Advocacy work is the heart of the IHC.

The IHC aims to create a space where hospitality business owners can receive timely information and critical guidance on significant areas of regulation. Advocacy materials are distributed as well as continued efforts to develop strategic political relationships to sustain our mission. We strive to create meaningful regulation throughout Los Angeles County, all the while updating archaic policies that no longer serve to progress our communities.

Current Issues

 

Top Issues Right Now

AB 2550 - The Small Business Support Act

AB 2550 supports small businesses by updating outdated  regulations that prevent small businesses from opening and  succeeding. This bill will help by alleviating unnecessary  regulatory burdens that contribute to “dead rent” periods.  So called “zombie” building requirements impose higher costs on  an already struggling sector and create a lower level of capital  investment in our older building stock. Here are its key takewaways.

  • Allow small business restaurants to operate  without a drinking fountain.

  • Allow a small business to operate without the  requirement for separate gender restrooms and  instead allow for gender-neutral restrooms.

  • Provide clarity to small businesses when conducting outdoor community events utilizing food  preparation, food storage and ware washing areas.

It includes the following California Building Code (CBC) updates:

  • Eliminate requirements for the installation of urinals in B occupancy groups.

  • Eliminate requirements for drinking fountains required for restaurants, bars, or similar occupancies with less than 100 occupants.

  • Clarify that Type 1 hood systems are not required for ovens that do not generate grease or smoke vapors.

  • Provide exceptions to kitchen hood requirements for dishwashers designed to be under-counter.

  • Allow above-ground grease traps connected to 3-compartment sinks to be in kitchens.

  • Eliminate the requirement for separate sex restrooms for establishments serving alcohol.

  • Exempt patios and outdoor dining areas less than 1,000 square feet from additional plumbing fixture (restroom) requirements. 

  • Eliminate customer restroom requirements for food service establishments under 10 occupants and take-out establishments.

  • Exempt new covered or outdoor patio areas less than 1,000 square feet from the fire sprinkler requirement.

It also includes the following California Retail Food Code (CRFC) updates:

  • Allow above-ground grease traps designed to be under a 3-compartment sink in a kitchen or dishwashing area.

  • Eliminate requirements for durable, smooth, washable wall and ceiling finishes for beverage service, preparation, and limited food prep-only areas.

  • Eliminate requirements for a durable, smooth, washable wall and ceiling finish in employee restrooms.

  • Eliminate requirements for wall enclosures for temporary food preparation areas at community events.

Other top issues

Al Fresco Dining

The immediate threat to our Al Fresco Dining Program (your Temporary Al Fresco Permits will most likely remain active until a new COMPLETE department program has been developed for use). The revised LA City Planning Ordinance passed through PLUM, and it addressed many of the important areas we initiated. View updates on the Al Fresco Ordinance, and submit public comment for City Council consideration by visiting the Council File here. Here are our key takeaways.

Limitation on how many parking spaces can be displaced to accommodate your patio – REMOVED

Discretionary approvals (aka CUP) for new Al Fresco permitted areas of alcohol consumption – REMOVED

Limitation on size of patios – REMOVED

Patios being considered “floor area” making you subject to a series of other awful long and expensive requirements – REMOVED

Locations of where patios can be – REVISED

Here is our IHC Permanent Al Fresco Program Goals department by department. We encourage you to share these goals with your Councilmember directly.

Many of our favorite restaurant outdoor spaces won’t be able to continue with al fresco dining because of the lack of a permanent Al Fresco program

Restaurants that have poured their own money into creating patio dining will not be able to continue 

An amendment would allow outdoor dining seating to be permanent

Resolve the discrepancies between the State vs. City/County’s policy towards this program

Support the media message on the threat to the small business community

The removal of parking requirements for easier permitting of indoor and outdoor space

  • A Change of Use requires all existing parking to be maintained

  • It prevents properties that do not have any actual required parking to use open space on their property for outdoor dining

Amending CA Coastal Commission Policies to be consistent with current local parking leniency programs

  • Any change in use of space for restaurants in coastal areas requires approval via the CA Coastal Commission, and therefore, a very long and expensive Coastal Development permit

  • Conflicts with new policies for a permanent Al Fresco Program 

  • The IHC plans to work with Councilmembers to streamline this process and make sure policies are consistent with local regulations

Championing the Restaurant Beverage Program, LA's new ‘Over the Counter’ CUP

  • Fought to shape a more accessible ‘over the counter’ Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) in the City of Los Angeles saving operators tens of thousands of dollars when applying for alcohol permits

  • Currently, however, only half of LA’s City Councilmembers have allowed for this vital program to operate in their districts. Councilmembers in the other half still have NOT moved forward on this beneficial program. We won’t rest until ALL council districts are on board

Exploring tax incentives for local businesses

  • Work within our networks on tax incentives for operating a small business

  • Ensure that our members have insight on existing/new incentives available to them

Amending the archaic policies of the LA County Health Department

  • Fixing policies and creating consistencies within the department that will help both the Health Department AND the small businesses

  • An accomplishment we’ve made so far was the removal of separate sex restrooms for establishments that serve alcohol

What We’ve Done

Our past achievements reflect our response to the needs of the independent hospitality industry amid Covid. We worked tirelessly with government officials to make meaningful change.

  • Organized the Los Angeles independent restaurant community to advocate for a more considerate outdoor dining ordinance that works for the people whom it serves. In December of 2022, LA City Planning released a draft ordinance that would have been expensive, impractical, and unachievable. It was at this time that we highlighted significant red tape that needed to be cut. We distributed our demands and showed up at every community meeting until those demands were met. In December 2023, after a final scare of parking requirements imposed to permit outdoor dining areas, we rallied one final time with the help of business associations, community leaders, and independent restaurants to secure one of the most business-friendly ordinances the city of Los Angeles has ever signed into law.

  • In early 2022, it was brought to our attention that recipients from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund or Restaurants Act (a federal grant program to help the restaurant community recover from the impacts of COVID) would have a California state tax imposed, causing up to 20% of the grant money to go back to the state. Through our member-based network, we organized messaging to key state legislative officials about this potential travesty for small businesses. Through our work and collaboration with other organizations, we were able to adjust the state tax law in our favor, saving several millions of dollars for California restaurants that received these grants.

  • Worked with State Senator Weiner’s office under SB 793 to create a new full line liquor license for entertainment venues supporting arts and culture in California without having to build a restaurant.

  • Advocated in collaboration with many other community associations for AB 1217 and its predecessor, AB 61, ensuring state-level support for continuing emergency order outdoor dining programs and leniency on outdoor food preparation areas until March 2026.

  • Advocated for SB 314, for shared alcohol consumption areas, by creating more flexibility in how businesses can serve alcohol, where they can serve, and how they can share spaces with other businesses.

  • In 2021, we helped to create and secure the city of LA emergency planning ordinance removing parking requirements for new businesses within existing buildings. These city-wide benefits continue to exist today.

  • Served as a major contributor to the City of Los Angeles Economic Workforce Development Department Task Force on a series of low-cost to no-cost ways to help the hospitality industry recover from COVID-19.

  • Removed restrictions on gender-specific restroom requirements in Los Angeles County.

  • Provided guidance on new important policies like AB 2097 and how they relate to restaurant development.

  • Fought to shape a more accessible ‘over the counter’ Restaurant Beverage Program (RBP) in the City of Los Angeles, saving operators tens of thousands of dollars when applying for alcohol permits.