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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. 12.12.2. “CR” LIMITED COMMERCIAL ZONE.
   (Amended by Ord. No. 148,783, Eff. 10/14/76.)
 
   The following regulations shall apply in the “CR” Limited Commercial Zone:
 
   A.   Use – (Amended by Ord. No. 144,365, Eff. 4/5/73, Operative 9/1/73.) 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.   The following uses when conducted wholly within an enclosed building:
 
   (a)   Bank, or financial institution.
 
   (b)   Business college, professional or scientific school or college (classroom or lecture instruction only); not including a music school, trade school, nor any school specializing in manual training, shop work or in the repair or maintenance of machinery or mechanical equipment.
 
   (c)   Club or lodge (nonprofit).
 
   (d)   (Deleted by Ord. No. 188,072, Eff. 7/1/24.)
 
   (e)   Museum or library (non-profit).
 
   (f)   Office, general business or professional, including that of a real estate or stock broker, or an insurance or building and loan company.
 
   (g)   Prescription pharmacy when conducted within a permitted office building, provided: that entrances to the pharmacy are located inside of the building; that no sign or other form of advertising is visible from outside the office building; that no sign or other form of advertising is utilized in any manner whatsoever outside of the building as a means of advertising the prescription pharmacy; and that the prescription pharmacy remains open for business only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. (Amended by Ord. No. 165,403, Eff. 2/17/90.)
 
   (h)   Counseling and referral facilities. (Added by Ord. No. 149,517, Eff. 5/26/77.)
 
   1.5.   Child care facilities or nursery schools. (Added by Ord. No. 145,474, Eff. 3/2/74.)
 
   2.   Church (except rescue mission or temporary revival).
 
   3.   Park, playground, or community center, owned and operated by a governmental agency.
 
   4.   Public parking area when located and developed as required in Section 12.21 A.6., with signs as permitted in Section 12.21.1 A.3.
 
   4.5.   Any single family dwelling, two- family dwelling or apartment house use permitted in the R4 Multiple Dwelling Zone provided that all the regulations of said zone are complied with. (Added by Ord. No. 148,783, Eff. 10/14/76.)
 
   5.   School, elementary or high, or educational institution.
 
   6.   (Amended by Ord. No. 187,712, Eff. 1/23/23, Oper. 1/22/24; Ord. No. 187,930, Eff. 7/7/23.) Signs indicating the name of the person, business, or the type of business occupying the premises, or the name of the building. Such signs shall be attached to a building and all letters, lights and other identification matter shall be confined to only one surface of the sign, which surface shall be parallel with and facing the front lot line; except that on a corner lot such signs may be placed on a building so that the surface on which the identification matter is confined, is parallel with the side street lot line, or where a building is constructed with a diagonal or curved wall facing the adjacent street intersection, the signs may be attached to such wall so that the surface, on which the identification matter is confined, is parallel thereto. No portion of any sign on a lot shall extend along the side street more than 50 feet from the principal street upon which said lot abuts (for the determination of the principal street, refer to Subsection C of this section).
 
   No portion of any such sign shall project more than 12 inches beyond the wall of the building nor project above the roof ridge or parapet wall (whichever is the higher) of the building.
 
   A Zoning Administrator shall determine the application of these regulations concerning the required placement of signs, where such regulations are difficult to apply because of the unusual design of a building or its location on the lot, or because of the odd shape of the lot.
 
   Provided, however, that any name plate or sign permitted on a lot in an R Zone by Section 12.21 A.7. of this Chapter shall likewise be permitted on a lot in a CR Zone containing no building or structure.
 
   7.   Conditional uses enumerated in Section 12.24 of this Chapter when approved pursuant to Div. 13B.2. (Quasi-Judicial Review) of Chapter 1A of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,712, Eff. 1/23/23, Oper. 1/22/24; Ord. No. 187,930, Eff. 7/7/23.)
 
   8.   Other uses similar to those listed in this subsection, when determined by a Zoning Administrator, as provided for in Section 12.21 A.2., but not including stores, shops or other establishments where goods, wares or merchandise are displayed, sold or serviced.
 
   9.   Uses (not involving open storage) customarily incident to any of the above uses, and accessory buildings (including storage garages), when located on the same lot.
 
   10.   Automobile parking space required as provided in Section 12.21 A.4. in connection with all uses permitted in this zone.
 
   11.   (Deleted by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
 
   12.   Mini-shopping centers which comply with the provisions of Section 12.22 A.23. (Added by Ord. No. 164,201, Eff. 1/10/89.)
 
   13.   Restaurant, when conducted within a permitted office building, provided: that entrances to the restaurant are located inside of the building; that no sign or other form of advertising is visible from outside the office building; that no sign or other form of advertising is utilized in any manner whatsoever outside of the building as a means of advertising the restaurant; that the restaurant remains open for business only between the hours of 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday; and that no entertainment or dancing is conducted or permitted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Outdoor Dining Areas are permitted. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,073, Eff. 1/31/24.)
 
   14.   Wireless antennas, including the associated equipment cabinets, located on the rooftops of buildings when established in conformance with the standards contained in Section 12.21 A.21. of this Code, and which are not located within a scenic parkway specific plan, scenic corridor specific plan, a roadway designated as a scenic highway within a specific plan area; or on the rooftops of buildings that are designated on the National Register of Historic Places, including Contributing Buildings in National Register Historic Districts, the California Register of Historic Resources, the City of Los Angeles List of Historic-Cultural Monuments, or a Contributing Structure located in an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) that has been established pursuant to Section 12.20.3 of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 177,120, Eff. 12/26/05.)
 
   B.   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 A. of this section shall require prior approval in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.24.1 of this Code.
 
   C.   Area. (Amended by Ord. No. 144,365, Eff. 4/5/73 Operative, 9/1/73.) No building nor structure nor the enlargement of any building or structure shall be erected or maintained unless the following yards, lot areas and loading spaces are provided and maintained in connection with such building, structure or enlargement.
 
   In applying the provisions of this section, the front lot line of a corner lot shall be the line separating said lot from the principal street upon which it abuts. Where said lot abuts upon a major or secondary highway such highway shall be construed as being the principal street. Where a lot abuts upon two or more highways, and in all other cases, a Zoning Administrator shall determine which street is the principal street.
 
   1.   Front Yard – There shall be a front yard of not less than 10 feet in depth.
 
   2.   Side Yards – Side yards shall be required only in the following instances:
 
   (a)   Along the side street lot line of every corner lot in the CR Zone.
 
   (b)   Where the side lot line of the lot in the CR Zone abuts upon the side of a lot in an A or R Zone.
 
   (c)   For all portions of buildings erected and used for residential purposes.
 
   The width of the yard required along the side street lot line shall be not less than 10 percent of the lot width but need not exceed 10 feet and shall not be less than five feet.
 
   The width of the yard abutting an A or R Zone or required for buildings erected and used for residential purposes shall be not less than 10 percent of the lot width, but need not exceed five feet and shall be not less than three feet. One foot shall be added to the width of such side for each story above the second story, but such side yard need not exceed 16 feet in width.
 
   3.   Rear Yards – There shall be a rear yard of not less than 15 feet in depth. One foot shall be added to the depth of such rear yard for each additional story above the third story.
 
   4.   Lot Area – The lot area requirements of the R4 Zone (Section 12.11 C.4.) shall apply to all portions of buildings erected and used for residential purposes. (Amended by Ord. No. 148,783, Eff. 10/13/76.)
 
   5.   Loading Space – As required by Section 12.21 C.6. Exceptions to area regulations are provided in Section 12.22 C.