Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are special assessment districts that are established by groups of local businesses and property owners. The revenue generated from the special assessment funds a variety of local improvements such as street cleaning, marketing, and other services within the district. The State of California laws that regulate business improvement districts allow for assessment formulas to be structured in a variety of ways. Some assessments are paid by property owners, while others are paid by business owners based on a sliding scale of direct impact or by the mount of annual revenue generated. In West Hollywood the BID's are structured in the following manner:

district	how assessment is determined	who pays assessment
Sunset Strip	Impact Based	Business Owners
West Hollywood Design District	Revenue Based	Business Owners
West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board	Impact Based	Hotel Owners

For full description of each business improvement district, please refer to the establishing ordinance for each district in the links provided below.

Payment of the assessment fee is MANDATORY for all qualifying businesses. 

Sunset Strip Business Improvement District
Created in 2002, the Sunset Strip Business Improvement District is an assessment district that improves the business and neighboring residential environment on Sunset Blvd. through: security, street maintenance, public outreach, and marketing. 

Boundaries
Businesses located on Sunset Blvd. from Doheny Road on the west to a half block west of Havenhurst Drive on the east are assessed if they fall within a qualifying category.  To determine if your business is located within The Sunset Strip BID, look for the address of  your property on the street range listing.

Business Categories
The following categories of businesses are assessed: nightclubs, bars, adult businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other, which includes liquor stores/convenience stores with liquor; valet parking services; and retail stores. Each business classification receives an assessment level directly related to the level of service received from the District - the greater the impact the higher the assessment. For detailed information about the establishment of this BID please refer to the establishing ordinance, City of West Hollywood Ordinance 02-621.  View the structure for how fees are assessed [PDF].

Frequency of Assessment
Businesses in this district are assessed twice a year (July and January).

Advisory Board Meetings
Current and past Sunset Strip BID Advisory Board meeting agendas 

Contact
Website: www.thesunsetstrip.com 
Phone: 310-289-2534

West Hollywood Design District Business Improvement District 

Established in 1996, West Hollywood Design District works to market and promote the area as a premier destination for art, design, restaurants, boutiques and specialty retail. 

Boundaries
The area that makes up West Hollywood Design District is located south of Santa Monica Boulevard, bordered on the west by Doheny Drive, on the south by Beverly Boulevard and on the east by La Cienega Boulevard. Businesses located within these boundaries will be assessed based on the category in which their business falls.  View a list of street ranges for the WHDD. [PDF].

Categories
There are currently six categories of business types that are subject to the assessment. Assessments are a combination of a base assessment (based on business category) and a sliding scale assessment (based on annual gross sales).  For detailed information about the establishment of this BID, please refer to the City of West Hollywood Ordinance 95-450.  View the structure for how fees are assessed [PDF]

Frequency of Assessments
Assessments for WHDD businesses go out in July of each year.

Advisory Board Meetings
Current and past West Hollywood Design District BID Advisory Board meeting agendas

Contact
Website: www.WestHollywoodDesignDistrict.com
Phone: 310-289-2534

 

West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board (Marketing & Visitors Bureau)

In 1989, the West Hollywood City Council approved it's first BID with the establishment of the West Hollywood Business Improvement Area and the Hotel Marketing Benefit Zone. In 2013, the new West Hollywood Tourism Improvement District was created replacing the previous Hotel Marketing Benefit Zone and increasing the hotel assessment from 1.5% to 3%. The West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board manages the work program of the Tourism Improvement District. 

• 2016-2017 Annual Report [PDF]

Boundaries
All lodging businesses located within the boundaries of the City of West Hollywood are subject to the Tourism Improvement District assessment.

Categories
Lodging businesses are the only businesses charged an assessment under this business improvement district. A transit occupancy tax (or bed tax) is a tax that each person staying in a hotel/motel room pays to the City. There is a charge of fifteen and a half percent (15.5%) of the room rate for each visitor is levied on all hotels/motels.  Three percent (3%) of this money is assessed and dedicated to the support of the West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board by the City of West Hollywood while twelve and a half percent (12.5%) is directed to the City's general fund. The revenues received from the 3% assessment charge are to be used to:

• Promote the identify of West Hollywood as an urban cultural center;

• Develop and implement a destination marketing strategy targeting potential hotel guests;

• Develop and undertake an advertising and public relations program focusing on the business and leisure visitor and the travel trade.  

Frequency of Assessment
Lodging businesses in the City are required to pay the assessment in the month following collection of the assessment. Payment should be made at the same time as Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is paid to the City of West Hollywood. 

Contacts
Website: www.visitwesthollywood.com  
Phone: 310-289-2525
Tom Kiely, President & CEO

Questions
Revenue Management Division | Phone: 323-848-6467

For information related to assessment schedules, past due assessments, or how to pay your assessment, to petition your inclusion in a specific BID, and to discuss if your business is in the correct assessment category.