San Marino : Rebuilding Permits Voted

Responding to complaints about vacant lots, the City Council voted unanimously last week to require owners of commercial properties to obtain permits to rebuild before demolishing old structures.

Under a code amendment adopted Wednesday, a property owner who wishes to demolish an existing commercial structure in order to rebuild, must first obtain any required conditional use permit plus gain approval for building and demolition permits.

An exception would be allowed if the structure were deemed a safety hazard due to a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or fire.

The council voted in September to amend a similar code regarding residential demolition.