In the late 1800s, Los Angeles was booming with aggressive oil drilling. More than a century later we are left with thousands of oil wells, most of which are abandoned. Methane hazard zone is a specific area within the LA City district that has a high risk of explosion hazard, due to known concentrations of methane gas underground.
The Methane Zone is predominantly based on the location of these oil wells. The Los Angeles department of building and safety requires Methane Mitigation if a property is located within the Methane Zone.
The Methane Zone is predominantly based on the location of these oil wells. The Los Angeles department of building and safety requires Methane Mitigation if a property is located within the Methane Zone.
Not sure if your property is in the Methane Zone? We offer free zone determination. Call us at (888) 949-7929 and speak with one of our specialists today.
Is my Property in the Methane Zone? – LADBS Methane Mitigation
Methane Mitigation is becoming a frequent requirement when developing in Los Angeles. A project’s Methane Gas Hazard requirements are based on the LADBS Methane Soil Gas Test results LADBS Methane Soil Gas Test.
A Methane Test is required if your project is located within the LADBS Methane Zone.
The step-by-step process below will help determine whether your Property is located within the Methane Zone.
To ensure that the Mitigation Construction requirements are not overlooked during the planning and budgeting phase,
Using Zimas to Define Gas Hazard Types
The first step is to visit www.Zimas.com. Zimas is an online database that LADBS has established to provide information regarding parcels within Los Angeles City. Please just enter the address number and street name as you asked, do not add any prefixes or suffixes to the street’s name; for example, for South Wilshire Blvd, you should only enter Wilshire.
Once the information is inputted into Zimas, you will see a property map and a panel on the left side of the window. Click the “Additional” tab on the left panel to expand additional information. Under this tab, refer to “Methane Hazard Site” In this location, you will see either “No,” “Methane Buffer Zone,” or “Methane Zone” listed.
If “No” is listed, your project is not within the Methane Zone, and LADBS will not require Methane Mitigation. If Methane Zone or Methane Buffer Zone is listed, LADBS will require a Methane Test to establish your Methane Mitigation requirements.
Methane Zone Map
The city of Los Angeles has also established a methane zone map showing shaded regions of the methane zone and methane buffer zones.
On this map, lightly shaded purple colors define the Methane Zone. While the dark purple perimeter defines the Methane Buffer Zone. Although the Methane Zone map is a great visual source, you should use Zimas as the primary source. For establishing your methane hazard site criteria.
What if my Property is located only partially in a Methane Zone?
Considering the Methane Hazard Type is established on location, a property will inevitably be partially located within a Methane Zone. Thus is may be somewhat not categorized as a methane hazard. In these cases, we highly recommend you contact your LADBS plan checker to set up the methane testing. Also potential Methane Mitigation requirements and Mitigation Construction. There are too many variables in development that make it difficult to set a standard for what the conditions would be for these scenarios. But based on previous Case Studies:
- LADBS may require the developer to assume that the entire project is within a methane hazard zone. Hence the methane mitigation requirements will be based on the methane test results for the methane zone criteria.
- LADBS plan checker may evaluate the location of the proposed structure in conjunction with the portion of the property. Which is classified as a methane zone. The plan checker may only enforce the methane zone requirements for the property located within the Methane Zone.
Methane Mitigation Consultant
In all cases, evaluating your project specific details with a Methane Mitigation Consultants is critical. The LADBS plan checker is highly recommended to establish the final Methane Testing, Mitigation Design, and Methane Mitigation Construction requirements.
Los Angeles County Environmental Programs Division’s Methane Gas Hazard Mitigation Policy
Designated areas within LA County are subject to the Environmental Division’s Methane Gas Hazard Mitigation Policy.
Methane Mitigation measures may be applicable due to high levels of subsurface methane gas. This is due to historical oil fields, landfills, or other contaminated Soil Hazards.
Methane Gas Vapor Mitigation Systems are Designed and Constructed to prevent methane gas intrusion into buildings.
Understanding LA County’s Methane Hazard Requirements
The County of Los Angeles houses a population 10,000,000 people. Thus making it the is the largest County in California by almost a factor of 3. The history of of LA County is fruitful with oil drilling and production. This attributes to a large part of the success of this region of California. Fast track hundreds of years later, LA County has scarring with the footprint of abandoned wells and empty underground reservoirs. Due to events like the Ross explosion and Hancock park School Methane intrusion incidents, the LA County building departments established the LA County environmental Programs Division. The LA County Programs Division is responsible for the Methane Mitigation management. Additionally, the methane Testing, review, and approval of developments near historical oil wells, active or oil wells, and landfills.
LA County Policy Summary: Key Requirements
If new developments occur within the jurisdiction of LA county’s Methane Hazard Area. Thus defines by 1000 feet from a landfill or 300 feet from and oil well. The environmental programs division will require the implementation of a Methane Mitigation Design. Which will ultimately implement during the construction by a Methane Vapor Gas Mitigation Contractor. Who specializes in Methane Mitigation Construction.
Key LA County Requirements:
- Proximity Requirements: Properties within 1,000 feet of a landfill or 300 feet of an oil well fall under County jurisdiction
- Testing & Monitoring: Frequent methane testing may be required to ensure system effectiveness
- System Components: Subsurface ventilation, vapor barriers, and in extreme cases, active fans with detection systems
- Material Specifications: LA County maintains strict approval requirements for vapor barrier materials
System Components and Requirements
The methane mitigation system in some instances will require frequent Methane Testing as well as a subsurface ventilation Methane Vent System. It will also consist of a Methane vapor barrier and in some extreme cases an active fan along with methane detectors and methane alarm systems.
Retrofit Requirements for Existing Projects
A common requirement is a retro Methane and Mitigation system for pre-existing projects. These instances fall when a portion of a project under construction has modification while it’s within LA County’s methane hazard zone. The Methane Mitigation System retrofits within the preexisting slab. These projects need to be dealt with on a case-by-case instance to determine what is the proper retrofit methane mitigation requirements.
Material Approval Process
LA County Programs Division is selective in regards to the specification of the methane vapor barrier. There are several types of methane barriers that are available on the market. They come from different manufacturers, each Methane gas membrane has their own benefits and disadvantages. LA County takes a conservative approach and requires extensive historical application reviews to be approved for the use in LA County.
Get Professional Help with Your Methane Zone Determination
Determining whether your property falls within a methane zone and understanding the specific requirements can be complex. The regulations differ between City and County jurisdictions, and properties with partial zone designation require careful evaluation.
At Sway Features, we specialize in helping property owners and developers understand their methane mitigation requirements from the beginning of the project. Our team has worked with hundreds of properties throughout Los Angeles City and County.
Why Choose Sway Features?
- Free Zone Determination Service: We offer complimentary zone determination to help you understand your property’s status before you invest significant resources
- Proven Track Record: Successful plan-check approval with LADBS and LA County for methane mitigation and vapor intrusion systems
- Complete Services: From initial testing through design and construction, we handle every phase
- Regulatory Expertise: We work closely with LADBS and the LA County Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
Not sure if your property is in the Methane Zone? We offer free zone determination. Call us at (888) 949-7929 to speak with one of our methane mitigation specialists. We’ll review your property location, explain your requirements, and provide a clear path forward for your development project.
Don’t let methane zone uncertainty delay your project or create budget surprises. Contact Sway Features today for professional guidance you can trust.
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