Board of Supervisors
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors governs county operations, adopts policies, oversees departments, conducts public meetings, and makes decisions that affect residents, businesses, property owners, and communities throughout the county. This article explains the Board’s responsibilities, supervisorial districts, meeting agendas, public-comment procedures, live broadcasts, official records, correspondence searches, and the role of the Executive Office. It also identifies the differences among agendas, Statements of Proceedings, transcripts, and supporting documents so residents can select the correct official system.
Role of the Board
The five-member Board of Supervisors is the governing body of Los Angeles County, which operates as a charter county. The Board has served the county since the nineteenth century and performs executive, legislative, and quasi-judicial functions. These responsibilities make the Board different from a city council, a single county department, or a court.
The Board’s legislative responsibilities include adopting county policies and acting on matters presented during public meetings. Its executive role includes directing and overseeing the county government and the departments that provide public services. Its quasi-judicial duties include hearing and deciding certain matters that require the Board to review facts, records, or recommendations before taking formal action.
The Board governs a county that includes 88 incorporated cities, extensive unincorporated areas, and thousands of square miles. County departments and agencies rely on a civil-service workforce to carry out programs and services authorized, funded, or overseen by the Board. Residents can visit the official Board of Supervisors website to access member information, agendas, broadcasts, district tools, commissions, records, and public-participation services.
Five Supervisorial Districts
Los Angeles County is divided into five supervisorial districts. Voters in each district elect one supervisor to represent that district on the Board. Board members are limited to three four-year terms.
The five districts cover combinations of incorporated cities, City of Los Angeles neighborhoods, and unincorporated communities. District boundaries do not necessarily follow city boundaries, ZIP Codes, school districts, or mailing-address names. A resident whose mailing address contains the name of a city may actually live in an unincorporated area outside that city’s government jurisdiction.
The current Board includes Hilda L. Solis, Holly J. Mitchell, Lindsey P. Horvath, Janice Hahn, and Kathryn Barger. Each supervisor maintains district information describing the cities, neighborhoods, valleys, and unincorporated communities represented by the office.
Which District Represents You?
Finding the correct supervisorial district is often the first step before contacting a Board office, following a district motion, or reviewing a supervisor’s community services. Residents should not rely only on a ZIP Code, city name, or postal address because those details may cross political boundaries.
The county provides district maps and address-based tools for determining which political districts apply to a residence. The Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s district and precinct map application allows users to search by district or residential address.
Address Search Details
For an address search, the application requests the home number and street name. The street name should be entered without a street type such as Avenue, Street, Boulevard, or a similar suffix. Fractions should not be included in the home-number field.
A search may fail when the address format does not match the system’s records. Before assuming that an address is outside the county or district, review the spelling, remove the street suffix, and verify the house number. Apartment or unit information is generally not part of the basic street-address lookup described by the application.
The map system can also provide district and precinct maps. Precinct maps are offered in PDF format. District results should be reviewed carefully because supervisorial, congressional, legislative, municipal, and other political districts are separate geographic areas.
Board Meetings and Agendas
Board meetings are generally held on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. in the Board Hearing Room at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. The regular meeting held on the last Tuesday of the month is primarily used for legally required public hearings involving subjects such as zoning matters, fee increases, special district proceedings, and property transactions.
Meeting schedules can change, and agenda items may be revised, supplemented, continued, or removed. Meetings following certain holidays may also use a different start time. Residents should review the official Board meeting and agenda page before traveling, calling, submitting comments, or planning to speak.
Information Available Before Meetings
The meeting page provides upcoming meeting dates, agenda documents, supplemental agendas, live-stream access, participation instructions, Board calendars, correspondence, policies, public-hearing information, and email-notification options. Agendas may be available in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Tagalog. The live-broadcast system also supports additional language-access features.
An agenda identifies the matters scheduled for consideration. It does not show the final action unless the meeting has occurred and the official results have been posted. Supplemental agendas may add or revise information after the primary agenda is published, so residents following a specific item should review both documents.
Agenda Item Numbers
Each matter is assigned an agenda item number. Anyone planning to speak or submit a written comment should record that number and confirm the meeting date. Similar topics can appear at more than one meeting, and referring only to a general subject may make it difficult to identify the intended item.
The agenda may also identify the supervisor, department, commission, or county office associated with a motion or recommendation. Reading the item title and supporting material before commenting can help a participant address the action actually under consideration.
Public Participation Options
Board meetings are open to the public, and residents may participate in person or remotely using the methods provided for the specific meeting. The county’s official participation instructions explain how to register, enter a speaking queue, listen to the meeting, submit written comments, and request language or disability-related accommodations.
Speaking in Person
People attending at the Board Hearing Room can sign up to address the Board by using kiosks or QR codes posted outside and inside the room. When a participant’s turn arrives, the person’s name is called and displayed on a screen.
Participants should be prepared to identify the agenda item they plan to address. The Board may also accept general public comment according to its meeting rules. Speakers must remain on topic and complete their comments within the allotted time.
Webex Participation
Remote participants may register through the Board’s online conferencing system before or during the meeting. Registration requires a brief form. After connecting, the participant enters a listening-only queue.
When the relevant agenda item is called, the participant uses the “Raise Hand” feature to enter the speaking queue. The participant should wait until the meeting host calls the person’s name. Microphone access must be allowed in the application or browser before the participant can speak.
When the allotted time expires, the line is muted and returned to the listening-only queue. Participants should turn down other devices to prevent feedback and should verify that their microphone is unmuted when called.
Telephone Participation
Telephone participation requires the phone number, participant access code, and meeting password posted for that meeting. Call-in credentials can change, so numbers or access codes saved from an earlier meeting should not be reused without verification.
After connecting, a caller begins in a listening-only queue. When the desired agenda item is announced, the caller presses *3 to enter the speaking queue. Pressing *3 twice can remove the caller from the queue. A caller who is removed unintentionally may press *3 again to rejoin.
When called, the participant should state a name and identify the agenda item being addressed. The host may identify a telephone participant by the caller’s area code and the first three digits of the phone number.
Listening Is Not Speaking
The Board provides a separate telephone service for listening to meetings in English or Spanish. That listening-only number cannot be used to address the Board. Residents who want to speak must use the current remote-participation number and credentials shown on the meeting page or agenda.
Submitting Written Comments
Written comments can be filed through the county’s Board public-comment system after the agenda has been posted. The system is tied to posted agenda items, so users should first confirm that the correct meeting and item are available.
The submission process includes the following information and steps:
Enter the required identifying information, including first and last name.
Select the agenda item or items being addressed.
Choose “In Favor,” “Oppose,” or “Other.”
Enter comments separately for individual items or upload a document containing comments.
Limit attachments to no more than five documents.
Review the entered information before continuing.
Select the acknowledgment option to complete the submission.
Submitted comments are public and can be viewed online. The comment page is updated at the end of each day. Users should review uploaded documents before submitting them and avoid including information they do not want made part of a public record.
Written comments and live oral comments are different participation methods. Submitting a written comment does not automatically place a person in the live speaking queue. A participant who wants to speak during the meeting must separately follow the in-person, Webex, or telephone procedure.
Watching Board Proceedings
The official live Board broadcast page provides online access to meetings, agenda-item status information, translation options, replays, transcripts, and recordings. Depending on the viewer’s internet connection, the video may take several minutes to appear.
Language Access
Spanish interpretation is available for live Board meetings. The external online player also provides live translation options in more than 60 languages. Viewers open the external player and select the language-translation tab associated with the stream.
Translated agendas may also be available in Chinese, Spanish, and Tagalog. A translated agenda helps readers review scheduled items, while live interpretation or translation provides access to spoken proceedings. These services serve different purposes and should not be treated as the same record.
Meeting Replays and Archives
Tuesday Board meetings are replayed on KLCS-TV on Wednesday at 11:00 p.m. Online audio, video, and corresponding transcripts are generally made available within 24 to 48 hours after a meeting.
The Board media archive provides access to meetings on demand. Archived recordings are useful when a resident knows the meeting date and wants to review the discussion, public testimony, or vote associated with an agenda item.
Board transcripts are available in Microsoft Word and PDF formats and can be searched by word or topic. The transcript archive includes Board meetings beginning in January 2003. Duplicate meeting DVDs are also available for a stated charge of $10 per DVD.
Official Actions and Minutes
An agenda shows what the Board was scheduled to consider. To determine what action the Board actually took, residents should review the Statement of Proceedings, minutes, agenda status, or meeting record posted after the proceeding.
The county’s Statement of Proceedings search allows users to search transcripts, Statements of Proceedings, and supporting documents. Search options include all words, one or more terms, exact phrases, document type, subject category, supervisorial district, and date range.
Choosing the Correct Record
Each record serves a different purpose:
Agenda: Lists matters planned for consideration before the meeting.
Supplemental agenda: Adds or revises material associated with the scheduled meeting.
Agenda status: Shows a concise result such as approved, approved as amended, or another disposition.
Statement of Proceedings: Records actions taken by the Board.
Transcript: Provides a written record of spoken proceedings.
Supporting documents: Provide reports, letters, motions, recommendations, or other material connected with an item.
A user researching a final decision should not rely solely on the pre-meeting agenda. The agenda title may remain the same even when the Board approves an amended version. Reviewing the status, Statement of Proceedings, and supporting material provides a more accurate record of the action.
Search Categories and District Filters
The Statement of Proceedings system includes subject categories such as health, housing, public safety, transportation, planning and land use, fiscal governance, child welfare, technology, parks, environmental issues, and county services. Users can also filter motions by one or more supervisorial districts.
When using motion or category filters, supporting documents must be included in the document selection. Search results can be narrowed by date range and exported to an XLS file. A narrow date range and exact phrase can be more effective than entering a long general question.
Board Correspondence Records
County departments and agencies submit letters, reports, notifications, and other documents for Board review. These records are separate from public comments and meeting transcripts.
The official Board Correspondence database can be searched by keyword, exact phrase, department or agency, and date range. Results identify the document date, submitting department, and title.
A correspondence search is useful when looking for a report submitted by a county department, a notification involving delegated authority, a contract-related communication, or documentation connected with a Board matter. Users should search department names separately when several agencies may be involved.
Board Correspondence should not be confused with correspondence sent by a resident to an individual supervisor. The database focuses on official documents associated with county departments, agencies, and Board business.
Executive Office Functions
The Executive Office of the Board performs administrative and public-service functions on behalf of the supervisors. It prepares weekly agendas, publishes Statements of Proceedings, and maintains official Board records dating back to the 1850s.
The office also provides administrative, accounting, procurement, personnel, payroll, facilities, and technology support. Its responsibilities extend to county commissions, committees, oversight bodies, and task forces under its authority.
Examples identified by the county include the Office of the Inspector General, Sheriff’s Civilian Oversight Commission, Office of Child Protection, County Equity Oversight Panel, Conflict of Interest and Lobbyist Registration services, and the Assessment Appeals Board.
The Executive Office website also provides access to commission services, Board records, assessment appeals information, public-record request services, customer service, conflict-of-interest filings, lobbyist information, and administrative programs.
Commissions and Oversight Bodies
The Executive Office has direct oversight of numerous commissions, committees, and boards. These bodies may focus on transparency, accountability, reform, child protection, inmate protection, equity, departmental performance, or another assigned public purpose.
Commission agenda and minute pages allow residents to review upcoming meetings and recent actions. A commission meeting is not the same as a regular Board of Supervisors meeting. The responsible body, meeting location, agenda, comment rules, and records may differ, so users should confirm the name of the commission before following Board participation instructions.
Common Research Mistakes
Using an Agenda as a Decision
An agenda confirms that an item was scheduled, but it does not prove that the item was approved. The Board may amend, continue, reject, receive, or otherwise dispose of the matter. The Statement of Proceedings or posted agenda status should be used to verify the result.
Following Old Call-In Details
Remote meeting phone numbers, access codes, and passwords may change. Participants should retrieve the credentials from the current meeting page or agenda rather than relying on a previous meeting notice.
Searching by ZIP Code Alone
ZIP Codes are designed for mail delivery and may cross political or municipal boundaries. An address-based district lookup is more reliable when identifying the appropriate supervisor.
Confusing Comments and Correspondence
Public comments are statements submitted by members of the public about agenda items or county matters. Board Correspondence consists of official documents submitted by departments or agencies. Searching one system will not necessarily locate records stored in the other.
Calling the Listening Line to Speak
The language-specific listening line allows callers to hear the meeting but does not place them in a public-comment queue. Speaking by telephone requires the separate participation number and meeting credentials.
Including Private Data in Comments
Online written comments are public and viewable through the county system. Names, statements, and uploaded documents should be reviewed before submission. Information included in an attachment may become part of the public record along with the written comment.
Board Offices
Executive Office of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street, Room 383
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-1411
Assessment Appeals Board
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street, Room 383
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-1471
Board of Supervisors FAQs
Where can I check a supervisor’s county assignments?
Use the official Board member information page to review district maps, biographies, field office listings, department assignments, and the commissions on which each supervisor serves. Department assignments can help identify which supervisor is responsible for monitoring a particular county department, but they do not replace district representation. For help with a neighborhood or constituent issue, verify which supervisor represents the address rather than choosing a member solely because of a department assignment.
How can I request an older Board record?
The Executive Office records services provide access to official Board records and public-record request options. Before submitting a request, gather the meeting date, agenda item number, department name, motion title, and an approximate date range. These details help distinguish among motions, reports, contracts, correspondence, and meeting records with similar titles. A narrowly written request is generally easier to process than asking for every document related to a broad county issue.
Where are Board policies and county rules found?
The Board meeting and agenda page includes access to the Board Policy Manual and County Code. The policy manual contains formal policies adopted or maintained by the Board, while the County Code contains county ordinances and regulatory provisions. When researching a rule, note the policy number or code section and check whether amendments or related agenda actions have been posted.
How do I follow official Board announcements?
The official Board newsroom publishes press releases, newsletters, public-meeting access updates, commission news, and official photos. Newsroom posts are useful for tracking announcements between meetings, but they should not be treated as the formal record of a Board vote. When an announcement refers to an approved motion or program, verify the action through the applicable meeting record or supporting document.