Universal City’s Long-Range Studio Expansion Plan Spans County and City Jurisdictions

UNIVERSAL CITY, Los Angeles County — Large construction proposals at the Universal Studios complex do not all fall under one municipality’s planning process. Los Angeles County’s long-range Universal Studios Specific Plan applies to portions of the campus in unincorporated Universal City, while other portions lie within the City of Los Angeles.

The County Planning Department’s NBC Universal Evolution Plan page describes a planning area of approximately 391 acres, including the theme park, television and film studio facilities, entertainment, retail, office space and potential hotels.

What did the county authorize in principle?

Under the framework, full buildout could include approximately 1.89 million square feet of net new commercial development on portions governed by the county, subject to the plan and applicable approvals. The site also discusses roughly 363,000 square feet of uses within the city-controlled portion and a possible 500-room hotel.

A planning allowance is not completed construction

Those numbers describe a permitted planning framework or potential buildout, not a statement that those buildings have all been constructed in 2026. Actual construction requires checking project permits, implementation schedules and later amendments.

Residents concerned about traffic, construction noise, environmental conditions or land use should identify the project’s exact location and the responsible city or county planning office before requesting records.

Primary source: LA County Planning — Universal Studios Specific Plan.

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