Hollywood is not a city. It is a neighborhood, or more accurately a district, inside the City of Los Angeles, and it has been part of LA since 1910. So Hollywood has no mayor, no city council and no police department of its own. Those services come from Los Angeles City Hall.
The confusion is easy to understand. Hollywood was a separate city for a few years, its name works as shorthand for the whole American film business, and nearby West Hollywood really is its own city. This guide sorts out what Hollywood is, where its edges are and which famous places sit inside it. For more on the region, see our Los Angeles and California guides.
What is Hollywood?
Hollywood is an area of central Los Angeles, north and west of Downtown and just south of the Santa Monica Mountains. Its core runs along Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard, roughly between La Brea Avenue and the 101 Freeway, with the Hollywood Hills rising behind it. The word also has a second meaning. People say “Hollywood” when they mean the US movie and TV industry, even though most studios now work elsewhere.
On the ground, Hollywood is a dense urban neighborhood. It has apartment blocks, theaters, hotels, nightlife, recording studios, offices and older bungalow streets. It is also one of the most visited parts of Los Angeles, because the Walk of Fame and the views of the Hollywood Sign draw visitors year-round.
Is Hollywood in Los Angeles?
Yes. Hollywood lies within the City of Los Angeles, which in turn sits inside Los Angeles County. The city had about 3.87 million residents in mid-2025, according to the Census Bureau estimate covered in our Los Angeles population guide. Hollywood is one of the many neighborhoods that make up that total.
Because it is part of LA, Hollywood follows city rules on zoning, rent, parking and business permits. For example, the city’s planning department still keeps a Hollywood Redevelopment Plan overlay for the area. That page lists the area in City Council Districts 4 and 13, which means Hollywood residents are represented by two of the city’s 15 council members, depending on the block. Local issues also go through neighborhood councils, such as Hollywood United and Central Hollywood. These are advisory boards set up by the city, not governments.
Who runs Hollywood day to day
Since there is no Hollywood city government, everyday services come from LA departments. The LAPD covers the area through its Hollywood station, and the Los Angeles Fire Department handles fire and paramedic calls. Water and power come from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which fits the history, since water was the reason Hollywood joined the city.
Business groups fill some of the civic roles people expect from a town. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, for example, runs the Walk of Fame program and promotes the area. Still, it is a private nonprofit, not a government. Local business improvement districts also pay for extra street cleaning and security on the busiest blocks. If you need a permit, want to report a pothole or have a question about trash pickup, the answer is the same as anywhere else in LA: contact the city, or call 311.
A short history: Hollywood was a city once
Hollywood did start as its own town. Harvey Wilcox laid it out as a real estate subdivision in 1887, and residents voted to incorporate it as a city in 1903. Then, in 1910, voters chose to consolidate with Los Angeles, as Britannica’s history of Hollywood notes. The main reason was water. Hollywood did not have an adequate supply on its own, while Los Angeles could offer water and access to its sewer system.
So Hollywood’s time as an independent city lasted only about seven years. Film companies arrived right after the merger. The first studio opened on Sunset Boulevard in 1911, and within a few years Hollywood was the center of American moviemaking. The name stuck to the industry long after many studios moved to other cities.
Hollywood vs. West Hollywood and other look-alike names
Several places share the Hollywood name, and only one of them is a city. The table sorts them out.
| Place | What it is | Governed by |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood | District of central LA | City of Los Angeles |
| West Hollywood | Separate city since 1984 | City of West Hollywood |
| North Hollywood | Neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley | City of Los Angeles |
| East Hollywood | Neighborhood east of Hollywood | City of Los Angeles |
| Hollywood Hills | Hillside area above Hollywood | City of Los Angeles |
| Universal City (home of Universal Studios Hollywood) | Unincorporated area | Los Angeles County |
West Hollywood is the one that trips people up. It was an unincorporated part of the county until residents voted to form their own city, which became official on November 29, 1984, according to the City of West Hollywood. It has its own city council, and it has never been part of Hollywood or of LA. Universal Studios Hollywood is another surprise. Despite its name, the theme park sits in Universal City, in the hills north of Hollywood, outside LA city limits.
What is actually in Hollywood
Most of the famous sights are inside the district, and many are within walking distance of each other.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame. The stars line Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The first permanent star was laid in 1960, according to the official Walk of Fame history, and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce advises the city on new names. As of October 2026 the Walk holds more than 2,850 stars, and about two are added each month.
- The Hollywood Sign. It went up in 1923 as a billboard for a housing tract called Hollywoodland. The “land” letters came off in 1949, and the current all-steel sign dates from 1978. The Hollywood Sign Trust timeline notes it became city property in 1944 and a city landmark in 1973.
- Paramount Studios. On Melrose Avenue, it is the last of the big studios still based in Hollywood itself. Others moved to Burbank, Culver City or Universal City, which are separate cities or county land.
- Theaters and venues. The TCL Chinese Theatre, the Dolby Theatre and the Hollywood Bowl, which sits in the hills just north of the boulevard, are all part of the scene.
The area’s entertainment community still gathers around causes, too. In 2020, for instance, choreographer and actress Debbie Allen organized a 12-hour online dance-a-thon with famous friends.
Living in or visiting Hollywood
Getting there without a car is easier than in much of LA. The Metro B Line subway stops at Hollywood/Western, Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Highland, and it connects to Downtown and North Hollywood. Buses run along Hollywood, Sunset and Santa Monica boulevards. Parking near the boulevard is tight and often metered, so transit is usually the simpler choice for visitors.
For residents, Hollywood means city services, LA rent rules for covered units and city taxes. Rents and daily life vary a lot from block to block, though. The flats near the boulevard are busy and mostly apartments, while the hills are quieter and more expensive. If you are comparing it with other areas, our Los Angeles neighborhoods guide puts Hollywood next to options such as Koreatown, Silver Lake and the Valley.
One practical note: mail addresses in Hollywood often say “Los Angeles, CA” with a 900-series ZIP code. That is not a mistake, since Hollywood is part of the city.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hollywood a city?
No. Hollywood is a neighborhood inside the City of Los Angeles. It was a separate city only from 1903 to 1910, when residents voted to merge with LA.
Is Hollywood in LA?
Yes. Hollywood is part of the City of Los Angeles and of Los Angeles County. City Hall, the LAPD and other city departments serve it.
Is West Hollywood part of Hollywood?
No. West Hollywood is a separate city that incorporated in 1984. It sits west of Hollywood and has its own city council and services.
What is Hollywood known for?
It is known as the birthplace of the US film industry. Today it is home to the Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Sign, historic theaters and Paramount Studios.
Have a question about this topic? Ask in the comments below. Our editors read every comment and answer questions here, and we add useful answers to the guide.
Sources
- britannica.com/place/Hollywood-California
- planning.lacity.gov/plans-policies/overlays/hollywood
- cd4.lacity.gov/neighborhood/hollywood-hollywood-hills
- cd13.lacity.gov/home
- weho.org/community/cityhood
- weho.org/Home/Components/News/News/152
- walkoffame.com/history
- hollywoodsign.org/history-timeline
- paramountstudios.com/the-studios
- metro.net/riding/guide/b-line