Los Angeles will no longer require tall buildings in the city to have flat roofs and helipads, a change that means the city’s skyline could one day include the kind of narrow tops and grand spires seen in other big cities.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today a revision to a city fire department regulation, eliminating the requirement of helipads on the roofs of new high rise buildings under 1,000 feet tall. Los Angeles is currently the only major American city with this restriction, which was put in place in 1958.
“Los Angeles is the creative capital of the world, but our skyline is full of buildings that are uniformly flat,” Mayor Garcetti said.
Under the revised regulation, helipads are no longer necessary on buildings between 420 feet and 1,000 feet tall, as long as several fire safety requirements are met, including the installation of a fire service access elevator or staircase. The new standards are similar to those used in other cities in California and around the world.
Most building in Los Angeles fall within that height range, the exceptions being the U.S. Bank Tower at 1,018 feet and the 73-story Wilshire Grand project, which will be 1,100 feet once completed. (The top of the Wilshire Grand will have a modified helipad, so only part of the skyscraper’s roof will be flat.)
