Esotouric

Tours Into The Secret Heart of Los Angeles

Report a Preservation Concern to Esotouric — Looking Out for Los Angeles

Tell us what you're seeing. We'll use this to prioritize follow-up — and below, you'll find direct links to report illegal or unsafe demolition directly to the official entities that can act on it.

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If a building is actively being demolished right now and you see rising dust or unsafe work practices, call AQMD immediately at 1-800-CUT-SMOG, then go to LADBS and report a violation and share the information with us later. See flames? Call 911. This form is for preservation matters that need attention, not for reporting active emergencies.

Step 1

About me

What are you seeing?

Check all that apply — this determines what guidance we show you below.

Check the permit record yourself

The LA Dept. of Building & Safety has a public permit lookup by address. You can see exactly what's been filed and whether the permit has been approved or is still pending.

Report unpermitted work or neglect

LADBS or the LA Housing Department takes complaints about work done without permits and buildings left to deteriorate. When you report at LADBS, you will be directed to LAHD if it is a multi-family rental property.

Fire — non-emergency follow-up

If the fire is out and you want to report suspicious circumstances or follow up on an incident, contact LAFD.

Nominate it as a Historic-Cultural Monument

Anyone can submit an HCM nomination to the Office of Historic Resources. If you're interested in taking this on, we recommend attending a regularly scheduled Cultural Heritage Commission hearing and reading recently submitted applications, linked in the CHC's agendas ↗. And keep us posted — we are happy to amplify community nominations.

Preservation groups maintain vendor lists

Stewarding an historic building means learning old skills or working with contractors and craftspeople who specialize in traditional materials and techniques. The links below may be helpful to you.

Spread the word to help protect places that matter

Many historic properties sell for more than they are "worth" to speculators who only see the value of the dirt underneath. By documenting these properties with photos and video you share online, it's possible that a preservation-minded buyer will see them, or somebody who wants to submit a landmark nomination, or a family who lost their home in Altadena or Pacific Palisades will want to move it.

Not sure what's already known about this property?

Check whether it's already been surveyed or flagged, before assuming nothing's on record.

  • SurveyLA historic resources lookup ↗ — note that this map loads incredibly slowly, which we consider a sign that the City doesn't value its heritage
  • ZIMAS parcel & zoning lookup ↗ — expand everything in the left sidebar and note any "historic" flags, building date, most recent sale, if it is RSO rental units, and if tenants have been displaced under the Ellis Act.

Step 2

The property

Step 3

What's happening

    Step 4

    Your information

    By sending information about historic properties that you are worried about, you are communicating with concerned citizen-journalists who may or may not be able to advise. Any information you share through this form may be posted online unless you explicitly note that it is not for publication. When documenting troubled buildings, do not trespass, and please be careful.

    Fill out this form and click the Send report to Esotouric button. You can copy it for your records by clicking the button next to that.