Los Angeles, CA asked in Land Use & Zoning and Municipal Law for California

Q: I have a commercial building with permitted use as office space. Can it be rented out for meetings, birthdays?

Are there code enforcement fines if is not considered correct use?

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Municipal Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: In California, the specific permitted uses of a commercial building are generally determined by local zoning ordinances and the Certificate of Occupancy issued for the building. If your building's permitted use is "office space," using it for meetings would typically be consistent with that designation. However, using it for personal events like birthdays might not be.

If the use is not consistent with local zoning or the Certificate of Occupancy, code enforcement could take action, which might include fines or other penalties. Before renting out the space for any purpose outside of its designated use, it would be prudent to review local zoning ordinances or consult with local planning or zoning departments. Additionally, consider potential liability or insurance implications when hosting personal events in a commercial space. Always ensure that any use aligns with local regulations to avoid potential legal complications.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.