Long Beach Dept of Development Services

I haven’t had any problems pulling permits here. They have a new system that makes the wait shorter and allows for more info to be captured on their database. Other cities should take note.

The City of Long Beach Development Services is trying to make me take down some decorative walls I put in the front yard of my house. When I bought the house, nothing I signed told me that I needed a «certifercate of appropriateness» before doing any landscaping. Only after I finished the walls at great effort and expense to myself, did they tell me I needed to apply. After I applied, they rejected my application and told me I needed to tear down the walls. My home was built in 1930 and is spanish style. I built the walls based on another spanish style home also in Long Beach that was built in 1926. The reason they gave for my walls not being «appropriate» is that curved walls were «not typical of the small spanish style home on a common 6000 sq ft lot». The walls fit very well with the style of the home, just like the other spanish style home in Long Beach. I have since discovered that many other homes in my neighborhood also do not fit their guidlines. The only reason they are focusing on me is because they recieved a complaint from someone who live 5 blocks from my house. All my neighbors love the walls. So who the the neighborhood belong to, the neighbors who own the houses or the city government? I will post pics of my house, with the walls, on my facebook. Let the city know what you think at