LA City Council panel backs another modest hike in zoo admission fees
A Los Angeles City Council committee voted to raise zoo tickets by $2, which would lift adult admission to $29 pending full council approval.
Los Angeles City Council’s Arts, Parks and Libraries Committee approved a $2 across-the-board increase in admission prices for the city-run zoo, a move that would raise adult tickets to $29, children to $24 and seniors to $26. The measure now proceeds to the Budget Committee and ultimately requires the full council’s sign-off. The city’s fiscal 2026-27 budget already incorporates the increase, which follows a $5 hike last year and the last adjustment in 2012.
The zoo, operating on 133 acres in Griffith Park, has struggled with budget gaps, staffing shortages, and a lawsuit against its former fundraising partner, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, over a $50 million endowment. A recent grand-jury report urged the city to seek a new public-private partnership to sustain operations. Despite these challenges, the proposed prices remain lower than nearby attractions such as the San Diego Zoo.
Why it matters
Higher ticket prices could affect families' access to the zoo while reflecting the city's ongoing budget pressures.
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