City Council Gives Final OK to Murals on Single-Family Homes in Northeast L.A.

By City News Service

Murals can now be painted on single-family homes in northeast Los Angeles, Boyle Heights and parts of South Los Angeles under a pilot program given final approval Tuesday by the Los Angeles City Council.

The council previously approved an ordinance that allows non-commercial artwork to be splashed across commercial buildings and multi-unit residential buildings, but not on single-family homes.

The pilot program will allow murals on single-family homes in the 1st, 9th and 14th districts, represented by City Council members Gil Cedillo, Curren Price Jr. and Jose Huizar, respectively.

In addition to the pilot program, the amended ordinance also would allow murals on roll-down security doors on commercial and industrial buildings.

Venice-area Councilman Mike Bonin last week also requested that city staff explore an "opt-in or opt-out" program that would allow other communities to petition for murals to be allowed on single-family homes.

R&B singer Chris Brown had a mural painted on a wall outside his home in the Hollywood Hills this past summer. But the mural, featuring brightly colored characters about 8 feet tall, caused such a stir among  neighbors that Brown, who challenged the city ordinance banning residential murals, eventually had the artwork painted over.