Choose Lancaster
Strategic Advantages
The City of Lancaster benefits from many strategic advantages that reinforce its economic growth and development. Positioned at the intersection of Interstate 14 and State Route 138, Lancaster offers same-day access to key hubs such as Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Northern California, and Arizona. This strategic location not only facilitates efficient transportation, but also grants businesses access to consumer markets, ports, and distribution networks. With the future high-speed rail development on the horizon, Lancaster's connectivity is set to enhance even further and offer additional opportunities for economic expansion.
We foster a can-do attitude and healthy team spirit to accomplish our goals, as a community. By doing so, Lancaster is consistently recognized as a business-friendly City that welcomes innovation and new development.
Available Land
Lancaster is the third-largest city within Los Angeles County spanning approximately 94 square miles. This expansive land size not only allows for the preservation of natural landscapes, but also provides ample space for residential, commercial, and industrial development. The city's vast land area is instrumental in accommodating its diverse economic sectors, including the green initiatives that align with our commitment to sustainable energy. Let us help with your site search.
Since Lancaster continues to offer some of the most affordable housing in the State of California, many community members are able to build their lives, as well as work, in Lancaster. The City has a high percentage of resident homeowners, leading to a more stable workforce, stronger sense of community and a less transient-oriented population base.
Award Winning Mindset
In 2024, the City of Lancaster received its fourth Eddy Award for Most Business-Friendly City in L.A. County from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, making us the first and only city to earn this prestigious honor four times (also in 2007, 2013, and 2019). This achievement underscores Lancaster’s dedication to creating a business-friendly environment through innovative initiatives and sustainable practices.
Our commitment to local business development is further exemplified by the International Economic Development Council’s recognition of Lancaster’s achievements, with the Shop Local Program honored in 2024 for promoting the growth of locally owned small businesses. Additionally, in 2021, Lancaster received an Award in Excellence from the IEDC for our Stand Strong program. In addition to these honors, Lancaster became the world’s first Net Zero City in 2019, and by 2022, we were the first city in North America to operate a fully Net Zero transit fleet.
Infrastructure
Capital Improvement Projects
We take great pride in the progress we've made in enhancing the appearance and ambiance of our City. Our investment of more than $60 million in capital improvement projects is just the start of a journey to revitalize our parks, roads, performing arts center and our beloved community center.
Trails and Bikeways
Lancaster's Master Plan of Trails and Bikeways has been a collaborative effort with a variety of community interests, from transportation, public health, law enforcement, people with disabilities, schools, public and community-based bicycling, walking, equestrian groups and general public. The plan plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable transportation options, enhancing accessibility, and guiding the design and development of pedestrian, bicycle and trail facilities to encourage healthy transportation modes.
Lancaster offers multiple classes of bikeways:
- Class I: Bike Path or Trail
- Class II: Bike Lane
- Class III: Bike Route
- Class IV: Protected Bike Lane
SR-14 (SR-138) Highway Equity Corridor Improvements Project
Project Background:
The City of Lancaster, in partnership with Caltrans, the City of Palmdale, and Los Angeles County, and funded by LA Metro, has been developing designs and environmental approvals to improve the interchanges along the SR-138 (SR-14) Corridor within the City of Lancaster limits.
Proposed Design Elements:
The City has identified complete street corridors that prioritize multimodal facilities to reduce speeds and provide safer options for the travelling public. Bike lanes, pedestrian improvements, and the realignment of high-speed ramps will provide new equitable transportation options to bridge the gap between neighboring disadvantaged communities, providing connections to vital services, including schools, medical facilities, open spaces, and commercial areas.
The improvements prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting active transportation, enhancing safety by slowing vehicle speeds and reducing vehicle lanes, and improving traffic operations to limit vehicle idling. Drought tolerant landscaping and native plants will prioritize water conservation and infiltration will help recharge the groundwater and reduce surface runoff impacts.
Avenue J
The Avenue J complete streets corridor is directly adjacent to the largest hospital facility in the region. Buffered bike lanes and pedestrian improvements along the local roadway will provide more equitable and safe transportation options connecting the community to these vital services and schools. The existing partial interchange will be converted into a full interchange by adding a northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp, reducing the need for more circuitous travel to reach critical destinations.
Avenue K
Multi-modal transportation options, safety, and efficient traffic operations will be promoted by incorporating buffered bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure, removing high-speed ramp entrances, improving the northbound off-ramp by adding additional lanes, and improving congested intersections between 20th Street W and 10th Street W. These improvements will assist in providing access to local schools, business, and expanded hospital facilities surrounding the Avenue K corridor.
Avenue L
The Avenue L interchange is adjacent to sports fields and recreational facilities. Corridor improvements will fill a gap in the City bike and pedestrian network currently segregated by the SR-14/SR-138 freeway. The removal of high-speed ramp entrances, improved lane utilization, addition of buffered bike lanes and improved pedestrian facilities, and adjustment of intersection configurations between 15th Street W and 10th Street W will enhance safety and connectivity for the entire travelling public.
Avenue M
Bike lanes and pedestrian facilities will be added along Avenue M and through the interchange to safely connect communities on either side of the SR-14 (SR- 138) and provide access to nearby government services, the military base, and various commercial and job centers. Existing stop-controlled intersections at ramp termini will be replaced with sustainable intersection controls with the installation of roundabouts to reduce delays and improve operations at the interchange.
Incentives
Development Fee Incentive Program:
Lancaster implemented a development fee incentive program that aims to incentivize development and density within the core of the City. Depending on the location and type of project, fee reductions may range from 50% to 100%. All senior living facility projects within the City are exempt from impact fees.
Impact Fee Deferral:
In certain circumstances, impact fee payments may be deferred to time of occupancy rather than at building permit issuance.
SCIP and BOLD:
Lancaster participates in the State Community Infrastructure Program (SCIP) and Bond Opportunities for Land Development (BOLD) programs, which offer additional financing solutions for developers.
Capital Improvement Assistance:
In some cases, Lancaster offers assistance for capital improvement work and off-site improvements.
Project Fast-Tracking and Concierge Services:
Certain projects will be put on the fast-track for City approvals. Additionally, a member from the Economic Development team will serve as a liaison to get the project through the permitting process as efficiently as possible.
Preliminary Review Process:
Lancaster’s Planning team offers a preliminary review option that allows developers to get feedback on projects prior to formal submittal, saving substantial time in review. Fees paid for a preliminary review will be applied to the formal application submittal.
Concurrent Review Option:
Applicants can choose to submit at-risk to Planning and Building & Safety for concurrent plan review, saving time for developers.
Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District:
A smaller, local air quality management district allows for faster approvals and a business-friendly attitude.
Opportunity Zones:
Companies and investors seeking to invest in Opportunity Zones have 4,000 acres in five different zones to choose from in Lancaster.
Workforce Development Training:
Through partnerships with Antelope Valley College and the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC), Lancaster’s large employers can develop no cost training programs to help ensure a trained local workforce.
Small Business Development Center:
Lancaster partners with the Small Business Development Center to offer assistance to new startups and small businesses.
Site Selection Assistance:
An Economic Development team member can utilizes resources, networks, data and knowledge to assist developers and businesses to find sites within Lancaster to match their needs.
Happening Now
PoppyFi, Free WiFi Powered by Poppy at Local Parks
The City of Lancaster is thrilled to have launched free WiFi services at the first few parks, marking a momentous step towards fostering connectivity and accessibility for all residents. Residents and visitors can now access the internet by connecting to @PoppyFi on their smart devices at Jane Reynolds Park and Pierre Bain Park. PoppyFi will continue to be rolled out at additional City parks in the coming year. As Lancaster embraces the importance of connectivity, the City looks forward to seeing the positive impact of PoppyFi on residents and the community.
Notable Developments
- The United Soccer League (USL) of Antelope Valley plans to bring professional soccer to Lancaster. The City approved a plan to convert the baseball stadium into a 5,300 seat soccer stadium - only the fourth professional soccer-specific stadium in Southern California.Construction is underway, with an expected opening for the 2025 season.
- Grand re-opening of the Lancaster Museum of Art & History: The nearly 20,000 square-foot museum boasts five galleries, a store, and a unique rooftop patio offering a stunning view of The BLVD.
Community Safety
Recently Lancaster launched our new Police Department, a historic step in our City's evolution and quest to enhance public safety. The Lancaster police force will focus on improving police response times, increasing visibility on our streets, and addressing low-level crimes. Our department employs cutting-edge methodologies and techniques to prevent and address crimes in a proactive manner.
Here are some of the latest innovations in our arsenal for fighting crime:
- Revolutionary Technology: State-of-the-art tools to empower our police force, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness
- AI and Predictive Policing: Innovative AI systems to forecast and prevent criminal activity before it occurs
- Proactive Safety Measures: Comprehensive real-time oversight through drones, cameras, and gunshot detection
Capital PARCS (Parks, Arts, Recreation & Community Services) Projects
We take our PARCS seriously! The City of Lancaster has:
- Invested $2.7 million into parks improvement alone (including additional hard courts, tennis courts, and pickleball courts)
- Invested $1.4 million into providing more youth programming
- Approved $1.1 million for upgrades to Rawley Duntley Park
Additional projects include:
- Upgrading the Lancaster Performing Arts Center
- Technology improvements at the Lancaster Community Center
- Upgrades to the Lancaster Museum of Art and History
- Constructing the Parris Center, a multi-agency regional resilience center, at the AV Fairgrounds
- Investing in Highway Safety Improvement Programs
See and Be Seen
SEE AND BE SEEN, which started as national award-winning bike and pedestrian safety program, has grown into a K-12 active transportation safety and healthy living education program. The objective of the SEE AND BE SEEN program is to improve bike and pedestrian crash statistics in Lancaster by education school-age children in active transportation safety to instigate generational behavior change.