Over the past year, DCR has made a considerable effort to improve customer service and provide more transparency to our stakeholders, Licensees, and Applicants. Part of this effort included hiring additional staff to process applications, modification requests, and answer questions in a more expedited manner. DCR is happy to report that our vacancy rate dropped from 50% in 2022 to below 20% as of May 8, 2023. 

As DCR reaches this 20% threshold, the mandatory processing timeframes in the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) section 104.03(k) become effective. While DCR  worked to lower its staff vacancy rate over the last year, the licensing team was streamlining processes and doing its best to meet the timelines outlined in a 2021 motion and report here. 

The mandatory timelines in LAMC section 104.03(k) apply to actions required of both DCR and Applicants. This means Applicants must submit certain forms, documents, information and/or pay invoices within the mandated timeframes, and DCR has less flexibility to provide additional time under local law. Processing timeframes begin upon the filing of the relevant application or modification record, i.e., 1) the submission of all required and completed information, forms, and documents through the DCR Licensing Portal for that particular application or modification process; and, 2) the payment of all relevant fee(s) under LAMC section 104.19.

Please review LAMC section 104.03(k) for the full list of mandatory processing timeframes at each stage in the application process. 

For more background information on processing timeframes, please follow this link.

To read more about DCR’s recommendation in regard to processing timelines, click here. 

For a summary of some of the processing deadlines, click here.