When you think about getting around Los Angeles, what comes to mind? Driving a car, right? Southern California is famous for its car culture, but more and more commuters are looking for more eco-friendly ways of getting around town. And with over 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s not surprising that riding a bike from point A to point B is getting more popular.
With Ciclavia events, more dedicated bike lanes on streets and city ordinances requiring bike racks in front of new construction, it’s not surprising that more and more property owners are thinking of installing bike parking.
How to start? Get yourself an A-Permit.
Do I have to install a bike rack in Los Angeles?
Are you building a new apartment complex? Putting up a new shopping center? Making major renovations on an existing building? Then, chances are, you will have to install bike racks and get a permit to do so.
The only exception is if your property is located near a city-funded Bicycle Corral.If your property is within 500 feet of one of these corrals, it may count up to four bicycle parking spaces towards their required short-term bicycle parking spaces
Where do bike racks need to be installed in Los Angeles?
The City of Los Angeles has a plan for that!
If you are developing new construction, here’s where bike racks need to be:
- No more than 50 feet of walking distance from the main pedestrian entrance of your building
- Located outside buildings
- Visible from the main entrance
If your building has more than one entrance, the bike parking must be split equally between the two entrances.
But, I am rehabbing an existing building. Do I have to install bike racks? Yes. It doesn’t matter if your property is 20 years old or 100 years old. If you are making major renovations, you have to install bike racks. If you can’t install the bike parking outside, here’s what you do:
- Install bike parking inside the building or on the street level of its parking garage
- Put up a sign at each building entrance explaining where the bike parking is
Do I need an A-Permit to install a bike rack in Los Angeles?
Yes.
In fact, you may need more than one type of permit, depending on what type of bike rack you are installing. A construction permit is just the city’s stamp of approval on any project. Once you have a permit, a city inspector will visit the job site to ensure the bike racks are being installed according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and city requirements.
How do I get a permit to install a bike rack in Los Angeles?
Your first stop is the city’s Bureau of Engineering (BOE). These are the people who issue the A-Permit. The A-Permit allows the installation of bicycle racks. If your bike rack is “non-standard,” you will have to get an R-Permit.
The use of public right-of-way is controlled by the Bureau of Street Services (StreetsLA) or the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT). StreetsLA controls news racks, temporary signs and banners, temporary lane closures and temporary storage of materials. LADOT approves the bicycle rack plan.
Sound like a lot of red tape to jump through to get your bicycle rack installed? That’s because it is. Most developers or property owners will hire a licensed contractor or expert permit expeditor to pull their permits, rather than have to slog through the paperwork themselves.
What do I do if I am installing a ride-sharing bicycle rack in Los Angeles?
The process is basically the same. You still need an A-Permit from the BOE. The city’s Bureau of Engineering does not manage or control the use of bike racks or bikesharing in the public right of way.
How many bike spaces do I need to install?
How many spaces for bicycle parking you need depends upon how large your property is. Here’s a breakdown of how many bike spaces you need per square foot:
- Office: 1 per 10,000 square feet
- Warehouse: 1 per 10,000 square feet
- Private school/Charter school: 4 per classroom
- Trade School and Private Colleges: 1 per 500 square feet or 1 per 50 fixed seats (whichever is greater)
- Health Clubs: 1 per 2,000 square feet
- Restaurants and Bars: 1 per 2,000 square feet
- Small Restaurant (Under 1,000 square feet): 2 per restaurant
- Retail stores: 1 per 2,000 square feet
- Furniture Stores: 1 per 10,000 square feet
How much does an A-Permit cost in Los Angeles?
That depends. How big is your project? Are you installing one bike rack or two? An A-Permit itself is just $375. However, you still need to pay for the inspections. The cost of the permit is based on the scope of the project. The larger the project, the higher the fee.
If your project requires more permits, that will cost extra, as well.
You can find the city’s list of permit fees here.
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