Land to Yield

HBU Land Use Calculator

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v4.2

Highest & Best Use Calculator

Land Use Analysis for Los Angeles, CA

HBU Analysis Tool v4.2

How It Works

Enter your parcel details below. The calculator evaluates potential land uses against the four standard HBU tests—Legally Permissible, Physically Possible, Financially Feasible, and Maximally Productive—then ranks the top 3 uses for your site.

Address Lookup

Fields highlighted in blue were auto-populated from public data. You can modify any value before running the calculation. Click a field to edit it.

Parcel Information

Neighborhood median $/SF estimate · Verify on Zillow or Redfin

Site Characteristics

Top 3 Highest & Best Use Results

Scoring Breakdown — Legally Permissible Uses

Rank Land Use Legal Physical Financial Productive Overall
Disclaimer: This tool provides a preliminary, educational estimate only. Highest and Best Use analysis for real estate investment or appraisal purposes should be performed by a qualified MAI appraiser or licensed professional. Actual HBU depends on detailed market studies, entitlement feasibility, construction cost analysis, and site-specific due diligence. Zoning codes, overlay districts, and specific plan areas in Los Angeles change frequently — always verify with the LA Department of City Planning (ZIMAS).

Development Sensitivity Matrix

Dev margin (%) across rent and cost changes — base case highlighted

Sources & Uses of Funds

Capital stack breakdown for the top-ranked development scenario

Levered Return Metrics

Projected returns assuming 65% LTC senior debt at 6.5%, 30-yr amortization

SB 79 Opportunity Finder

SB 79 (effective July 1, 2026) overrides local zoning near qualifying transit stations, allowing up to 95ft height, 160 du/acre, and 4.5 FAR for Tier 1 heavy rail and 85ft, 140 du/acre, 4.0 FAR for Tier 2 light rail/Metrolink. Select a transit station below (or click one on the map) and set filters to find underbuilt parcels that SB 79 unlocks for higher-density development.

LA Metro Transit Stations

Click any station to select it, then configure filters and search for opportunities

Search Filters

Querying parcels...

Development Pipeline

Search active LA City building permits near any address. Results are color-coded by pipeline stage — from initial submission through Certificate of Occupancy. Use this to evaluate the competitive development landscape around any site. Data sourced from LA City Open Data (updated daily).

Permit Activity Map

Enter an address or click the map to set a search center

Search Filters

Searching permits...

Contacts Directory

Your one-stop shop for all development-related contacts in Los Angeles County. Planning departments, city officials, architects, engineers, contractors, lenders, and consultants. Filter by category or search by name.