Executive Directive 16 streamlines processes to support delivery of the "Games for All" Vision
LOS ANGELES – Marking 1,000 days out from the Opening Ceremony of the 2028 Olympic Games, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today announced the City of Los Angeles’ “Games for All” Vision for the 2028 Games and signed an Executive Directive to streamline City processes related to the execution of the Games. She made this announcement on Venice Beach, which will host several competition venues for the 2028 Games. The first medal of the LA28 Games will be awarded at Venice Beach to celebrate the incredible athleticism of the Triathlon athletes. Read the “Games for All” Vision here. Read the Mayor’s Executive Directive here.
“The 2028 Games are an opportunity to reimagine our infrastructure, strengthen community resilience, and expand opportunity for all Angelenos — a true ‘Games for All,’” said Mayor Karen Bass. “This is my Vision for the 2028 Games — an LA made better for all Angelenos. We will accelerate street projects, streamline City processes and permitting requirements, and make sure that we are taking advantage of the economic impact when we welcome the world. L.A. will shine on the world stage.”
"In 1,000 days, the world will turn its gaze to Los Angeles, a city powered by diversity and driven by ambition," said Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. "The Olympic flame will ignite more than games; it will spark growth for our businesses, opportunities for our people, and pride in the cultures that make LA shine."
"Venice Beach has always been the soul of Los Angeles creative, athletic, and endlessly alive," said Councilmember Traci Park. "Hosting the world's first Olympic medal ceremony here, as well as high-profile events, is a dream realized for our community. We've worked hard to make sure Venice had a seat at the Olympic table, and now we're preparing to welcome the world to our shores. Today's executive directive by Mayor Bass will serve to expedite our efforts"
"The 2028 Games are America's Games, and we have been working for more than a decade to get ready for this moment," said Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of Metro. "We're opening new, transformative transit projects every year, and we’re taking every opportunity to hone our skills. We're making Metro safer, cleaner and better every day, and I'm confident that Metro will deliver a great experience for visitors in 2028 while maintaining service for our regular riders."
Angelenos continue to benefit from the 1932 and 1984 Games today, and Mayor Bass’ goal is to ensure that the 2028 Games produce long-lasting impacts that benefit Angelenos for generations to come. The “Games for All” Vision is organized around the following building blocks:
AN INCLUSIVE CITY FOR ALL
Accessibility: 2028 will mark the first time the City hosts the Paralympic Games. The City will use this moment to catalyze its existing efforts and make progress in new ways that create meaningful change and a City that is truly inclusive and accessible to all.
Human Rights: Los Angeles has an opportunity to prevent discrimination and harm, curb negative stereotypes, and demonstrate that major sporting events can be inclusive and advance human rights, especially for vulnerable populations. Los Angeles’ strong anti-trafficking policies, human rights protections, and expansive social services will ensure the 2028 Games deliver a major event in accordance with the highest global human rights standards.
Youth Sports: With a generous advance contribution of $160 million for youth sports programming from the International Olympic Committee and LA28, the Department of Recreation and Parks is already creating unparalleled opportunities for young Angelenos through PlayLA. PlayLA, a low-cost youth and adaptive sports program, makes the life-changing power of sport accessible and affordable to every family across our City.
A THRIVING CITY FOR ALL
Community Business Opportunity: To leverage $18 billion in economic impact from the Games, the City of Los Angeles will prepare local businesses to capture as much economic benefit as possible with contract-readiness programs and initiatives. Our investment into business preparedness resources and economic opportunity incurred by the Games will serve the city’s business community well beyond 2028.
Sustainability: The 2028 Games are already demonstrating a powerful sustainability impact with no new permanent venues required. LA28 has also committed to improve upon Paris 2024’s carbon footprint reduction for operations and construction by at least another 10%. To build on this momentum, the City of Los Angeles will implement and advocate for additional green practices for our direct contractors and partner industries such as hospitality organizations, transportation partners, and venue primes and subcontractors.
Workforce Development and Local Hire: The 2028 Games are projected to support more than 90,000 jobs and produce over $5 billion in labor income. The City itself will also have significant needs for a local contractor workforce and volunteers. The hiring efforts of LA28 and City contractors will be focused on Los Angeles residents, with special emphasis on historically underserved communities.
A VIBRANT CITY FOR ALL
Arts and Culture: The 2028 Games presents an opportunity to carry forward the legacy of the 1984 Games into a new era as the City highlights the diverse cultural richness of Los Angeles in a multi-year arts celebration. The City of Los Angeles is committed to building lasting artist-city relationships, creating pathways for sustained community engagement, delivering programs accessible to all Angelenos, and producing restored and new permanent public art works to be enjoyed for generations.
Community Engagement and Celebrations: With global attention on Los Angeles, the 2028 Games are an opportunity to build strong civic engagement in our own backyard and ensure the benefits and celebratory spirit of the 2028 Games extend to all Angelenos and visitors, not only those who attend competition events. The City of Los Angeles will capitalize on this moment to invest in our communities and incorporate the diverse needs and perspectives of our residents into all Games preparation.
Streets and Transit: The 2028 Games are “transit-first,” highlighting the tremendous growth of Los Angeles’ public transportation system in recent years. With the nation’s largest public transit expansion program, Los Angeles is transforming the way we move. The Games are an opportunity not only to move millions of spectators efficiently via transit, but also to accelerate lasting improvements that will make mobility in Los Angeles safer, faster, and more reliable.
To execute this vision, Mayor Bass today signed an Executive Directive to support delivery of the "Games for All" Vision and organize the City’s preparations for the Games. Read the executive directive below:
Today marks just 1,000 days until the Opening Ceremony of the 2028 Olympic Games, and 1,032 days until the opening ceremony of the 2028 Paralympic Games. To deliver the “Games for All” Vision and organize the City’s preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, I hereby order the following:
I hereby confirm the establishment of the City of Los Angeles Office of Major Events, reporting directly to the Mayor. The Office of Major Events shall coordinate all City departments and engage external stakeholders to ensure the City’s preparedness for the 2028 Games and other major events, to create positive economic impacts for the City and its residents, and to advance other crucial priorities to ensure that all Angelenos benefit from these coming opportunities.
I hereby instruct the chief administrative officers of all departments and bureaus (“General Managers and Directors”) to prioritize departmental activities related to planning, operations, and legacy initiatives for the 2028 Games.
The General Managers and Directors of all City departments and bureaus shall report to the Executive Director of the Office of Major Events on all planning, operations, and legacy initiatives related to the 2028 Games.
As needed, the Office of Major Events shall convene and lead working groups of City departments and bureaus to deliver planning, operations, and legacy initiatives related to the 2028 Games, including but not limited to the following:
Operations Working Group (city services, utilities, public safety, etc.)
City Games Mobility Working Group (see section C below)
Development Services Working Group (see section E below)
To coordinate the development and delivery of City projects critical to delivering a 2028 Games mobility experience that is safe, accessible, and welcoming and enjoyable, the following City departments shall actively participate in the City Games Mobility Working Group, led by the Office of Major Events with support from the Mayor’s Office of Infrastructure:
City Administrative Officer
Department of City Planning, including the Office of Forest Management
Department of Cultural Affairs
Department on Disability
Department of General Services
Department of Public Works:
Bureau of Engineering
Bureau of Sanitation
Bureau of Street Lighting
Bureau of Street Services
Department of Recreation and Parks
Department of Transportation
Department of Water and Power
Harbor Department (Port of Los Angeles)
The Office of Major Events will work with the City Games Mobility Working Group to develop a master list of Games-priority public right-of-way and mobility projects considered critical to providing adequate 2028 Games mobility. Once the master list is confirmed, the Working Group members shall prioritize successful delivery of these projects and collaborate to remove barriers to their completion and expediting delivery, including but not limited to developing and implementing creative and innovative process improvements, procurement, and other strategies.
The “Games for All” Vision highlights the opportunity to complete major public transit projects that will substantially benefit mobility during the 2028 Games while permanently improving and expanding the Metro system for Angelenos. These Metro-led projects include several new Bus Rapid Transit projects, the G Line Improvements project, the Washington/Flower Wye Improvements project, and others from Metro’s 2028 Mobility Concept Plan.
I hereby direct the General Manager of the Department of Transportation and the City Engineer to continue their partnership with Metro and all City Departments and Bureaus involved in Metro transit project delivery to develop and report on a list of permit streamlining and additional innovative measures to support on-budget delivery of Metro transportation projects in time for the 2028 Games. This report shall be submitted to the Office of Major Events and the Mayor’s Office of Infrastructure within 45 days.
Given the limited timeframe until the Games, it is imperative to streamline the City’s permitting process. This streamlining will ensure that all activities have adequate time to undergo all appropriate reviews, yet also ensure that permits are issued and inspections completed in a timely manner to contribute to the successful execution of the 2028 Games.
Expedited Permit Review: I hereby direct all applicable City departments to conduct and conclude all of the City’s initial building permitting reviews required for 2028 Games projects, and to complete all appropriate reviews for such projects within 45 days following the submission of a complete application. To the extent practicable, all required reviews and approvals shall be conducted simultaneously, not sequentially, by all City departments so as to meet the time periods specified in this paragraph.
Inspections by the Department of Building and Safety shall be conducted within two business days of a submitted request.
All applicable City departments shall process clearances and utility releases related to building permit applications, certificates of occupancy, or temporary certificates of occupancy within five business days for all 2028 Games projects.
To further streamline the permitting process for projects critical to the successful execution of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Department of Building and Safety, working in collaboration with the Bureau of Engineering, the Bureau of Contract Administration, the Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and the Office of Major Events, shall report back within 30 days on a Self-Certification Pilot Program for 2028 Games Critical Projects. This self-certification procedure, conducted by a licensed architect or engineer, shall aim to ensure that projects essential for the 2028 Games are permitted and constructed efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.
The Department of City Planning shall continue its work reflected in Council File 15-0989-S47 to exempt Games-related projects from the Zoning Code, echoing the spirit of the City’s approach during the preparation for the 1984 Games. The Department of City Planning is authorized and directed to coordinate with the Office of Major Events, the City Attorney, the Department of Building and Safety, and other relevant departments on this matter. The draft ordinance to exempt Olympic and Paralympic facilities from City Planning approvals and zoning regulations, including an accompanying urgency clause, should be presented to the City Planning Commission for a vote, and the report of the Commission’s actions shall be transmitted to the City Clerk’s Council File Management System within the next 50 business days. In order to expedite the completion of these vital changes, I request that the Office of the City Attorney collaborate with the Planning Department on the form and legality of the draft ordinance during this same time period.
The Department of City Planning and the Office of Major Events shall collaborate to establish a policy that facilitates the completion of any Historic-Cultural review pertinent to the 2028 Games within a 30-day timeframe. This expedited process is crucial for ensuring that projects essential for the Games proceed efficiently while upholding the highest standards of cultural preservation and compliance.
To streamline the permitting process for ministerial and post-entitlement projects, I further order that:
The following City departments form a 2028 Games Development Services Working Group, led by the Office of Major Events in cooperation with the Mayor’s Office of Business and Economic Development:
Department of City Planning
Department of Building and Safety
Department of Public Works:
Bureau of Engineering
Bureau of Sanitation
Bureau of Street Lighting
Bureau of Street Services
Department of Recreation and Parks
Department of Transportation
Department of Water and Power
Los Angeles Fire Department
This Working Group shall focus on organizational and procedural improvements, pre-development review, 2028 Games case processing time, and interdepartmental permit clearance coordination, including the development of materials and processes to assist in navigating the entire permitting and clearance process for 2028 Games projects. Additionally, this working group shall review 2028 Games-related projects with LA28 and other applicants throughout the development services process to address potential issues early and provide guidance to expedite the permitting process.
The Bureau of Street Services, in collaboration with the City Administrative Officer and the Office of Major Events, shall report back within 45 days to identify and analyze various opportunities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Special Event Permit process, particularly for larger events. The report shall make recommendations to streamline procedures, reduce processing times, improve financial tracking, consolidate applicant billing, and enhance the overall user experience for those seeking permits for special events within the city, especially in the context of the upcoming 2028 Games.
The Department of Building and Safety, Department on Disability, and the Office of Major Events shall work together to improve the accessibility of temporary special events occurring within the City. These improvements shall include, but are not limited to, the development and issuance of informational bulletins clarifying the federal and state disabled access requirements applicable to events and the implementation of plan review and inspection processes that ensure equitable access. The Department of Building and Safety and the Department on Disability shall report back within 45 days on a detailed proposal for the implementation of these and other needed improvements.
The requirement to obtain an ED3 recommendation or report (Executive Directive 3, Villaraigosa Series) from the City Administrative Officer for Games-related matters shall be waived if the Department submits a waiver request to the Mayor’s Office that provides sufficient information regarding the matter and its relationship to the Games.
The Office of Finance shall report to the Office of Major Events within 30 days on opportunities to take advantage of upcoming major events for ongoing revenue generation and steps required to effectuate those opportunities.
The 2028 Games bring opportunities for the City to rent its facilities and property. As the Games draw near, the City is being approached by countries, organizing committees, companies, and organizations looking to rent venues, host national hospitality houses, book training facilities, and other opportunities involving the City’s facilities and property. Making City property available for these uses promises to create additional ways for residents and visitors to engage with the spirit of the Games.
Within 90 days, the Departments of Recreation and Parks, Cultural Affairs, and General Services, the Bureau of Engineering, and the City Administrative Officer shall work with the Office of Major Events and Mayor’s Office of International Affairs to complete an inventory of City-owned facilities that can be made available for use by external stakeholders up to three months ahead of the 2028 Games and one month after the end of the 2028 Games. These spaces may include iconic and historic locations, theaters, and City-owned parking lots or open space not associated with a park that could hold temporary structures. The inventory shall include information that would be helpful for firms or agencies, such as whether the facility is appropriate to rent, including but not limited to square footage, floorplans, disabled access compliance, and amenities. Where available, departments should provide high-quality photos of the facilities.
Within 90 days, the Departments of Recreation and Parks, Cultural Affairs, and General Services, and the City Administrative Officer shall identify needs for being able to effectively and efficiently rent City facilities. Within the following 90 days, departments should then develop and obtain necessary approvals for market-rate fee structures that will be in effect for major events. These structures should include standardized, easy to implement rental agreements, and develop a way for renters to easily identify what facilities are available and a simple process for booking.
Executed this 17th day of October, 2025
________________________________
KAREN BASS
Mayor
Supersedes the following Executive Directive to the extent that any portion of
it is inconsistent with this Executive Directive:
Garcetti Series: No. 28 dated February 28, 2022