Helipads will no longer be required atop new Los Angeles high-rises

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- New high-rise buildings in Los Angeles will no longer be required to have helipads, according to revisions on an old rule announced by city leaders on Monday. The change is an attempt to revamp the city's skyline.

The policy, which dates back to 1958, required the helipads in case of emergencies.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti jokingly described the policy as "one more stupid rule in Los Angeles."

"Every rule that we have is well intentioned, well thought out, but often outdated," said Garcetti.

Garcetti said the revised code would make helipads optional and will allow for smaller helipads. Instead, new buildings will be required to have a separate elevator for firefighters with communication systems inside, cameras, additional wider stairwells, state of the art smoke detectors and alarm systems.

"If we have, theoretically, a fire on the 50th floor, we're going to be fighting fire 50 minutes from the time we get on scene. The dedicated firefighter elevator will get us there in under two minutes," said Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas.

The mayor and fire chief said the new buildings will be safer, but they're also hoping they'll attract innovative investors to make the downtown Los Angeles skyline more vibrant and iconic.

"In a town of design, we have all these flat-top buildings. As the mayor was saying, we need something other than flat-tops. Can you imagine going to the Academy Awards and all the actors having flat-top haircuts?" said architect Chris Martin.

Authorities say no helipad in the city has ever been successfully used in a fire emergency. Now that there's a chance to allow buildings with creative new designs, the sky is the limit.

"A new image and a new style for the city of Los Angeles," said Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar.

Along with that new code, the mayor said the city is also accelerating the permitting and title process to take the handcuffs off of developers.