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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. 12.18. “MR2” RESTRICTED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
   (Renumbered by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.)
 
   The following purpose and regulations shall apply in the “MR2” Restricted Light Industrial Zone.
 
   A.   Purpose.
 
   1.   To protect industrial land for industrial use, and prohibit unrelated commercial and other non-industrial uses.
 
   2.   To provide a reasonable range of interim uses in the zone, so that land owners can receive income from temporary use, while the industrial land reserve is being protected for future growth.
 
   3.   upgrade industrial development standards:
 
   a.   so that industry will be a better neighbor to residences,
 
   b.   to protect industrial investment against incompatible industry, and
 
   c.   to prevent future industrial slums.
 
   4.   To preserve industrial land for light industrial uses and non-retail businesses which will enhance the City’s employment base. (Added by Ord. No. 169,366, Eff. 4/1/94.)
 
   5.   To reflect and accommodate the shift in industrial land uses from traditional industrial activity to uses such as those involving record management, Research and Development, information processing, electronic technology, and medical research. (Added by Ord. No. 169,366, Eff. 4/1/94.)
 
   B.   Use. (Amended by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.) – No structure or land shall be used and no building or structure shall be erected, structurally altered, enlarged or maintained, except for the following uses, or, where a “Supplemental Use District” is created by the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter, for such uses as may be permitted therein:
 
   1.   Any use permitted in the MR1 Zone provided that all regulations of said zone are complied with.
 
   2.   The following uses:
 
   a.   Bag cleaning (employing tabular vacuum cleaning and efficient dust collecting equipment - in completely enclosed building).
 
   b.   Bolt or screw thread rolling or cutting.
 
   c.   Bottle washing, collection or storage (in a completely enclosed building).
 
   d.   Box factory or cooperage.
 
   e.   Brewery.
 
   f.   Canvas, cloth, cork, excelsior or textile manufacturing.
 
   g.   Carpet or rug manufacturing.
 
   h.   Coil spring manufacturing (inner springs for mattresses and upholstered furniture using only coiling and knotting machines - light weight wire).
 
   i.   Die casting.
 
   j.   Electrical equipment manufacturing.
 
   k.   Enameling works.
 
   l.   Fencing, woven wire, manufacturing (from previously fabricated material - no galvanizing).
 
   m.   Insecticide or pesticide blending or mixing (previously manufactured ingredients - cold process).
 
   n.   Liquid fertilizer manufacturing (from previously manufactured chemicals and other inorganic materials by dissolving in water).
 
   o.   Lubricating oil, canning and packaging.
 
   p.   Match manufacturing, safety paper only.
 
   q.   Mortuary or mortuary schools, embalming business or undertaking business.
 
   r.   Pickle, yeast or vinegar manufacturing (in a completely enclosed building).
 
   s.   Roll forming of metal, cold process.
 
   t.   Aircraft factory. (Added by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.)
 
   u.   Animal keeping or raising (no hog ranches having more than 5 swine or stockyards or cattle-feeding yard). In no case, however, shall any new animal kennel be constructed within 500 feet of a residential zone without issuance of a conditional use permit. (Amended by Ord. No. 150,138, Eff. 10/31/77.)
 
   v.   Furniture manufacturing. (Added by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.)
 
   w.   Oxygen or nitrogen manufacturing, compressing and bulk storage in tanks. (Added by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.)
 
   x.   Screw machine products manufacturing. (Added by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.)
 
   y.   Storage, sorting, collecting or baling of rags, paper, scrap metal or junk, when conducted wholly within an enclosed building. (Added by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.)
 
   3.   The following uses when conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building or within an area enclosed on all sides with a solid wall or solid fence not less than eight feet in height, when no materials or equipment is stored to a height greater than that of the enclosing wall or fence (except that in lumber yards lumber may be stored to a height greater than said wall or fence) and the wall or fence is maintained as provided in Section 12.21 A.9. (Amended by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.)
 
   a.   Building materials salvage yard.
 
   b.   Monument works.
 
   c.   Planing mill or wholesale lumber yards.
 
   d.   (Deleted by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
 
   4.   Other uses similar to the above as provided for in Section 12.21 A.2. but not including uses which are or may become obnoxious or offensive by emission of odor, dust, smoke, noise, gas, fumes, cinders, vibration, refuse matter or water-carried waste, as determined by a Zoning Administrator.
 
   5.   Uses customarily incident to any of the above uses, and accessory buildings when located on the same lot, provided:
 
   a.   A dwelling shall be considered to be a permissible accessory building only when it is designed for and used solely by a guard or caretaker (including the guard’s or caretaker’s family) of an industrial development or of a permitted use which requires 24-hour supervision and is located on the same lot with such development or use.
 
   b.   Open storage of materials and equipment, including used materials and equipment, shall be permitted only within an area enclosed on all sides with a solid wall or solid fence not less than eight feet in height with necessary solid gates of the same height. No material or equipment shall be stored to a height greater than that of the wall or fence enclosing the storage area. However, storage in lumber yards, other than storage of used materials or equipment may be at a height greater than said wall or fence. The phrase “used materials and equipment” includes vehicles, boats, or airplanes which are inoperable, wrecked, damaged or unlicensed, i.e. not currently licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Amended by Ord. No. 162,335, Eff. 6/6/87.)
 
   c.   Signs or advertising structures hall indicate only the name, occupation or nature of activities conducted, services offered or the products sold or manufactured on the premises.
 
   d.   Open storage of materials and equipment, including used materials and equipment, existing on a lot when it is zoned “MR,” shall be enclosed as described herein. It shall be completely enclosed within a building or within an area enclosed on all sides with a solid wall or solid fence, including necessary solid gates, of a height sufficient to screen the use from public view, but in no event less than eight feet in height, within one year after the lot is zoned MR. The phrase “used materials and equipment” includes vehicles, boats, or airplanes which are inoperable, wrecked, damaged or unlicensed, i.e. not currently licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Amended by Ord. No. 162,335, Eff. 6/6/87.)
 
   6.   Public parking areas and parking buildings as primary or accessory uses, and loading space required or provided in connection with the permitted uses, as provided in Sections 12.21 A. and 12.21 C.6. of this Code.
 
   C.   Area. (Amended by Ord. No. 148,969, Eff. 12/16/76.) No building or structure nor the enlargement of any building or structure shall be hereafter erected or maintained unless the following yards and lot areas are provided and maintained in connection with such building, structure or enlargement.
 
   1.   Front Yard – On all lots 100 feet in depth or less, 5 feet; on all lots in excess of 100 feet in depth, 15 feet. All front yards shall be suitably landscaped and maintained except for necessary driveways and walkways.
 
   2.   Side Yard – Side yards conforming to the requirements of the “R4” Zone (Section 12.11 C.2.) shall be provided and maintained in connection with buildings erected and used principally for residential purposes.
 
   3.   Rear Yard – No rear yard shall be required for buildings erected and used exclusively for commercial or industrial purposes. For buildings other than those erected and used exclusively for commercial or industrial purposes, a rear yard, conforming to the requirements of the “R4” Zone (Section 12.11 C.3.) shall be provided and maintained at the floor level of the first story used in whole or in part for residential purposes.
 
   4.   Lot Area – The lot area requirements of the “R5” Zone (Section 12.12 C.4.) shall apply to buildings erected and used exclusively for dwelling purposes. For buildings other than those erected and used exclusively for dwelling purposes such requirements shall apply only to that portion of a building used for dwelling purposes.
 
   D.   Fence Modifications. Same as the MR1 Zone and subject to the same limitations of Section 12.17.5 E. (Added by Ord. No. 146,030, Eff. 7/11/74.)
 
   E.   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.