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MUNICIPAL CODE, PLANNING AND ZONING
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS AND ZONING
GENERAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ARTICLE 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 1.2 ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS
ARTICLE 1.5 PLANNING - COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROGRAM
ARTICLE 2 SPECIFIC PLANNING - ZONING - COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PLAN
SEC. 12.00. TITLE.
SEC. 12.01. CONTINUATION OF EXISTING REGULATIONS.
SEC. 12.02. PURPOSE.
SEC. 12.03. DEFINITIONS.
SEC. 12.04. ZONES - DISTRICTS - SYMBOLS.
SEC. 12.04.01. VIOLATIONS OF SPECIFIC PLANS.
SEC. 12.04.05. “OS” OPEN SPACE ZONE.
SEC. 12.04.09. “PF” PUBLIC FACILITIES ZONE.
SEC. 12.05. “A1” AGRICULTURE ZONE.
SEC. 12.06. “A2” AGRICULTURAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.07. “RA” SUBURBAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.07.01. “RE” RESIDENTIAL ESTATE ZONE.
SEC. 12.08. “R1” ONE-FAMILY ZONE.
SEC. 12.08.1. RU RESIDENTIAL URBAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.08.3. RZ RESIDENTIAL ZERO SIDE YARD ZONE.
SEC. 12.08.5. “RW1” RESIDENTIAL WATERWAYS ZONE.
SEC. 12.09. “R2” TWO-FAMILY ZONE.
SEC. 12.09.1. “RD” RESTRICTED DENSITY MULTIPLE DWELLING ZONE.
SEC. 12.09.3. “RMP” MOBILEHOME PARK ZONE.
SEC. 12.09.5. “RW2” RESIDENTIAL WATERWAYS ZONE.
SEC. 12.10. “R3” MULTIPLE DWELLING ZONE.
SEC. 12.10.5. RAS3 RESIDENTIAL/ACCESSORY SERVICES ZONE PURPOSE STATEMENT.
SEC. 12.11. “R4” MULTIPLE DWELLING ZONE.
SEC. 12.11.5. RAS4 RESIDENTIAL/ACCESSORY SERVICES ZONE PURPOSE STATEMENT.
SEC. 12.12. “R5” MULTIPLE DWELLING ZONE.
SEC. 12.12.1. “P” AUTOMOBILE PARKING ZONE.
SEC. 12.12.1.5. “PB” PARKING BUILDING ZONE.*
SEC. 12.12.2. “CR” LIMITED COMMERCIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.13. “C1” LIMITED COMMERCIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.13.5. “C1.5” LIMITED COMMERCIAL ZONE
SEC. 12.14. “C2” COMMERCIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.16. “C4” COMMERCIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.1. “CW” CENTRAL CITY WEST SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.2. ADP ALAMEDA DISTRICT SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.3. LASED LOS ANGELES SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.4. CEC CONVENTION AND EVENT CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.5. USC-1A UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS SPECIFIC PLAN SUBAREA 1A ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.6. USC-1B UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS SPECIFIC PLAN SUBAREA 1B ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.7. USC-2 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS SPECIFIC PLAN SUBAREA 2 ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.8. USC-3 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS SPECIFIC PLAN SUBAREA 3 ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.9. PVSP PONTE VISTA AT SAN PEDRO SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.16.10. DNSP DISTRICT NOHO SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.17. “C5” COMMERCIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.17.1. “CM” COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING ZONE.
SEC. 12.17.2. “CM(GM)” COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING (GLENCOE/MAXELLA) SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.17.5. “MR1” RESTRICTED INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.17.5.5. “CCS” CENTURY CITY SOUTH SPECIFIC PLAN STUDIO ZONE.
SEC. 12.17.6. “M1” LIMITED INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.18. “MR2” RESTRICTED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.18.1. “WC” WARNER CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE.
SEC. 12.19. “M2” LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.19.1. LAX LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ZONE.
SEC. 12.20. “M3” HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
SEC. 12.20.1. SL OCEAN - SUBMERGED LAND ZONE.
SEC. 12.20.2. COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS (PRIOR TO CERTIFICATION OF THE LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM.)
SEC. 12.20.2.1. COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PROCEDURES AFTER CERTIFICATION OF THE LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM.
SEC. 12.20.3. “HP” HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY ZONE.
SEC. 12.21. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
SEC. 12.21.1. HEIGHT OF BUILDING OR STRUCTURES.
SEC. 12.21.2. HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES IN CENTURY CITY.
SEC. 12.21.3. HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES IN COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AREAS.
SEC. 12.21.4. HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES IN ENTERPRISE ZONES.
SEC. 12.21.5. HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES IN CENTERS STUDY AREAS.
SEC. 12.21.6. HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES IN ALL R1V, R1F, AND R1R ONE-FAMILY ZONE VARIATIONS.
SEC. 12.22. EXCEPTIONS.
SEC. 12.22.1. CITY OF LOS ANGELES SAFER FILMING ORDINANCE.
SEC. 12.23. NONCONFORMING BUILDING AND USES.
SEC. 12.24. CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS AND OTHER SIMILAR QUASI-JUDICIAL APPROVALS.
SEC. 12.24.1. LAND USE DETERMINATION BY CITY PLANNING COMMISSION.
SEC. 12.25. TIME LIMITATIONS.
SEC. 12.26. DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND SAFETY.
SEC. 12.27. VARIANCES.
SEC. 12.27.1. ADMINISTRATIVE NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS.
SEC. 12.28. ADJUSTMENTS AND SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS.
SEC. 12.29. VIOLATION OF CONDITIONS - PENALTY.
SEC. 12.30. BOUNDARIES OF ZONES.
SEC. 12.31. INTERPRETATION - PURPOSE - CONFLICT.
SEC. 12.32. LAND USE LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS.
SEC. 12.33. PARK FEES AND LAND DEDICATION.
SEC. 12.34. APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS.
SEC. 12.35. ZONING OF ANNEXED OR UNZONED AREAS.
SEC. 12.36. PROJECTS REQUIRING MULTIPLE APPROVALS. (CHARTER § 564).
SEC. 12.37. HIGHWAY AND COLLECTOR STREET DEDICATION AND IMPROVEMENT.
SEC. 12.38. DEDICATION OF STREETS BY LONG TERM LEASES.
SEC. 12.39. LOW AND MODERATE HOUSING.
SEC. 12.40. LANDSCAPE - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
SEC. 12.41. LANDSCAPE - WATER MANAGEMENT.
SEC. 12.42. LANDSCAPE.
SEC. 12.43. SOURCE REDUCTION OF WASTE.
SEC. 12.50. AIRPORT APPROACH ZONING REGULATIONS.
SEC. 12.70. ADULT ENTERTAINMENT ZONING.
SEC. 12.80. HOMELESS SHELTERS - EMERGENCIES - CITY OWNED AND LEASED PROPERTY.
SEC. 12.81. HOMELESS SHELTERS - EMERGENCIES - CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.
SEC. 12.82. HOMELESS SHELTERS - EMERGENCIES - EL NIÑO 2016.
ARTICLE 2.9 CONDOMINIUMS, COMMUNITY APARTMENTS AND STOCK COOPERATIVES
ARTICLE 3 SPECIFIC PLAN - ZONING SUPPLEMENTAL USE DISTRICTS
ARTICLE 4 PUBLIC BENEFIT PROJECTS
ARTICLE 4.3 ELDERCARE FACILITY UNIFIED PERMIT PROCESS
ARTICLE 4.4 SIGN REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 4.5 TRANSFER OF FLOOR AREA RIGHTS - CENTRAL CITY COMMUNITY PLAN AND CITY CENTER REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREAS
ARTICLE 5 REFERRALS - LAND FOR PUBLIC USE
ARTICLE 6 LOCAL EMERGENCY TEMPORARY REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 6.1 REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
ARTICLE 7 DIVISION OF LAND REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 8 PRIVATE STREET REGULATIONS
ARTICLE 9 FEES
CHAPTER 1A CITY OF LOS ANGELES ZONING CODE
Chapter 1A City of Los Angeles Zoning Code
Table of Amending Legislation for Chapter 1A
SEC. 12.08.5. “RW1” RESIDENTIAL WATERWAYS ZONE.
   (Added by Ord. No. 138,095, Eff. 4/19/69.)
 
   The following regulations shall apply in the “RW1” Residential Waterways Zone:
 
   A.   Purpose. The regulations set forth in this section are to make possible the utilization of certain lots fronting on navigable public canals or waterways, or separated therefrom only by a public street, which make up, or are a portion of, a sizeable system of recreational waterways when such lots are predominantly those which were recorded prior to June 1, 1946.
 
   Because of exceptional past history, present conditions, the proximity of such lots to recreational water areas, and their usual location in areas which enjoy optimum climatic conditions, the best development of the property may require variation from some of the standard housing requirements necessary or desirable in the rest of the City.
 
   B.   Use. No building, structure or land shall be used and no building or structure shall be erected, structurally altered, enlarged, or maintained, except for the following uses, and when a “Supplemental Use District” is created by the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter, for such uses as may be permitted therein:
 
   1.   One-family dwelling.
 
   2.   Accessory buildings, including private garages, accessory living quarters, servants quarters, or recreation rooms, provided that:
 
   (a)   No accessory living quarters nor servants quarters are located or maintained on a lot having an area of less than 4,600 square feet.
 
   (b)   An accessory living quarters, servants quarters, recreation room or private garage or any combination of said uses may be included in one building not exceeding two stories in height. For location of accessory buildings, refer to Sections 12.21 C. and 12.22 C.
 
   3.   Conditional uses enumerated in Section 12.24 when the location is approved pursuant to the provisions of said section.
 
   4.   Accessory uses and home occupations, subject to the conditions specified in Section 12.05 A.16. of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 171,427, Eff. 1/4/97, Oper. 3/5/97.)
 
   5.   Name plates and signs, and required automobile parking spaces as provided for in Section 12.21 A. of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 171,427, Eff. 1/4/97, Oper. 3/5/97.)
 
   C.   Area. No building or structure shall be erected or maintained nor shall any building or structure be enlarged unless the following yards and lot areas are provided and maintained in connection with such building, structure or enlargement:
 
   1.   Front Yard – There shall be a front yard of not less than ten feet in depth. Notwithstanding any provisions of this article to the contrary;
 
   (a)   The front yard shall be measured from the lot line nearest to, or separating the lot from, the navigable public canal or waterway, and in the case of a corner lot, from the line separating the narrowest canal frontage of the lot from the navigable public canal or waterway, or from the public street lying between the lot and the navigable public canal or waterway, except in those cases where the latest tract deed restrictions specify another line as the front lot line.
 
   (b)   No stairway, platform, landing, or porch shall extend or project into said required front yard space more than 48 inches, and in no case shall any such stairway, platform, landing, or porch exceed a height of 30 inches above the finished ground level adjacent thereto in said front yard space.
 
   (c)   No cornice, belt course, still or other similar architectural projection, but not including eaves, shall project into said required front yard space more than 12 inches.
 
   2.   Side Yard – There shall be a side yard on each side of a building of not less than 10 percent of the width of the lot, but in no event less than three feet in width. (Amended by Ord. No. 151,601, Eff. 11/25/78.)
 
   3.   Rear Yard – There shall be a rear yard of not less than 15 feet in depth. In no event shall any exterior wall of the first story of the main building be located closer than nine feet from the rear lot line. In the event three or more automobile parking spaces are provided in an attached garage or carport on the same lot for each dwelling unit, no exterior wall of the main building shall be located closer than five feet from the rear lot line. Notwithstanding any provisions of this article to the contrary, the rear lot line is that line opposite and most distant from the lot line separating the narrowest canal frontage of the lot from the navigable public canal or waterway. (Amended by Ord. No. 150,336, Eff. 12/31/77.)
 
   4.   Lot Area – Every lot shall have a minimum width of 28 feet and a minimum area of 2,300 square feet. (Amended by Ord. No. 150,336, Eff. 12/31/77.)
 
   5.   Open Space – There shall be usable open space, such as patio, garden, deck or recreational area, in the amount of ten percent of the lot area for each story of a main building on the lot. Such open space shall be in addition to the areas which are included in required yards and may be not less than 100 square feet in size. For multi-storied buildings, such open space need not be evenly distributed between all floors of the main building, but in no event may more than two-thirds of the total usable open space required be located above the first story of the main building. (Amended by Ord. No. 150,336, Eff. 12/31/77.)
 
   D.   Restriction. (Amended by Ord. No. 173,268, Eff. 7/1/00, Oper. 7/1/00.) For any lot designated as Public, Quasi-Public, Public/Quasi-Public Use, Other Public, or Open Space on the land use map of the applicable community or district plan; any lot shown on the map as having existing lakes, waterways, reservoirs, debris basins, or similar facilities; any lot shown on the map as the location of a freeway right-of-way; and any property annexed to the City of Los Angeles where a plan amendment was not adopted as part of the annexation proceedings:
 
   Any of the uses permitted by Subsection B. of this section shall require prior approval in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.24.1 of this Code.