, additional or supplemental fees may be required to cover an expanded environmental review process and other supplemental services and/or analysis.

Step 3: Staff Review of Application for Completeness

Applications will be reviewed within thirty (30) days. Staff will examine the application materials, in reviewing your plans, justification statement and other information. Staff will make one or more site visits, and may contact surrounding property owners. Owner’s affidavit must be signed by owner or agent assigned responsibility by owner. Staff will notify you in writing that the application is accepted as complete or that it is not complete and additional material and/or information is required. When the packet is complete and a hearing date is set, additional plans including an electronic PDF will be required. After acceptance of the completed application(s), a public hearing with the Planning Commission will be scheduled for the earliest possible meeting. The Planning Commission meets on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. Staff will advise you of the hearing date.

Step 4: Staff Review for Environmental Determination

Some zoning and subdivision applications require environmental review. Environmental review shall be completed in compliance with state law before final action is taken on the project. Staff will examine the application materials, in reviewing your plans, justification statement and other information. After the Planning Division has evaluated this information, a determination will be made regarding the appropriate environmental documentation for the project. Staff will notify the applicant if additional information or fees are required.

Step 5: Decision on Request

Most decisions on your request will be made by the Planning Commission. The decision could be approval, approval with conditions, continuation for redesign, or denial. General Plan amendments, zone changes, ordinance amendments, and many major development projects are recommended by the Planning Commission required City Council hearing and approval.

APPEALS

In the event that the applicant or an interested party is dissatisfied with a Planning Commission decision, an appeal may be made to the City Council within ten (10) calendar days of the date of notice of decision by staff or adoption of the Planning Commission resolution. Appeals will be heard at a duly notice public hearing.

All CITY COUNCIL DECISIONS ARE FINAL.

1. Complete the Sign Application(PDF, 230KB). 
2. To submit you can either contact one of our Planners and set up an appointment or email all required documents. Your application will be reviewed and an email will be sent to you with payment instructions. 

Azelea Signage Design Standards

• Interested in establishing a business here in South Gate. Please stop by our Business and Licensing Department for a zoning clearance form. 

• Interested in finding out what a properties zoning designation is, click the button below: 

    Property Portal

• For development standards, please click on the link below: 
  Municipal Code

   

• Do you want to establish a Business in the City of South Gate. The first step is to complete a Zoning Clearance form. 
  Zoning Clearance Form(PDF, 237KB)

• For other information please see the button below: 

     General Plan 2035         Gateway District Projects      Municipal Code      

See the latest on our City's Housing Element: 

Resolution No. 2022-32-CC(PDF, 328KB)

Housing Element(PDF, 9MB)

NOTE: Fees for Accessory Dwelling Units, Residential projects, and for wireless facilities have changed. Please see the updated Planning Fees(PDF, 171KB) . 

APPLICATION SUBMITTAL POLICY FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES

This message contains important information about submittal procedures for wireless communications facility applications. The City reserves the right to update or amend this message from time-to-time. Please contact the Planning Division at (323)563-9565.

In-Person Submittal Required

To fairly and efficiently manage the intake of all applications for wireless communications facilities, all applications must be submitted in-person to the Planning Division at a pre-scheduled submittal appointment. Applications received by any other means will not be considered duly filed.

Wireless Facilities Application

The following is the Wireless Facilities Application form and list of requirements. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Planning Division at (323)563-9565. 

Wireless-Facility-Application-3.2.22.pdf(PDF, 184KB)

City Office Closures

Applications will not be accepted, and appointments will not be scheduled, during any office closure. The City’s office closure schedule is available on the City’s website at www.cityofsouthgate.org.

What is a Design Review?

For project proposals on properties that are 15,000 square feet or greater, the project proposal must undergo a Design Review. The project proposal is routed out to different Divisions/Departments for comments and/or conditions (similar to an entitlement application), but a design review type of project is approved administratively (ministerial approval).

For the application as well as a list of submittal documents, please click here. 

What is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)?

An attached or detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence on a fixed, permanent foundation. All ADUs shall be constructed with independent access separate from the main residence entrance. All ADUs shall have a living/sleeping area, a full kitchen; washer/dryer in-unit or access to a shared laundry room area; and a bathroom that includes a shower and/or bathtub. 

What kind of ADUs are there?

There are two (2) types of ADUs - an ADU and a JADU. There are different ways to have an ADU on your property. ADUs can be achieved through new construction or a conversion of an existing garage, accessory structure, or portion of a dwelling unit. ADUs can be attached to or detached (free standing) from an existing single family or multi-family home. New ADUs have to adhere to all development standards of the Updated Chapter 11.43 of the City of South Gate's Zoning Code. When a portion of the existing single-family or multi-family home or an existing accessory structure is converted into an ADU, it is exempt from meeting certain development standards such as setbacks.

What is a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU)?

JADUs are similar to ADUs, but are even smaller living units and can only be created within the existing or a proposed main dwelling. A JADU cannot exceed a total of 500 square feet. The JADU must have a living/sleeping area, and at least an efficiency kitchen. A bathroom is not required, however if a bathroom is not provided, the JADU shall have a direct access into the existing main dwelling unit. All single-family residential lots can have one (1) JADU if there is only one (1) detached ADU or no ADU.

How to apply for an ADU/JADU?

An ADU/JADU requires a Building Permit which applicants will obtain by submitting for Plan Check. Plan Check begins with the Planning Division. After Planning approves your plans, the Building Division reviews construction plans. Upon receiving any other necessary departmental or agency approvals, the applicant will then be issued a Building Permit.