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. Take a look at some of our current issues, previous issues, and what we’ve done.

Current Issues

  • This will inject 40 new full liquor licenses in specific census tracts such as Chinatown, DTLA, Silverlake, Echo Park, Koreatown and others through a localized priority drawing process making liquor licenses more accessible in these areas. (1 of 6 committees passed)

    Please click here to join our coalition 

    Full Fact Sheet here.

  • AB 592 (Gabriel) will require cities throughout California to remove parking requirements permanently for outdoor dining. It also will allow OPENABLE WINDOWS IN KITCHENS. Currently absolutely no windows are allowed in food preparation areas or in dining rooms that open into the kitchen.

    Please click here to join our coalition.

    Full Fact Sheet here.

  • There is an urgent need to reimagine California’s  downtowns as places that can attract visitors, residents  and workers with thriving restaurants, attractions, arts  and nightlife. 

    This will update priority the Entertainment Zones state law (approved last year) allowing alcoholic beverage consumption till 4 am on Fridays, Saturday, and State Holidays. (1 of 6 committees passed)

    Please click here to join our coalition 

    Full Fact Sheet here.

  • Small businesses across the state are being targeted by serial plaintiffs looking to profit off of honest mistakes as minimum damages can start as high as $4,000 per violation.

    SB 84 (Niello) does not do away with complying with disability access standards, but rather, provides an opportunity to fix the violation and make the entity truly accessible for all. By requiring plaintiffs to provide notice of the alleged violation(s), business owners will be able to focus on fixing the issue, rather than litigating a case. We must find balance to protect both our disabled population as well as business owners from untoward use of the law. 

    Please click here to join our coalition 

    Full Fact Sheet here.

Previous Issues

  • We successfully advocated for an extension of the Al Fresco permit application deadline from July 31, 2024 until December 31, 2024. The process of obtaining these permits has been very difficult, and many local restaurants need help navigating the complexities involved. As a result, very few permanent al fresco permits have been successfully issued, jeopardizing our small business community, and local economic stability. 

    The immediate threat to our Al Fresco Dining Program. 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.

  • 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. In addition to updating the California Building Code (CBC) and California Retail Food Code (CRFC) codes, here are its key takeaways.

    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.

  • Helping to amend the archaic policies of the LA County Health Department by:

    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

  • Amending CA Coastal Commission Policies to be consistent with current local parking leniency programs. Advocated for the following:

    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.

  • Exploring tax incentives for local businesses by:

    Working within our networks on tax incentives for operating a small business.

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

  • 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.

What We’ve Done

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

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