Laboratories. See Research and Development.
Landscaping. Any combination native or exotic plants, lawn, groundcover, trees, shrubs, and other plant materials, plus decorative outdoor and complementary elements such pools, fountains, water features, paved or decorated walkways or surfaces of rock, stone, brick, block, or similar material (excluding driveways, parking, loading, or storage areas), and sculptural elements. Plants on rooftops or porches or in boxes attached to structures are not considered landscaping.
Landscaping Terms for Chapter 10.32 (Landscaping).
Annual reference evapotranspiration rate or ETo means a standard measurement of environmental parameters which affect the water use of plants. ETo is given expressed in inches per day, month, or year, and is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four-to seven-inch tall, cool-season grass that is well watered. Calculation of the ETo shall be from the nearest monitoring site to the City as determined by the California Department of Water Resources.
Applied water means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
Budget-based tiered-rate structure means tiered or block rates for irrigation accounts charged by the retail water agency in which the block definition for each customer is derived from lot size or irrigated area and the evapotranspiration requirements of landscaping.
Ecological restoration project means a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
Estimated Applied Water Use means the average annual total amount of water estimated to be necessary to keep plants in a healthy state. It is based on the reference evapotranspiration rate, the size of the landscape area, plant water use factors, and the relative irrigation efficiency of the irrigation system.
ET adjustment factor or ETAF is equal to the plant factor divided by the irrigation efficiency factor for a landscape project. The ETAF is calculated in the context of local reference evapotranspiration, using site-specific plant factors and irrigation efficiency factors that influence the amount of water that needs to be applied to the specific landscaped area. A combined plant mix with a site-wide average plant factor of 0.5 (indicating a moderate water need) and average irrigation efficiency of 0.71 produces an ET adjustment factor of (0.7) = (0.5/0.71), which is the standard of water use efficiency generally required by Chapter 10.32 (Landscaping), except that the ETAF for a special landscape area shall not exceed 1.0.
Hardscape means any durable material or feature (pervious and non-pervious) installed in or around a landscaped area, such as pavements or walls. Pools and other water features are considered part of the landscaped area and not considered hardscape for purposes of Chapter 10.32 (Landscaping).
Homeowner installed landscape means any landscaping either installed by a private individual for a single family residence or installed by a licensed contractor hired by a homeowner. A homeowner, for purposes of this ordinance, is a person who occupies the dwelling he or she owns. This definition excludes speculative homes, which are not owner-occupied dwellings and which are subject to the requirements applicable to developer-installed residential landscape projects.
Irrigation efficiency means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied. Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics and management practices. The minimum average irrigation efficiency for purposes of Chapter 10.32 is 0.71. Greater irrigation efficiency can be expected from well designed and maintained systems.
Landscaped area means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the Maximum Applied Water Allowance and Estimated Applied Water Use calculations. The landscaped area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or non-pervious hardscapes, and other non-irrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
Landscape Documentation Package means the documents required to be provided to the City for review and approval of landscape design projects.
Landscape professional means a licensed landscaped architect, licensed landscape contractor or any other person authorized to design a landscape pursuant to Section 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5 of the California Business and Professions Code, Section 832.27 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, and Section 6721 of the California Food and Agriculture Code.
Landscape project means total area of landscape in a project, as provided in the definition of landscaped area, meeting the requirements under Chapter 10.32 (Landscaping).
Local water purveyor means any entity, including a public agency, city, county, or private water company that provides retail water service.
Mined-land reclamation projects means any surface mining operation with a reclamation plan approved in accordance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.
Maximum Applied Water Allowance or MAWA means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped area. It is based upon the area's reference evapotranspiration, the ET Adjustment Factor, and the size of the landscaped area. The Estimated Applied Water Use shall not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
New construction means, for the purposes of Chapter 10.32 (Landscaping), a new building with a landscape or other new landscape such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated building.
Non-pervious means any surface or natural material that does not allow for the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
Pervious means any surface or material that allows the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
Plant factor or plant water use factor is a factor, when multiplied by ETo, that estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, the plant factor range for low water use plants is 0 to 0.3; the plant factor range for moderate water use plants is 0.4 to 0.6; and the plant factor range for high water use plants is 0.7 to 1.0. Plant factors cited in Chapter 10.32 are derived from the Department of Water Resources 2000 publication “Water Use Classification of Landscape Species.”
Recycled water or reclaimed water means treated or recycled waste water of a quality suitable for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features.
Rehabilitated landscape means any re-landscaping project that meets the applicability criteria of Chapter 10.32 where the modified landscape area is greater than 2,500 square feet, is 50 percent of the total landscape area, and the modifications are planned to be completed within one year.
Smart automatic irrigation controller means an automatic timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system and which schedules irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
Special landscape area or SLA means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens, areas irrigated with recycled water, water features using recycled water, and areas dedicated to active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, and where turf provides a playing surface.
Turf means a ground cover surface of mowed grass. Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue are cool-season grasses. Bermuda grass, Kikuyu grass, Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustine grass, Zoysia grass, and Buffalo grass are warm-season grasses.
Valve means a device used to control the flow of water in an irrigation system.
Water feature means a design element where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features include ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, artificial streams, spas, and swimming pools (where water is artificially supplied). The surface area of water features is included in the high water use hydrozone of the landscaped area. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment, habitat protection or storm water best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment or storm water retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the water budget calculation.
Laundry and Dry Cleaning - Nonretail. A facility that specializes in the process of cleaning clothes and other fabrics; cleans the fabrics with equipment on the premises to which they are dropped off or delivered; and whose customers consist primarily of large commercial or institutional users such as restaurants, janitorial services, food service businesses, hotels/motels, hospitals, and medical and dental clinics.
Laundry and Dry Cleaning - Retail. A facility that specializes in the process of cleaning clothes and other fabrics that are dropped off by customers at the facility; cleans the fabrics either on site or at an off-site facility; and whose customer base generally consists of individuals and small local businesses.
Library. See “Cultural Institution.”
Liquor Store. A retail establishment primarily engaged in the sale of beer, wine, and spirits, and regulated by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Live Entertainment. Entertainment provided by one or more live performers, including musical, theatrical, dance, cabaret, or comedy acts. For purposes of this definition, a disc jockey is considered a performer, as is any other person whose performance is comprised of selecting or manipulating prerecorded music. Does not include the term “Adult Oriented Businesses.” Does not include live musical accompaniment to dining, in a restaurant by no more than two performers, including patrons, without any dancing, singing, or spoken words. See also “Eating and Drinking Establishments” and Chapter 5.24 (Entertainment).
Amplified. The increase in the degree of sound level of voices, instruments, or recorded music through electronic devices and equipment (e.g., speakers, loudspeakers, etc.).
Unamplified. Voices or instruments without sound boosting electronic devices and equipment.
Living Area. Living area means the interior habitable area of a dwelling unit as defined by the Uniform Building Code, including basements and attics but does not include a garage or any accessory structure.
Lot. (1) A parcel of real property delineated with a number or other designation on a plat recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County; or (2) a parcel of land, the dimensions or boundaries of which are defined by a record of survey recorded pursuant to law when recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County; or (3) a parcel of real property not delineated as in (1) or (2) above and containing not less than the prescribed minimum area for the zone in which it is located and which abuts at least one public street, which parcel has been divided pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 (Subdivisions) of the Municipal Code.
Lot, Corner. A lot situated at the intersection of two or more streets (see Figure 9-5).
Lot, Flag. A lot which is located to the rear of another lot and which has access to a public or private street via an extension of that lot consisting of a strip not less than 26 feet in width (see Figure 9-5).
Lot, Interior. A lot other than a corner lot or reversed corner lot (see Figure 9-5).
Lot. Key. The first lot to the rear or side of a corner lot, the front line of which is a continuation of the side line of the corner lot, exclusive of the width of any alley, and fronting on the street which intersects or intercepts the street on which the corner lot fronts (see Figure 9-5).
Lot, Reversed Corner. A corner lot having its side street lot line substantially a continuation of the front lot line of the first lot to its rear (see Figure 9-5).
Lot, Through. A lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately parallel streets (see Figure 9-5). For the purposes of defining the front and rear lot lines on a through lot, the front lot line shall be established based upon the predominate orientation of properties within the same block as the lot in question. Where no predominate orientation exists, predominate shall mean 51 percent of the lots on the same block.
Lot Size or Area. The total horizontal area within the boundary lines of a lot, inclusive of any easements. On a flag lot, the access portion of the lot is not included in the calculation of the lot area.
Lot Width. The horizontal distance between side lot lines, measured at the required front setback line streets (see Figure 9-6).
Lot Depth. The horizontal distance between the front and rear property lines, measured along a line midway between the side property lines. In the case of a lot having a curved front lot line, the lot front line (for purposes of measuring lot depth) shall be the line tangent to the curve and parallel to a straight line connecting the points of intersection of the side lot lines with the lot front line (see Figure 9-6).
Lot Coverage. The percentage of lot area covered by the primary and all accessory structures, including any enclosed patios.
(Ord. 18-951 § 5, 2018; Ord. 935 § 3 (part), 2015)