For the purpose of Article 2 to 6 inclusive of this chapter, certain terms and words are herewith defined as follows:
ABANDONED AUTOMOBILE. Any motor vehicle, which when operated upon a highway is required to be registered by the California Vehicle Code, whose registration has been expired for a period of six months or more. Notwithstanding the foregoing definition, a motor vehicle stored within a permitted building or structure shall not be considered to be an abandoned automobile. (Added by Ord. No. 131,925, Eff. 4/11/66.)
ACCESSORY BUILDING. A detached subordinate building, the use of which is customarily incidental to that of the main building or to the main use of the land and which is located in the same or a less restrictive zone and on the same lot with the main building or use. The relationship between the more restrictive and the less restrictive zones shall be determined by the sequence of zones set forth in Sec. 12.23 B.1.(c). (Amended by Ord. No. 106,571, Eff. 1/1/56.)
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (ADU). An attached or detached residential dwelling unit that provides complete independent living facilities for one or more persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence. It shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation on the same lot as the single- family or multi-family dwelling is or will be situated. ADUs include efficiency units as defined in Section 17958.1 of the Health and Safety Code, manufactured homes as defined in Section 18007 of the Health and Safety Code, and Movable Tiny Houses. (Added by Ord. No. 186,481, Eff. 12/19/19.)
ACCESSORY LIVING QUARTERS. An accessory building used solely as the temporary dwelling of guests of the occupants of the premises; such dwelling having no kitchen facilities and not rented or otherwise used as a separate dwelling unit. (Added by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
ACCESSORY USE. (Amended by Ord. No. 182,095, Eff. 5/7/12.) A use, which is customarily incidental to that of the main building or the main use of the land and which is located in the same zone or a less restrictive zone and on the same lot with a main building or main use. The relationship between the more restrictive zones and the less restrictive zones shall be determined by the sequence of zones set forth in Section 12.23 B. of this Code.
The garaging, maintaining or storage of any commercial vehicle on private property which exceeds a registered net weight of 5,600 pounds shall not be considered an accessory use in the “R” Zones. The rental, storage, or storage for rental purposes of a commercial vehicle which exceeds a registered net weight of 5,600 pounds shall not be considered an accessory use in any zone more restrictive than the MR-1 Zone, except as approved by conditional use.
An accessory use shall also include the keeping of domestic animals, subject to other provisions of this article; and the keeping of wild animals, under an appropriate permit issued by the Department of Animal Services as provided for in Section 53.38 of the Code, but in no event including the following wild animals: bear, civet, coyote, eagle, eland, elephant, elk, giraffe, gnu, gorilla, hyena, hippopotamus, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, moose, orangutan, venomous reptile, puma, rhinoceros, sea lion, tiger, vulture, walrus, wart hog, wolf or yak.
The sale of not more than one dog or cat litter from a domestic household in a 12-month period shall be considered accessory to a residential use.
The noncommercial keeping of birds (not including fowl) without regard to their number shall be an accessory use in the RA, RE, RS, R1, RU and RZ Zones. However, if the Department of Animal Services determines that the keeping of birds or the keeping of a particular number of birds at a particular location constitutes a nuisance or a health or safety hazard, then the keeping of birds under those circumstance shall not be an accessory use.
For the purposes of this section, the occasional sale of birds which is incidental to the keeping of birds as a hobby, does not constitute a commercial use.
Garage and/or yard sales shall be considered accessory to a residential use, if the sale is only incidental to the individual’s residential occupancy of the premises; and
1. The sales are confined to the sale of used items which were originally received or purchased for use in the household; and
2. The sales are restricted to a maximum of five sales events per calendar year as a means of disposing of used items originally received or purchased for use in the household; and
3. The sales are limited to not more than two consecutive days per event; and
4. The sales are limited to not more than ten days per calendar year total; and
5. The sales are limited to the hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For purposes of this section, the term accessory use shall not apply to any garage and/or yard sales where new goods or merchandise, or items that were not intended to be used in the household are offered or displayed for sale or exchange. (“Department of Animal Regulation” renamed “Department of Animal Services” by Ord. No. 174,735, Eff. 9/13/02.)
ADDITION, GROUND FLOOR. An expansion of the exterior perimeter of a building measured at five feet or more above adjacent grade at any point. (Added by Ord. No. 169,775, Eff. 6/2/94.)
ADJACENT GROUND ELEVATION. Same as grade. (Amended by Ord. No. 131,309, Eff. 4/24/66.)
ADMINISTRATOR – See “Zoning Administrator”.
AGRICULTURAL WASTE. All plant materials generated from the growing and harvesting of agricultural crops, vegetables and fruits. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
AIRPORT OR AIRCRAFT LANDING FIELD. Any runway landing area or other facility designed, used, or intended to be used either publicly or privately by any person for the landing and taking off of aircraft including all necessary taxiways, aircraft storage and tiedown areas, hangars and other necessary buildings and open spaces.
ALZHEIMER’S/DEMENTIA CARE HOUSING. Residential housing that is licensed by the California Department of Social Services and provides 24-hour care for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other disorders resulting in dementia. The residential units shall be guest rooms only. The housing may be a component of an Eldercare Facility. (Added by Ord. No. 178,063, Eff. 12/30/06.)
ANIMAL KEEPING ENCLOSURE. Any structure or fence which establishes the perimeter of an animal keeping and maintenance area. (Added by Ord. No. 157,144, Eff. 11/22/82.)
ANIMAL KEEPING STRUCTURE. Any structure, as defined by this Code, which has a roof and may have one or more sides and is used in whole or in part for the housing or shelter of animals. (Amended by Ord. No. 161,352, Eff. 7/20/86.)
APARTMENT. Same as dwelling unit. (Added by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
APARTMENT HOTEL. A residential building designed or used for both two or more dwelling units and six or more guest rooms or suites of rooms. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
APARTMENT HOUSE. A residential building designed or used for three or more dwelling units or a combination of three or more dwelling units and not more than five guest rooms or suites of rooms. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
APIARY. (Added by Ord. No. 183,920, Eff. 12/6/15.) The place where bees are kept and maintained, usually in a collection of hives or colonies.
AREA PLANNING COMMISSIONS. See Sec. 13A.1.4. (Area Planning Commission) 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.)
ASSISTED LIVING CARE HOUSING. Residential housing that is licensed by the California Department of Social Services and provides assistance to people 62 years of age or older who require assistance with two or more non-medical activities of daily living as defined in the Department of Social Services licensing requirements. The residential units may consist either of dwelling units or guest rooms. Full time medical services shall not be provided on the premises. The housing may be a component of an Eldercare Facility. (Added by Ord. No. 178,063, Eff. 12/30/06.)
ATTENDED BICYCLE PARKING SERVICE. A service by which a bicycle is left in the care of an attendant(s) with provision for identifying the bicycle’s owner. Once stored, a bicycle left in the care of an attendant(s) shall be accessible only to the attendant(s), with the storage location not necessarily in the same location as the pick-up and drop-off point. (Added by Ord. No. 185,480, Eff. 5/9/18.)
AUTOMOBILE DISMANTLING YARD. Any property or place where the business of an automobile dismantler, as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 220, is conducted. (Added by Ord. No. 152,770, Eff. 9/15/79.)
AUTOMOBILE FOR HIRE. An automobile for hire is a motor vehicle, other than a commercial vehicle with registered net weight in excess of 5,600 pounds, which is let or rented or offered for rental, lease or hire to another for consideration. (Added by Ord. No. 148,857, Eff. 10/31/76.)
AUTOMOBILE AND TRAILER SALES AREA. An open area other than a street, used for the display, sale or rental of new or used automobiles or trailers, and where no repair work is done except minor incidental repair of automobiles or trailers to be displayed, sold or rented on the premises.
AUTOMOTIVE FUELING AND SERVICE STATION. A business which dispenses automotive fuel to the public and may provide the following incidental services: tube and tire repairing, battery servicing, automotive lubrication, mechanical adjustments, changing of spark plugs and other similar maintenance activities. (Added by Ord. No. 169,130, Eff. 12/16/93.)
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. A use involving the diagnosing of malfunctions, repairing or maintaining of motor vehicles. Included in this definition are body shops, paint shops, tire stores, muffler shops, auto electric shops, van conversions, lubrication centers, auto-sound shops, auto-alarm shops, auto upholstery shops, wheel alignment shops and other similar automotive related repair or installation businesses; automotive repair does not include automotive fueling and service stations as defined in this section and installers of automotive telecommunication devices and computers. (Added by Ord. No. 169,130, Eff. 12/16/93.)
AUTOMOTIVE USE. The primary sale of used automobiles. In addition, this phrase shall include automotive repair and automobile and trailer sales area, as defined in this section. (Added by Ord. No. 178,382, Eff. 3/24/07.)
BACHELOR APARTMENT. Same as Efficiency Dwelling Unit. (Amended by Ord. No. 138,456, Eff. 5/30/69.)
BASE FLOOR. That story of a main building, at or above grade, which is not considered a basement, and which has the greatest number of square feet confined within the exterior walls, including the area of the attached covered parking at the same story. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
BASEMENT. Any level below the First Story of a Building. The ceiling of a Basement shall not be more than four vertical feet higher than the finished floor level of the First Story. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
BED AND BREAKFAST FACILITY. A building or portion thereof which is used as a temporary lodging place for fewer than thirty consecutive days and which does not contain more than five guest rooms and one kitchen. (Added by Ord. No. 172,792, Eff. 10/4/99.)
BEE. Any stage of life of the common domestic honey bee (Apis Mellifera). (Added by Ord. No. 183,920, Eff. 12/6/15.)
BEEKEEPING, BACKYARD. The keeping or maintenance of an apiary in a hive as an accessory use. (Added by Ord. No. 183,920, Eff. 12/6/15.)
BICYCLE CAGE. A locked bicycle parking area that has been fenced off to prohibit access by the general public. Bicycle cages shall contain bicycle racks that provide a means of securing the bicycle frame at two points to a securely anchored rack. (Added by Ord. No. 182,386, Eff. 3/13/13.)
BICYCLE CORRAL. Any on-street public parking space in which multiple short-term bicycle parking racks have been installed. (Added by Ord. No. 182,386, Eff. 3/13/13.)
BICYCLE ROOM. A locked bicycle parking area that has been walled off to prohibit access by the general public. Bicycle rooms shall contain bicycle racks that provide a means of securing the bicycle frame at two points to a securely anchored rack. (Added by Ord. No. 182,386, Eff. 3/13/13.)
BICYCLE SHARE DOCK. A device designed to receive a bicycle for locked storage as part of a system that directly rents bicycles on a short-term basis. (Added by Ord. No. 185,480, Eff. 5/9/18.)
BICYCLE SHARE SERVICE PROVIDER. An entity operating a system that directly provides bicycles for rent on a short-term basis. (Added by Ord. No. 185,480, Eff. 5/9/18.)
BICYCLE SHARE STATION. A combination of multiple bicycle share docks, automated payment equipment, and related equipment associated with bicycle share. (Added by Ord. No. 185,480, Eff. 5/9/18.)
BLOODMOBILE. A vehicle, or portable structure transported by a vehicle, easily transportable in one or more sections, which is used to provide blood collection services on a temporary basis in any one lo- cation. (Added by Ord. No. 166,045, Eff. 8/17/90.)
BOARD. (Repealed by Ord. No. 173,268, Eff. 7/1/00, Oper. 7/1/00.)
BOARDING OR ROOMING HOUSE. A dwelling containing a single dwelling unit and not more than five guest rooms or suites of rooms, where lodging is provided with or without meals, for compensation. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
BUILDABLE AREA. (Amended by Ord. No. 171,662, Eff. 8/17/97.) All that portion of a lot located within the proper zone for the proposed main building, excluding those portions of the lot which must be reserved for yard spaces, building line setback space, or which may only be used for accessory buildings or uses. For the purpose of computing the height district limitations on total floor area in buildings of any height, the buildable area that would apply to a one-story building on the lot shall be used.
Notwithstanding the above, in computing the height district limitations on total floor area for any development of residential dwelling units, or of both residential dwelling units and commercial uses, in the C2, C4, or C5 zones, buildable area shall have the same meaning as lot area. The additional square footage permitted by this calculation for residential use shall not result in an increase in the number of dwelling units beyond that which would have otherwise been permitted but may only be used to increase the floor area or number of habitable rooms within individual dwelling units.
This alternate definition of buildable area shall not apply within the following specific plan areas: Central City West, Century City North, Century City South, Coastal Bluffs, Devonshire/Topanga Corridor, Foothill Boulevard Corridor, Granada Hills, Oxford Triangle, Pacific Palisades Commercial Village/Neighborhoods, Playa Vista Area D, Porter Ranch Land Use/Transportation, San Pedro, Valley Village, and Westwood Village. This alternative definition shall also not apply to any lot for which a “Q” or “D” limitation setting forth a floor area limitation had been imposed before July 1, 1997. In the event of a conflict with any other adopted specific plan, the most restrictive provision shall prevail.
BUILDING. Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls, for the housing, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or property of any kind. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
BUNGALOW COURT. A group of three or more single, duplex, or triplex dwelling structures oriented around a shared outdoor space on a single parcel. (Added by Ord. No. 185,462, Eff. 4/18/18.)
CARGO CONTAINER. Any container (refrigerated or non-refrigerated) that permits the temporary storage and protection of cargo, and which may be transported by ship, rail or truck without intermediate loading and unloading of the contents of the container. (Added by Ord. No. 177,244, Eff. 2/18/06.)
CARGO CONTAINER STORAGE YARD. An open-air site or facility, the primary use of which is the keeping of empty cargo containers, and equipment, and may have as accessory uses the storage of container chassis and truck cabs, repair facilities, warehouses and offices associated with the movement or storage of cargo containers. This definition does not include draying, freighting or trucking yards or terminals. (Added by Ord. No. 177,244, Eff. 2/18/06.)
CEMETERY. Land used or intended to be used for the burial of the dead and dedicated for cemetery purposes, including columbariums, crematories, mausoleums and mortuaries when operated in conjunction with and within the boundary of such cemetery.
CHILD CARE FACILITY. A facility in which non-residential care is provided for children, 16 years of age or under, when licensed as a day care facility for children by the State of California or other agency designated by the State, under the categories defined in Section 30019 of Title 22 of the State of California Administrative Code. (Added by Ord. No. 145,474, Eff. 3/2/74.)
CHIPPING/GRINDING FACILITY. Any facility which temporarily stores and/or processes source-separated green waste and/or wood waste by means of chipping, grinding, mixing and/or screening to produce a material of varying particle size. The material produced by the above described processes may be used as ground cover, biofuel, wood chips, animal bedding, worm food or other similar uses. This definition shall not include any chipping and/or grinding of green waste and/or wood waste conducted for noncommercial, nonprofit purpose. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. See Sec. 13A.1.3. (City Planning Commission) 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.)
COLLECTION BIN. Any box, canister, receptacle, or other container that can be opened and closed, and is used for collecting salvageable personal property, including, but not limited to, clothing, shoes, books, and household items for periodic off-site processing and/or redistribution. For purposes of this definition, salvageable personal property shall not include recyclable materials not intended for re-use, including, but not limited to, newspapers, plastic, glass, aluminum, electronics, toxic or hazardous materials, and solid waste; nor any personal property that, because of its size, does not fit inside the Collection Bin. (Added by Ord. No. 187,248, 12/13/21.)
COMMERCIAL COACH. A vehicle with or without motive power, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional or commercial purposes. (Added by Ord. No. 161,716, Eff. 12/6/86.)
COMMERCIAL CORNER DEVELOPMENT. (Amended by Ord. No. 175,223, Eff. 6/30/03.)
(1) Any commercially used corner lot located in a C or M zone in Height District Nos. 1, 1-L, 1-VL or 1-XL, the lot line of which adjoins, is separated only by an alley adjacent to, or is located across the street from, any portion of a lot zoned A or R, or improved with any residential use (except in an M zone), or
(2) Any multi-family residentially used corner lot located in a C zone in Height District Nos. 1, 1-L, 1-VL or 1-XL, the lot line of which adjoins, is separated only by an alley adjacent to, or is located across the street from, any portion of a lot zoned RW1 or more restrictive zone.
For purposes of this definition, a Commercial Corner Development can be located on more than one lot only if the lots are adjacent, not divided by a public street, have a common parking area, and one or more buildings are erected or are proposed to be erected upon the lots.
COMMISSION. (Repealed by Ord. No. 173,374, Eff. 8/3/00.)
COMMUNITY APARTMENT PROJECT. The same as defined by Section 11004 of the California Business and Professions Code. (Added by Ord. No. 151,432, Eff. 10/12/78.)
COMPACTION. The densification of a Fill by mechanical means. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
COMPOSTING FACILITY. Any facility which processes source-separated organic materials to a stabilized state through controlled biological decomposition where the resultant material is beneficial to plant growth or soil structure when used as a soil amendment. Materials may initially be chipped, shredded, and/or screened on site prior to being composted. Composting may be conducted in an in-vessel system or in the open, such as windrow composting or aerated static pile composting. This definition shall not include any composting of green waste and/or wood waste conducted for non commercial, nonprofit purpose. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
CONDOMINIUM. The same as defined by Section 783 of the California Civil Code. (Added by Ord. No. 151.432. Eff. 10/12/78.)
CONVERSION PROJECT, COMMERCIAL/ INDUSTRIAL. An existing building used exclusively for commercial or industrial purposes, or both, proposed for conversion to a condominium or stock cooperative to be used exclusively for such purposes through approval of a tract or parcel map. For purposes of this definition, the term “existing” means that the building was constructed prior to 1945, or if it was built after 1945, a certificate of occupancy was issued for the building prior to the time of map application. (Added by Ord. No. 154,960, Eff. 4/3/81.)
CONVERSION PROJECT, COMMERCIAL/ INDUSTRIAL TO RESIDENTIAL. An existing building used exclusively for commercial or industrial purposes, or both, proposed for conversion to a condominium, stock cooperative or community apartment to be used exclusively for residential purposes through approval of a tract or parcel map. For purposes of this definition, the term “existing” means that the building was constructed prior to 1945 or, if it was built after 1945, a certificate of occupancy was issued for the building prior to the time of map application. (Added by Ord. No. 154,960, Eff. 4/3/81.)
CONVERSION PROJECT, RESIDENTIAL. An existing apartment house, apartment hotel, hotel, multiple dwelling or group dwelling used exclusively for residential purposes proposed for conversion to a condominium, stock cooperative, or community apartment project to be used exclusively for residential purposes through approval of a tract or parcel map. For purposes of this definition, the term “existing” means that the building was constructed prior to 1945 or, if it was built after 1945, a certificate of occupancy has been issued for the building prior to the time of map application. (Amended by Ord. No. 154,960, Eff. 4/3/81.)
CONVERSION PROJECT, RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL. An existing apartment house, apartment hotel, hotel, multiple dwelling or group dwelling used exclusively for residential purposes proposed for conversion to a condominium or stock cooperative which is to be used exclusively for commercial or industrial purposes through approval of a tract or parcel map. For purposes of this definition, the term “existing” means that the building was constructed prior to 1945 or, if it was built after 1945, a certificate of occupancy was issued for the building prior to the time of map application. (Added by Ord. No. 154,960, Eff. 4/3/81.)
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS OR REGIONAL HOME OFFICE. The main administrative center or centers of one or more enterprises whose day-to-day functions is the retrieval and/or dissemination of information to a subsidiary and/or client business in and outside the City’s jurisdiction, through the means of electronic or data processing. (Added by Ord. No. 169,366, Eff. 4/1/94.)
COUNSELING AND REFERRAL FACILITY. (Added by Ord. No. 149,517. Eff. 5/26/77.) A neighborhood facility which provides counseling services and subsequently refers applicants to appropriate licensed social service agencies offering professional remedial assistance. Counseling and referral services may be offered in one or more of the following areas: welfare, housing, employment, health, education, legal matters, job development, consumer action, recreation, family problems, juvenile problems, probation, and neighborhood improvement. Tutoring and legal aid shall be permitted as an accessory use only.
The facility may also administer the implementation of government funded programs established to provide low-income housing, job development classes and recreation.
The facility shall:
(a) permit no more than 5 employees, and;
(b) where located in a residentially developed area, maintain the residential character of the exterior of the building.
CURB LEVEL. The level of the established curb in front of the building measured at the center of such front. Where no curb level has been established, the City Engineer shall establish such curb level or its equivalent for the purpose of this article.
CURING FACILITY. Any composting facility, as defined by this Code, where additional and/or final biological stabilization is attained after most of the readily metabolized material has been decomposed, and where no chipping, grinding, or screening of material takes place. This definition shall not include any curing of green waste and/or wood waste conducted for noncommercial, nonprofit purpose. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
CUT. A portion of land surface or areas from which earth has been removed or will be removed by excavation. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
DANCE HALL. Any place where public dances are held or conducted, other than when incidental to the operation of a hotel, apartment hotel, banquet room, catering hall, church, school or lodge. (Amended by Ord. No. 169,990, Eff. 9/17/94.)
DANCE HALL, HOSTESS. Any dance hall or place conducting public dances where partners are provided for dancing or social contacts by those conducting, managing, maintaining or operating such public dances for patrons or guests and for which such patrons or guests pay a fee or other consideration. (Added by Ord. No. 155,718, Eff. 8/6/81.)
DANCE, PUBLIC. A gathering of persons in or upon any premises where dancing is participated in and to which premises the public is admitted. (Added by Ord. No. 155,718, Eff. 8/6/81.)
DAY CARE FACILITY. Same as Child Care Facility. (Added by Ord. No. 145,474, Eff. 3/2/74.)
DAY-CARE HOME. (Deleted by Ord. No. 173,085, Eff. 3/19/00.)
DAY-CARE HOME, LARGE FAMILY. (Deleted by Ord. No. 173,085, Eff. 3/19/00.)
DAY-CARE HOME, SMALL FAMILY. (Deleted by Ord. No. 173,085, Eff. 3/19/00.)
DESTROYED. Damaged so as to not be habitable as determined by the Department of Building and Safety. (Added by Ord. No. 153,144, Eff. 12/28/79.)
DINING AREA. A recess from a room or an alcove, adjoining and interconnected with the kitchen by a door or opening. (Added by Ord. No. 146,421, Eff. 9/14/74.)
DIRECTOR OF PLANNING (DIRECTOR). See Sec. 13A.1.6. (Director of Planning) 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.)
DISASTER. Fire, flood, wind, earthquake, or other calamity, act of God or the public enemy. (Added by Ord. No. 153,144, Eff. 12/28/79.)
DORMITORY. A guest room designed, intended or occupied as sleeping quarters by more than two persons. Every 100 square feet of superficial floor area in a dormitory shall be considered as a separate guest room. (Added by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
DOWNTOWN DESIGN GUIDE PROJECT AREA. (Added by Ord. No. 181,557, Eff. 3/15/11.) Those portions of the Central City Community Plan Area as shown in the shaded portion of Map A, dated April 30, 2010, and attached to Council File No. 10-1196, generally bounded by:
U.S. Highway 101 on the north, Alameda Street on the east, Second Street on the south, and Harbor Freeway (110 Freeway) on the west;
Fourth and Fifth Streets on the north, the alley easterly of Hill Street (Lindley Place), Grand Avenue, and Olive Street on the east, Olympic Boulevard and James M. Wood Boulevard on the south, and Harbor Freeway (110 Freeway) on the west;
Olympic Boulevard and Eleventh Street on the north, Figueroa Street on the east, Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate 10) on the south, and the Harbor Freeway (110 Freeway) on the west; and,
Ninth Street on the north, Crocker Street on the east, Twelfth Street on the south, and Main Street on the west.
DRIVE-THROUGH FAST-FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. Any establishment which dispenses food for consumption on or off the premises to an individual in a vehicle. (Added by Ord. No. 166,904, Eff. 5/18/91.)
DWELLING. Any residential building, other than an Apartment House, Hotel or Apartment Hotel. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
DWELLING, GROUP. Two or more one- family, two-family or multiple dwelling, apartment houses or boarding or rooming houses, located on the same lot. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
DWELLING, MULTIPLE. A dwelling containing two dwelling units and not more than five guest rooms. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY. A detached dwelling containing only one dwelling unit. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A dwelling containing two dwelling units. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
DWELLING UNIT. A group of two or more rooms, one of which is a kitchen, designed for occupancy by one family for living and sleeping purposes. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
DWELLING UNIT, LOW INCOME. (Deleted by Ord. No. 180,308, Eff. 12/7/08.)
DWELLING UNIT, MODERATE INCOME. (Deleted by Ord. No. 180,308, Eff. 12/7/08.)
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Colleges or universities supported wholly or in part by public funds and other colleges or universities giving general academic instruction as prescribed by the State Board of Education.
EFFICIENCY DWELLING UNIT. A room located within an apartment house or apartment hotel used or intended to be used for residential purposes which has a kitchen and living and sleeping quarters combined therein, and which complies with the requirements of Section 91.4930.2 of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 138,456. Eff. 5/30/69.)
ELDERCARE FACILITY. One functionally operated facility, which provides residential housing for persons 62 years of age and older, and which combines in one facility, two or more of the following housing types: Senior Independent Housing, Assisted Living Care Housing, Skilled Nursing Care Housing, and/or Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care Housing. A minimum of 75 percent of the floor area, exclusive of common areas, shall consist of Senior Independent Housing and/or Assisted Living Care Housing. (Added by Ord. No. 178,063, Eff. 12/30/06.)
ELEVATION. Vertical distance in feet above sea level. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
ENCROACHMENT PLANE. An invisible inclined plane sloping inward at a forty-five degree angle from the vertical extension of the required front and side yard setbacks that originates at a specified height. A building may not intersect the encroachment plane. The encroachment plane restriction does not apply to roof structures and equipment as allowed by Section 12.21.1 B.3. For the purpose of this definition, height shall be measured from the existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, along the required front and side yard setbacks. (Added by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
Figure 12.03-1: Encroachment Plane diagram.
Different zones have different encroachment plane origin heights.
(Added by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
(Added by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
EQUINE. Any horse, pony, donkey, burro, or mule which is 12 months of age or older and is issued a current Equine License by the City Department of Animal Services. An animal which is under 12 months of age and is the offspring of or is unweaned and being nursed by a female equine lawfully kept on the property where said animal is kept shall not be considered an equine and shall be allowed by right on said property. (“Department of Animal Regulation” renamed “Department of Animal Services” by Ord. No. 174,735, Eff. 9/13/02.)
EQUINE ENCLOSURE. Any structure or fence which establishes the perimeter of an equine keeping and maintenance area. (Added by Ord. No. 157,144. Eff. 11/22/82.)
FACTORY-BUILT HOME. A residential building, dwelling unit, or individual dwelling room or combination of rooms, or building component, assembly, or system manufactured in such a manner that all concealed parts or processes of manufacture cannot be inspected before installation at the building site without disassembly of, or damage or destruction to the part. This home shall comply with all applicable provisions of the California State Factory-Built Housing law. The term “factory-built home” shall not include a mobilehome, mobile accessory building or structure, recreational vehicle, or commercial coach. (Added by Ord. No. 161,716, Eff. 12/6/86.)
FAMILY. One or more persons living together in a dwelling unit, with common access to, and common use of all living, kitchen, and eating areas within the dwelling unit. (Amended by Ord. No. 177,325, Eff. 3/18/06.)
FAMILY DAY CARE HOME. A dwelling unit that regularly provides care, protection, and supervision for 14 or fewer children, in the provider’s own home, for periods of less than 24 hours per day, while the parents or guardians are away, and is either a large family day care home or a small family day care home. (Added by Ord. No. 173,085, Eff. 3/19/00.)
FAMILY DAY CARE HOME, LARGE. A family day care home for 9 to 14 children, including children under the age of 10 years who reside at the home, as set forth in Health and Safety Code Section 1597.465. (Amended by Ord. No. 176,545, Eff. 5/2/05.)
FAMILY DAY CARE HOME, SMALL. A family day care home for 8 or fewer children, including children under the age of 10 years who reside at the home, as set forth in Health and Safety Code Section 1597.44. (Amended by Ord. No. 176,545, Eff. 5/2/05.)
FARMING. The cultivation of berries, flowers, fruits, grains, herbs, mushrooms, nuts, ornamental plants, seedlings or vegetables for use on-site or sale or distribution on-site or off-site. (Added by Ord. No. 181,188, Eff. 7/18/10.)
FILL. The depositing of soil, rock or other earth materials by artificial means. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
FLOOR AREA. The area in square feet confined within the exterior walls of a Building, but not including the area of the following: exterior walls, stairways, shafts, rooms housing Building-operating equipment or machinery, parking areas with associated driveways and ramps, space dedicated to bicycle parking, space for the landing and storage of helicopters, Outdoor Dining Areas, and Basement storage areas. Buildings on properties zoned RA, RE, RS, and R1, except properties in the Coastal Zone which are not designated as Hillside Area, are subject to the definition of Residential Floor Area. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,073, Eff. 1/31/24.)
FLOOR AREA, RESIDENTIAL. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.) The area in square feet confined within the exterior walls of a residential or non-residential Building on a Lot in an RA, RE, RS, or R1 Zone. Any floor or portion of a floor with a ceiling height greater than 14 feet shall count as twice the square footage of that area. The area of stairways and elevator shafts shall only be counted once regardless of ceiling height. Area of an attic or portion of an attic with a ceiling height of more than 7 feet shall be included in the Residential Floor Area calculation.
Except that the following areas shall not be counted:
1. Required Covered Parking.
(a) The total area of 200 square feet per parking space that is required to be covered, up to a maximum of 400 square feet, shall be exempted from being counted as Residential Floor Area if all of said parking, whether detached or attached, is located in accordance with the following criteria:
(1) Said parking is located within the rear half of the Lot, or at least 55 feet from a Front Lot Line.
(2) On a Through Lot with no Rear Lot Line, said parking is set back from both Front Lot Lines a distance of at least 40 feet.
(b) If the parking that is required to be covered is not located in accordance with Paragraph (a) above, then only 200 square feet shall be exempted from being counted as Residential Floor Area.
(c) In any event, the required parking area exempted from counting as Residential Floor Area by this exception shall be limited to 400 square feet per Lot.
2. Detached Accessory Buildings. Detached Accessory Buildings not exceeding 200 square feet; however, the total combined area exempted of all the Detached Accessory Buildings on a Lot shall not exceed 400 square feet.
3. Lattice Roof Porches, Patios, and Breezeways. Porches, patios, and breezeways that have a Lattice Roof, as defined in this section.
4. Basements. For Lots not located in the Hillside Area or Coastal Zone, any Basement when the Elevation of the upper surface of the floor or roof above the Basement does not exceed 2 feet in height at any point above the finished or natural Grade, whichever is lower.
For Lots located in the Hillside Area, any Basement when the Elevation of the upper surface of the floor or roof above the Basement does not exceed 3 feet in height at any point above the finished or natural Grade, whichever is lower, for at least 60 percent of the perimeter length of the exterior Basement walls.
For all Lots, the following shall not disqualify said Basement from this exemption:
(a) A maximum of one (1), 20-foot wide depressed driveway with direct access to the required covered parking spaces; and
(b) A maximum of two (2) light- wells which are not visible from a public right-of-way and do not project more than three feet from the exterior walls of the Basement and no wider than 6 feet.
FLOOR AREA RATIO (FAR). A ratio establishing relationship between a property and the amount of development permitted for that property, and is expressed as a percentage or a ratio of the Buildable Area or Lot size (example: “3 times the Buildable Area” or “3:1”). (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
FLOOR AREA RATIO, RESIDENTIAL (RFAR). A ratio establishing the relationship between a property and the amount of development permitted for that property, expressed as a percentage or a ratio of the Lot size (example: “0.45 of the Lot size”). (Added by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
FOSTER CARE HOME. A dwelling unit in which full-time care is provided for unrelated children, 16 years of age or under, as part of the family, when such use is licensed by the State of California or other agency designated by the State as a full-time foster home. Foster care children may be in addition to those permitted under the definition of “Family” contained in this section. (Added by Ord. No. 145,474, Eff. 3/2/74)
FRONTAGE. All property fronting on one (1) side of a street between intersecting or intercepting streets, or between a street and right-of-way, waterway, end of dead-end street, or city boundary measured along the street line. An intercepting street shall determine only the boundary of the frontage on the side of the street which it intercepts.
GARAGE, PRIVATE. An accessory building or portion of a main building designed or used for parking or storage of motor vehicles of the occupants of a residential use. (Amended by Ord. No. 144,082, Eff. 12/11/72.)
GARAGE, PUBLIC. A building or portion of a building designed or used for the repairing, equipping or servicing of motor vehicles, or for the parking or storage of motor vehicles for remuneration, hire, sale, or convenience of the occupants of the premises or the general public, but not including a private garage. (Amended by Ord. No. 144,082, Eff. 12/11/72.)
GENERAL PLAN. A General Plan is a comprehensive declaration of purposes, policies and programs for the development of the city, which includes, where applicable, diagrams, maps and text setting forth objections, principles, standards and other features, and which has been adopted by the City Council. (Added by Ord. No. 138,800, Eff. 6/13/69, Oper. 6/23/69.)
GRADE (ADJACENT GROUND LEVEL). Is the lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk within the area between the building and the property line, or when the property line is more than 5 feet from the building, between the building and a line 5 feet from the building. This definition does not apply to any building or structure located within the boundaries of the Century City North or Century City South Specific Plans and which is subject to Section 12.21.2 of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 160,657, Eff. 2/17/86, Oper. 6/17/86.)
GRADE, HILLSIDE AREA. For the purpose of measuring height on an R1, RS, RE, or RA zoned Lot in the Hillside Area, pursuant to Section 12.21 C.10. of this Code, Hillside Area Grade shall be defined as the Elevation, at the perimeter of a Building or Structure, of the finished or natural surface of the ground, whichever is lower, or the finished surface of the ground established in conformance with a grading plan approved pursuant to a recorded tract or parcel map action. Retaining walls shall not raise the effective Elevation of Grade for purposes of measuring Height of a Building or Structure (Amended by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
GRADING. Any Cut or Fill, or combination thereof, or recompaction of soil, rock or other earth materials. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
GRADING, LANDFORM. A contour grading method which creates artificial Slopes with curves and varying Slope ratios in the horizontal plane designed to simulate the appearance of surrounding natural terrain. The graded Slopes are non-linear in plan view, have varying Slope gradients, and significant transition zones between human-made and natural Slopes resulting in pad configurations that are irregular. The concept of Landform Grading incorporates the created ravine and ridge shapes with protective drainage control systems and integrated landscaping designs. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
GRADING, REMEDIAL. For the purposes of Section 12.21 C.10. of this Code, Remedial Grading shall mean grading recommended by a California Licensed Geologist and/or Licensed Engineer prepared in accordance with Sections 91.7006.2, 91.7006.3, and 91.7006.4 of this Code, and approved by the Department of Building and Safety - Grading Division, that is necessary to mitigate a geologic or geotechnical hazard on a site (including for access driveways), including, but not limited to: 1) correction of hazardous soil and earth conditions, when notified by the Department of Building and Safety in accordance with Section 91.7005.7 of this Code, 2) removal and re-compaction of soil for a Building site to remediate expansive, compressible or seismically unstable soils, 3) grading required to provide a minimum factor of safety of 1.5 for stability of slopes, and/or 4) grading to bring existing steep non-conforming graded slopes into conformance with current Code requirements for fill and excavated slope gradients. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
GREATER DOWNTOWN HOUSING INCENTIVE AREA. Those portions of the Central City and Southeast Community Plan Areas generally bounded by the 101 Freeway on the north, the 110 freeway and Figueroa Street (south of Adams Blvd) on the west, Alameda and Grand Avenue (south of 21st Street) on the east, and Washington Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd (west of Broadway) on the south as shown in the shaded portion of Map A, dated January 23, 2007, attached to Council File No. 05-1173. (Added by Ord. No. 179,076, Eff. 9/23/07.)
GREEN WASTES. All yard trimmings and/or leaves, grass clippings, agricultural wastes and vegetative landscaping materials generated from the maintenance of yards, parks or other similar facilities. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
GROUND FLOOR. The story or basement within a portion of a building that has an access door that is directly accessible to and fronts on the street, and the elevation of the floor level is within three feet above or below the adjacent curb. The point on the adjacent curb is determined by drawing a line perpendicular to the door between the centerline of such door and the curb of the street. No portion of a ground floor can be located directly above or below another ground floor. (Added by Ord. No. 174,999, Eff. 1/15/03.)
GUEST HOUSE. A dwelling containing not more than five guest rooms or suites of rooms, but with no kitchen facilities. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
GUEST ROOM. Any habitable room except a kitchen, designed or used for occupancy by one or more persons and not in a dwelling unit. (Added by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
HEIGHT OF BUILDING OR STRUCTURE. Is the vertical distance above grade measured to the highest point of the roof, structure, or the parapet wall, whichever is highest. Retaining walls shall not be used for the purpose of raising the effective elevation of the finished grade for purposes of measuring the height of a building or structure. This definition does not apply to any building or structure located within the boundaries of the Century City North and Century City South Specific Plans and which is subject to Section 12.21.2 of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 160,657, Eff. 2/17/86, Oper. 6/17/86.)
HIGHWAY, MAJOR. Any street designated as a major highway on the Highways and Freeways maps of the Transportation Element of the General Plan. (Amended by Ord. No. 172,840, Eff. 11/4/99.)
HIGHWAY, SECONDARY. Any street designated as a secondary highway on the Highways and Freeways maps of the Transportation Element of the General Plan. (Amended by Ord. No. 172,840, Eff. 11/4/99.)
HILLSIDE AREA. Any land designated as Hillside Area as shown in the shaded portion of the Department of City Planning Hillside Area Map, dated September 23, 2009, attached to Council File No. 09-1390. The map is maintained by the Department of City Planning as part of the Geographic Information Systems database. (Amended by Ord. No. 181,128, Eff. 5/3/10.)
HISTORIC VEHICLE COLLECTION. One or more vehicles, as defined by Sections 5004(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the California Vehicle Code, special interest vehicles, as defined by Section 5051(b) of the California Vehicle Code, out-of-production vehicles of historical importance, as determined by the Zoning Administrator or parts cars, as defined in Section 5051(c) of the California Vehicle Code, which are collected, restored, or maintained for non-commercial hobby or historical purposes. (Added by Ord. No. 161,931, Eff. 3/2/87.)
HIVE. A structure that houses a bee colony. (Added by Ord. No. 183,920, Eff. 12/6/15.)
HOME OCCUPATION. An occupation carried on by the occupant or occupants of a dwelling as a secondary use in connection with the main use of the property, subject to the regulations of Section 12.05 A.16. of this Code. For dwelling units where a home occupation is conducted, the home occupation shall be considered a residential use for zoning purposes. (Amended by Ord. No. 171,427, Eff. 1/4/97, Oper. 3/5/97.)
HOME-SHARING. An accessory use of a Host’s Primary Residence for a maximum of 120 days in a calendar year for the purpose of providing Short- Term Rental in compliance with the registration and other requirements of Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.22 A.32. For purposes of this definition, the terms “Host”, “Short-Term Rental” and “Primary Residence” shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 12.22 A.32. of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 185,931, Eff. 7/1/19.)
HOSTEL. A one-family dwelling, boarding or rooming house, dormitory, apartment hotel or apartment house which is advertised as a hostel or which is listed with any recognized national or international hostel organization. (Added by Ord. No 167,689, Eff. 5/9/92.)
HOTEL. A residential building designated or used for or containing six or more guest rooms, or suites of rooms, which may also contain not more than one dwelling unit, but not including any institution in which human beings are housed or detained under legal restraint. (Amended by Ord. No. 138,685, Eff. 7/10/69.)
HOTEL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. A Development Project that includes the creation of hotel/motel guest rooms, apartment hotels, hostels, or transient-occupancy residential structure dwelling units or an addition of 25 percent or more new hotel/motel guest rooms, apartment hotels, hostels, or transient-occupancy residential structure dwelling units to an existing hotel. (Added by Ord. No. 188,072, Eff. 7/1/24.)
HOUSEHOLD, LOW INCOME. (Deleted by Ord. No. 180,308, Eff. 12/7/08.)
HOUSEHOLD, MODERATE INCOME. (Deleted by Ord. No. 180,308, Eff. 12/7/08.)
HOUSEHOLD MOVING RENTAL TRUCK. Any motor vehicle which is displayed, stored or offered for rental without a driver, used and maintained solely for the transportation of property, primarily used for the do-it-yourself movement of personal or household goods by private individuals on a short-term basis, having only two axles, and equipped with a body of no more than 22 feet in length measured at the vehicle chassis nor more than 12 feet in height measured from the surface upon which the involved truck rests. Such vehicle may exceed 5600 pounds in registered net weight. (Amended by Ord. No. 151,717, Eff. 1/13/79.)
HOUSING AUTHORITY. (Deleted by Ord. No. 180,308, Eff. 12/7/08.)
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. The construction pursuant to a building permit of, or the proposed conversion to condominium ownership pursuant to a final subdivision tract map submitted for approval of any apartment house, apartment hotel, multiple dwelling or group dwelling, residential condominium development or cooperative apartment home having five or more dwelling units. (Added by Ord. No. 145,927, Eff. 6/3/74.)
HOUSING DIRECTOR. (Deleted by Ord. No. 180,308, Eff. 12/7/08.)
INOPERABLE VEHICLE. Any motor vehicle or trailer which is incapable of immediate and sustained movement for which it was designed. (Added by Ord. No. 176,840, Eff. 9/4/05.)
IN-VESSEL COMPOSTING. A process in which compostable material is enclosed in a drum, silo or similar structure where the environmental conditions are controlled and the compostable material is aerated and mechanically agitated. This process allows for accelerated decomposition. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
JOINT LIVING AND WORK QUARTERS. A residential occupancy of one or more rooms or floors used as a dwelling unit with adequate work space reserved for, and regularly used by, one or more persons residing there. (Amended by Ord. No. 181,133, Eff. 5/11/10.)
JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT (JADU). A unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size and contained entirely within a single-family residence. A Junior Accessory Dwelling unit may include separate sanitation facilities, or may share sanitation facilities with the existing structure. (Added by Ord. No. 186,481, Eff. 12/19/19.)
JUNK YARD. Any property or place where the business of a junk dealer, as defined by either Section 21601 of the California Business and Profession’s Code or Section 103.305 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, is conducted – other than wholly within an enclosed building. In addition, a junk yard shall include property used for the storage of impounded, abandoned, partially dismantled, obsolete or wrecked automobiles – other than wholly within an enclosed building. Junk Yard does not include an Historic Vehicle Collection when maintained as an Accessory Use as defined by Section 12.03 of the Municipal Code, or Scrap Metal Processing Yard as defined in the Municipal Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 161,931, Eff. 3/2/87.)
KENNEL. Any lot, building, structure, enclosure or premises where four or more dogs that are each at least four months of age are kept or maintained, with the exception of a Pet Shop. (Amended by Ord. No. 186,372, Eff. 12/10/19.)
A municipality may lawfully regulate the number of dogs that may be kept and may also prescribe an age limit.
Miller v. City of Arcadia, (1932) 121 Cal. App. 660.
Miller v. City of Arcadia, (1932) 121 Cal. App. 660.
KITCHEN. Any room or any portion of a dwelling unit, whether an enclosing subdivision thereof or otherwise, used or intended or designed to be used for cooking and preparing food except a light house- keeping room or that portion of a recreation room in a multiple residential use, or in an accessory building appurtenant thereto, containing the facilities for the cooking and preparation of food. (Amended by Ord. No. 140,191, Eff. 5/15/70, Operative 10/12/70.)
LEACHATES. Any liquid which has come into contact with or percolated through composting or curing materials and contains extracted or dissolved substances therefrom, or any other liquid which has been generated by the decomposition process. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING ROOM. Any guest room which is designed and used as a bedroom and for the cooking and preparing of food, in a conformance with the provisions of Section 91.4930.1 of Article 1, Chapter 9 of this Code. For the purpose of applying the lot area and automobile parking space requirements of the various zones, each light housekeeping room shall be considered as a separate guest room. (Added by Ord. No. 113,548, Eff. 6/10/59.)
LOADING SPACE. An off street space or berth on the same lot with a building, or contiguous to a group of buildings, for the temporary parking of a commercial vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials, and which abuts upon a street, alley or other appropriate means of access.
LOT. A parcel of land occupied or to be occupied by a use, building or unit group of buildings and accessory buildings and uses, together with the yards, open spaces, lot width and lot area as are required by this chapter and fronting for a distance of at least 20 feet upon a street as defined here, or upon a private street as defined in Article 8 of this chapter. The width of an access-strip portion of a lot shall not be less than 20 feet at any point. In a residential planned development or an approved small lot subdivision a lot need have only the street frontage or access as is provided on the recorded subdivision tract or parcel map for the development. (Amended by Ord. No. 176,354, Eff. 1/31/05.)
LOT – AIR SPACE. (Added by Ord. No. 156,681, Eff. 6/21/82.) A division of the space above or below a lot as defined in this section with a finite width, length, and upper and lower elevation occupied or to be occupied by a use, building or portion thereof, unit group of buildings or portions thereof, and accessory buildings or portions thereof or accessory uses. An air space lot shall be identified on a final map or a parcel map recorded in the office of the County Recorder with a separate and distinct number or letter.
An air space lot shall have such access to a street (as defined in this section) or private street (as defined in Article 8 of this chapter) by means of one or more easements or other entitlements to use in a form satisfactory to the Advisory Agency and the City Engineer.
LOT, CORNER. A lot situated at the intersection of two (2) or more streets having an angle of intersection of not more than one hundred thirty five (135) degrees.
LOT, DOWNHILL. A Lot for which the Front Lot Line, or Street which serves as the primary vehicular access point for the required parking, is at a higher Elevation than the Rear Lot Line. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
LOT, FLAG. A lot so shaped and designed that the main building site area is set back from the street on which it fronts and includes an access strip not less than 20 feet in width at any point connecting the main building site area to the frontage street. (Added by Ord. No. 137,956, Eff. 3/2/69.)
LOT, INTERIOR. A lot other than a corner lot.
LOT, KEY. The first interior lot to the rear of a reversed corner lot and not separated therefrom by an alley.
LOT, REVERSED CORNER. A corner lot the side street line of which is substantially a continuation of the front line of the first lot to its rear.
LOT, THROUGH. A lot having a frontage on two parallel or approximately parallel streets, but not including those lots having frontage on a street and frontage on a navigable public canal or waterway parallel or approximately parallel to said street. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
LOT, TRANSITIONAL. The first 100 feet of a lot in an RA or R Zone having a side line adjoining or separated only by an alley from a lot in a C or M Zone. (Amended by Ord. No. 111,049, Eff. 5/3/58.)
LOT, UPHILL. A Lot for which the Front Lot Line, or Street which serves as the primary vehicular access point for the required parking, is at a lower Elevation than the Rear Lot Line. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
LOT, VACANT. A lot on which no building, temporary or permanent, is erected. (Added by Ord. No. 153,361, Eff. 3/2/80.)
LOT AREA. The total horizontal area within the lot lines of a lot.
LOT DEPTH. The horizontal distance between the front and rear lot lines measured in the mean direction of the side lot lines.
LOT LINE, FRONT. In the case of an interior lot, the line separating the lot from the street or place, and in the case of a corner lot, a line separating the narrowest street frontage of the lot from the street, except in those cases where the latest tract deed restrictions specify another line as the front lot line.
LOT LINE, REAR. A lot line which is opposite and most distant from the front lot line and, in the case of an irregular, triangular, or gore-shaped lot, a line ten (10) feet in length within the lot, parallel to and at the maximum distance from the front line.
LOT LINE, SIDE. Any lot boundary line not a front lot line or a rear lot line.
LOT WIDTH. The horizontal distance between the side lot lines measured at right angles to the lot depth at a point midway between the front and rear lot lines.
LOW TO MODERATE COST HOUSING. Housing for which the rent does not exceed the current Fair Market Rent for Existing Housing standards applicable to Los Angeles City as established for Section 8 and 23 Housing Assistance Payments Program by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Added by Ord. No. 151,432, Eff. 10/12/78.)
MAJOR REMODEL – HILLSIDE. Any remodeling of a main building on a lot in the Hillside Area whenever the aggregate value of all alterations within a one-year period exceeds 50 percent of the replacement cost of the main building. (Added by Ord. No. 168,159, Eff. 9/14/92.)
MANUFACTURED HOME. The term “manufactured home” shall include a factory-built home and mobilehome but shall not include a recreational vehicle, or commercial coach. (Added by Ord. No. 161,716, Eff. 12/6/86.)
MINI-SHOPPING CENTER. (Amended by Ord. No. 175,223, Eff. 6/30/03.) A building or group of buildings located on a lot or lots, having all of the following characteristics:
(1) Size – comprised of less than 65,000 square feet of lot area before any dedications required in connection with the building permit or other permits for the Mini-Shopping Center;
(2) Use – used for more than one retail establishment, such as a store, shop, business, service or facility;
(3) Zoning – located in the C or M1, M2 or M3 Zones; and
(4) Improvements – improved with a structure or structures that do not exceed a height of three stories.
For purposes of this definition, a Mini-Shopping Center can be located on more than one lot only if the lots are adjacent, not divided by a public street, have a common parking area, and one or more buildings are erected or are proposed to be erected upon the lots.
The definition of Mini-Shopping Center shall not include the following:
An automobile service station, including service bay areas, where accessory food sales do not exceed 600 square feet of floor area and other accessory uses do not exceed 500 square feet of floor area; or
Commercial buildings composed of general business or professional offices, including those of a real estate or stock broker, or an insurance or building and loan company, with 30% or less of the total square footage containing related commercial/retail uses that are located on the first and second floors, so long as parking is provided for the commercial/retail uses as required by Section 12.21 A.4.
MINOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS. Those repairs to a currently State licensed motor vehicle owned by the occupants of the property which do not require the complete immobilization of the vehicle in excess of 24 hours duration or does not require the removal of the engine transmission, rear-end or more than one wheel. Minor emergency repairs does not include body and fender work. (Added by Ord. No. 137,210, Eff. 10/12/68.)
MOBILE MEDICAL FACILITY. A vehicle, or portable structure transported by a vehicle, easily transportable in one or more sections, which is used to provide primarily diagnostic or preventive medical services on a temporary basis in any one location. (Added by Ord. No. 166,045, Eff. 8/17/90.)
MOBILEHOME. When used in Sections 12.08.1, 12.09.3, and 12.24 of this Code, this term shall mean a structure transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped to be used as a dwelling unit or accessory to a dwelling unit. This structure shall comply with all applicable provisions of the California State Mobilehomes – Manufactured Housing Act. The term “mobilehome” shall not include a factory-built home, recreational vehicle, or commercial coach. (Amended by Ord. No. 164,904, Eff. 7/6/89.)
MOBILEHOME SITE. When used in Section 12.24 of this Code, this term shall mean that portion of a mobilehome park set aside and designated for the occupancy of a mobilehome or trailer and including the area set aside or used for parking and buildings or structures such as awnings, cabanas or ramadas which are accessory to the mobilehome or trailer. (Added by Ord. No. 161,716, Eff. 12/6/86.)
MODEL DWELLING. (Deleted by Ord. No. 172,839, Eff. 11/1/99.)
MOVABLE TINY HOUSE. (Added by Ord. No. 186,481, Eff. 12/19/19.) An enclosed space intended for separate, independent living quarters of one Family as defined in Section 12.03 of this Code and that meets all of the following:
(a) Is licensed and registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles;
(b) Meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 119.5 requirements or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1192 standards, and is certified for ANSI or NFPA compliance;
(c) Cannot move under its own power;
(d) Is no larger than allowed by California State Law for movement on public highways; and
(e) Is no smaller than 150 and no larger than 430 square feet as measured within the exterior faces of the exterior walls.
MULCH. A woody vegetative material used as a nonnutritive ground cover to control erosion, improve water retention and retard weed growth. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
MULCHING FACILITY. Any facility which receives, temporarily stores and processes primarily source-separated carbonaceous wood waste and/or yard trimmings into a mulch. Examples of such materials include clean wood waste, tree and shrub trimming, leaves and other high carbon, low nitrogen material which decompose at a slow rate and have little leachate or odor-causing potential. Processing of such materials is achieved by chipping and screening to attain a uniform particle size and may include limited aging of the material to achieve a desired appearance. This definition shall not include any mulching of green waste and/or wood waste conducted for noncommercial, nonprofit purpose. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
NATURE PRESERVE. An area in its natural state which serves as a habitat for flora and/or fauna indigenous to the area, or as a corridor linking such habitats, including but not limited to a bird sanctuary, and which is designated as a nature preserve on the applicable community or district plan by footnote or other means, and where permitted uses are only incidental to the preservation and enhancement of the preserve. (Added by Ord. No. 166,168, Eff. 10/3/90.)
NONCONFORMING BUILDING. A building, structure or portion thereof, which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter and which lawfully existed at the time the regulations, with which it does not conform, became effective.
NONCONFORMING LOT. A lot whose width, area or other dimensions does not conform to the regulations of this chapter and which lawfully existed at the time the regulations with which it does not conform became effective. (Amended by Ord. No. 127,777, Eff. 8/1/64.)
NONCONFORMING USE. A use of building or land which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter and which lawfully existed at the time the regulations with which it does not conform became effective.
OUTDOOR DINING AREA. A covered or uncovered, but not fully enclosed area which may include but is not limited to an open-to-sky parking area, patio, courtyard, or plaza, that is located in a space within the same lot as the restaurant to which it serves as an accessory use, but is outside of the enclosed building or structure in which the restaurant is located, and is used for the service and consumption of food and drinks by the patrons of the restaurant. (Added by Ord. No. 188,073, Eff. 1/31/24.)
OUTDOOR EATING AREA. When used in Sections 12.12.2, 12.13, 12.14, 12.21.1 and 12.24, this term shall refer to a covered or uncovered portion of a ground floor restaurant which is not completely enclosed within the building; is used primarily for the consumption of food and/or drinks by the patrons of the restaurant; and is not larger than 50 percent of the dining area of the ground floor restaurant. A “ground floor” restaurant refers to any restaurant with an average finished floor elevation either below or not more than three feet above natural grade as measured from any point along the exterior building wall closest to the restaurant. (Amended by Ord. No. 165,403, Eff. 2/17/90.)
PARALLEL PARKING STALL. A parking stall having its length parallel with its access aisle. (Amended by Ord. No. 142,306, Oper. 2/9/72.)
PARKING AREA, PRIVATE. An open area located on the same lot with a dwelling, apartment house, hotel or apartment hotel, for the parking of automobiles of the occupants of such building. (Amended by Ord. No. 138,859, Eff. 8/21/69.)
PARKING AREA, PUBLIC. Any open area other than a street or a private parking area, used for the parking of more than four automobiles.
PARKING BAY. The width of two rows of parking stalls and the aisle between, or on a single loaded aisle with width of one row of parking stalls and the access aisle. (Added by Ord. No. 142,306, Oper. 2/9/72.)
PARKING. BUILDING. Any garage designed and used primarily for the parking of automobiles. (Amended by Ord. No. 144,082, Eff. 12/11/72.)
PARKING SPACE, AUTOMOBILE. Space within a building or a private or public parking area, exclusive of driveways, ramps, columns, office and work areas, for the parking of one (1) automobile.
PARKING STALL. Same as Parking Space, Automobile. (Added by Ord. No. 142,306, Oper. 2/9/72.)
PET SHOP. Any retail or commercial establishment, store or department of any store, or any place of business open to the public where dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, reptiles or any other animals are kept and offered for adoption or sale, for hire, or sold, irrespective of the age of the animals, provided that the facility operates pursuant to a pet shop permit issued by the Department of Animal Services, and is not used for the breeding of dogs, cats or rabbits or the commercial boarding of animals. The term “Pet Shop” shall include “Pet Store”, and “Animal Adoption Facility”. (Added by Ord. No. 186,372, Eff. 12/10/19.)
PHILANTHROPIC INSTITUTION. A nonprofit, charitable institution devoted to the housing, training or care of children, or of aged, indigent, handicapped or underprivileged persons, but not including the following: office buildings, except as an accessory to and located on the same lot with an institutional activity, as listed above; hospitals, clinics or sanitariums, correctional institutions, institutions or homes for the insane or those of unsound mind; lodging houses or dormitories providing temporary quarters for transient unemployed persons; organizations devoted to collecting and salvaging new or used materials, or organizations devoted principally to distributing food, clothing or supplies on a charitable basis.
POOL. Any constructed pool used for swimming, bathing or wading or as a fishpond or similar use. (Added by Ord. No. 109,714, Eff. 8/26/57.)
PRINCIPAL USE. The main permitted use of land or structures as distinguished from an accessory use. (Added by Ord. No. 152,467, Eff. 7/14/79.)
RECREATION ROOM. A room contained in either a main building or an accessory building, designed to be utilized primarily for games, the pursuit of hobbies, social gatherings, and such activities. Such a room may contain such plumbing fixtures as are utilized in a bar or for hobby activities. Such a room in a single-family or two-family dwelling or in an accessory building appurtenant to a single-family or two-family dwelling, may not include facilities for the cooking and preparation of food. However, in a multiple residential use or in an accessory building appurtenant thereto, a recreation room which is for the common use of all the dwelling units therein may contain the facilities for the cooking and preparing of food. (Added by Ord. No. 138,685. Eff. 7/10/69.)
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. A portable vehicle mounted on wheels, with or without motive power, and primarily designed and constructed to provide human habitation for recreational, camping, travel or emergency purposes. (Added by Ord. No. 161,716, Eff. 12/6/86.)
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARK. Any lot or portion of a lot permitted by conditional use to provide rental or lease sites for individual recreational vehicles which are occupied for temporary purposes. (Added by Ord. No. 161,716, Eff. 12/ 6/86.)
RECYCLABLE MATERIALS. Items or materials to be recycled or reused, including but not limited to yard waste, paper, plastic, glass, metal, newspaper, and cardboard. (Added by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
RECYCLING AREA OR ROOM. An outdoor space or a room within a building which is designated for the collection of Recyclable Materials generated by the use(s) occupying only that site, is approved by the Fire Department and the Department of Building and Safety, and has the space to accommodate Recycling Receptacles. (Added by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
RECYCLING CENTER, MOBILE. A receptacle, usually a trailer, for the collection of recyclable materials that is drawn by motor power and bears a valid state license. (Added by Ord. No. 158,503, Eff. 1/1/84.)
RECYCLING CENTER OPERATOR OR JUNK DEALER. A person having a fixed place of business in the City and engaging in, conducting, managing or carrying on the business of buying, selling or otherwise charging or re-selling for reuse, materials approved for collection at an approved Recycling Center or Buyback Center, Recycling Materials Processing Facility, Recycling Materials Sorting Facility or Junk Yard as defined by this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
RECYCLING CENTER OR SITE. (Deleted by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
RECYCLING CHUTE. Any vertical smooth shaft used to convey recyclable materials from the upper floors of a building to a recyclable storage bin or room at the bottom end of the chute. (Added by Ord. No. 181,227. Eff. 9/1/10.)
RECYCLING COLLECTION OR BUYBACK CENTER. A facility where Recyclable Materials are deposited or redeemed for monetary value, and which may include baling or crushing operations for the purposes of efficiency of storage and transfer (volume reduction), but shall not include sorting or processing activities for other than temporary storage purposes. (Added by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
RECYCLING MATERIALS PROCESSING FACILITY. A facility which accepts Recyclable Materials for sorting and processing on the site. For the purpose of this definition, processing shall mean the process of changing the physical characteristics of a Recyclable Material, including the shredding, smelting, grinding and crushing of cans, bottles, and other materials, for other than temporary storage purposes. (Added by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
RECYCLING MATERIALS SORTING FACILITY. A facility which accepts commingled or source-separated Recyclable Materials of various types, which are separated on the site using a manual or automated system. For the purpose of this definition, source-separated Recyclable Materials are those which are separated from the waste stream at their point of generation for the purpose of recycling. This may include baling or crushing operations for the purposes of efficiency of storage and transfer (volume reduction), but shall not include processing activities for other than temporary storage purposes. (Added by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
RECYCLING RECEPTACLE. A container which is suitable for the collection of Recyclable Materials. Containers shall be covered, durable, waterproof, rustproof, and of incombustible construction, and shall provide protection against the environment or be in completely enclosed indoor recycling areas. Containers must be clearly labeled to indicate the type of material to be deposited. (Added by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)
REGISTERED NET WEIGHT. Registered net weight or a commercial vehicle is the unladen weight, as that term is defined by State Vehicle Code Section 660 and evidenced on the registration card kept within a commercial vehicle pursuant to State Vehicle Code Section 4454 or 4455 as the registration weight of a commercial vehicle pursuant to State Vehicle Code Section 9400. (Added by Ord. No. 148,857, Eff. 10/30/76.)
RENTABLE FLOOR AREA. The floor area in a building, exclusive of corridors, stairs, elevator shafts, lavoratories, flues and janitor’s storage closets.
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. A building or portion thereof designed or used for human habitation. (Added by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
RESIDENTIAL PLANNING DEVELOPMENT. A group of residential buildings and appurtenant structures located and arranged in accordance with the requirement of the RPD - residential planned development district (Sec. 13.04) in which the property is located. A residential planned development may include schools. It may also include churches, hospitals, infirmaries, recreational and commercial uses, as an integral part of the development and intended for use by its occupants, to an extent commensurate with the planned population of the RPD district. (Added by Ord. No. 141,474, Eff. 2/27/71.)
RESIDENTIAL VEHICLE. A mobilehome, or a travel trailer containing a minimum of two hundred and twenty (220) square feet of superficial floor area exclusive of bath, closet and water closet areas, as defined by the California Health and Safety Code Sections 18211 and 18219. Such residential vehicle shall contain cooking, eating, sleeping, toilet and bathing facilities and shall display a California Department of Housing and Community Development insignia issued within one year prior to the date of application for the use of land permit herein required and a valid current California vehicle license. (Added by Ord. No. 153,144, Eff. 12/28/79.)
RETIREMENT HOTEL. A building with guest rooms and/or dwelling units in which 90 percent or more of the occupants are age 62 or older and for which a covenant running with the land is recorded limiting the use as such for as long as the building contains any guest rooms. (Added by Ord. No. 159,714, Eff. 4/8/85.)
REVERSE VENDING MACHINE. An automated mechanical device which accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers including aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles, and which issues a cash refund or a redeemable credit slip with a value not less than the container’s redemption value as determined by the State of California. A reverse vending machine may sort and process containers mechanically, provided that the entire process is enclosed within the machine. (Added by Ord. No. 168,662, Eff. 4/29/93.)
REVERSE VENDING MACHINE COMMODITY STORAGE BIN. A non-automated container which is covered and made of durable, incombustible, rustproof and waterproof construction, which is used to store the processed aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles that are removed from a reverse vending machine. (Added by Ord. No. 168,662, Eff. 4/29/93.)
ROOF, LATTICE. A roof covering constructed as an Open Egg-Crate Roof or Spaced Roof. An Open Egg-Crate roof is constructed of lattice members so that a sphere of 10 inches minimum in diameter can pass through. All lattice members must have a minimum nominal width of 2 inches. A Spaced Roof is constructed of members running in one direction only with a minimum clear spacing between the members of not less than 4 inches. In addition, beams supporting and placed perpendicular to the members shall be spaced not less than 24 inches on center. All members or beams must have a minimum nominal width of 2 inches. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
ROOM, HABITABLE. (Amended by Ord. No. 146,421, Eff. 9/14/74.) An enclosed subdivision in a residential building commonly used for living purposes, but not including any lobby, hall, closet, storage space, water closet, bath, toilet, slop sink, general utility room or service porch. A recess from a room or an alcove (other than a dining area) having 50 square feet or more of floor area and so located that it could be partitioned off to form a habitable room, shall be considered a habitable room.
For the purpose of applying the automobile parking space requirements of this article, any kitchen as defined herein shall be considered a habitable room and, if it is a part of a room designed for other than food preparation or eating purposes, such remaining portion shall also be considered a habitable room.
For the purpose of applying the lot area requirements of this article, a kitchen less than 100 square feet of room area from wall to wall shall not be considered a habitable room.
For the purpose of applying the open space requirements of Section 12.21 G., a kitchen as defined herein shall not be considered a habitable room. (Added by Ord. No. 171,753, Eff. 11/17/97.)
SCHOOLS, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH. An institution of learning which offers instruction in several branches of learning and study required to be taught in the public schools by the Education Code of the State of California. High schools include Junior and Senior.
SCRAP METAL PROCESSING YARD. Any establishment or place of business which is maintained, used or operated solely for the processing and preparing of scrap metal for remelting by steel mills and foundries. (Added by Ord. No. 145,040, Eff. 10/15/73.)
SENIOR INDEPENDENT HOUSING. Residential housing that consists of dwelling units for persons 62 years of age and older and may include common dining areas or other community rooms. Full time medical services shall not be provided on the premises. It may be a component of an Eldercare Facility. (Added by Ord. No. 178,063, Eff. 12/30/06.)
SERVANTS QUARTERS. An accessory building located on the same premises with the main building, used solely as the dwelling of persons employed on the premises, such quarters having no
kitchen facilities and not rented or otherwise used as a separate dwelling unit. (Added by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS. A facility operated by a “provider”, other than a “community care facility” as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 1502, which provides temporary accommodations to homeless persons and/or families and which meets the standards for shelters contained in Title 25, Division 1, Chapter 7 of the California Code of Regulations. The term “temporary accommodations” means that a homeless person or family will be allowed to reside at the shelter for a time period not to exceed six months. For the purpose of this definition, a “provider” shall mean a government agency, religious institution, non-profit charitable organization, or private non-profit organization which provides, or contracts with recognized community organizations to provide, emergency or temporary shelter for the homeless, and which has been certified by the Housing Department of the City of Los Angeles to meet all applicable requirements contained in the California Health and Safety Code and the California Code of Regulations. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,122, Eff. 8/8/21.)
SHOWCASE THEATER. (Added by Ord. No. 148,910, Eff. 11/17/76.) A theater which meets all of the following criteria:
(1) seats 90 persons or less;
(2) is nonprofit and tax-exempt;
(3) provides live entertainment; and
(4) employs fewer than five persons (exclusive of performers).
SKILLED NURSING CARE HOUSING. Residential housing that is licensed by the California Department of Health and provides acute, intermediate, or long-term skilled nursing care and consists only of guest rooms for its residents. Full time medical services may be provided on the premises. It may be a component of an Eldercare Facility. (Added by Ord. No. 178,063, Eff. 12/30/06.)
SLOPE. An inclined ground surface the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance (i.e. 2:1 or 1:1) or as a percentage (i.e. 50% or 100%). (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
SLOPE BAND. The area of a property contained within a defined Slope interval as identified in Section 12.21 C.10. of this Code and shown on a Slope Analysis Map prepared by a licensed surveyor based on a survey of the natural/existing topography. Slope bands need not necessarily be located in a contiguous manner and can be one or more areas as small or as large as they exist on said property. (Added by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
SOLID WASTE ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY PROCESSING FACILITY. A facility that has one or more technological systems which extracts, recovers or generates usable materials and/or energy from solid waste, as defined in Section 40191 of California Public Resources Code. (Added by Ord. No. 181,272, Eff. 9/28/10.)
SPECIFIC PLAN. See Div. 13C.1. (Administration Definitions) 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.)
STABLE, PRIVATE. A detached accessory building which has a roof and may have one or more sides and is used in whole or in part for the housing or shelter of an equine or equines owned by the occupants of the premises and not kept for remuneration, hire or sale. (Amended by Ord. No. 157,144, Eff. 11/22/82; Clarified by Ord. No. 157,219, Eff. 12/3/82.)
STABLE, PUBLIC. A stable other than a private stable.
STANDARD HILLSIDE LIMITED STREET. a street (public or private) with a minimum width of 36 feet and paved to a minimum roadway width of 28 feet, as determined by the Bureau of Engineering. (Amended by Ord No. 169,961, Eff. 8/29/94.)
STOCK COOPERATIVE. The same as defined by Section 11003.2 of the California Business and Professions Code. (Added by Ord. No. 153,024, Eff. 1/10/79.)
STORAGE BUILDING FOR HOUSEHOLD GOODS. A building that offers secure self-storage for household goods in individual rooms, compartments, lockers or containers to which clients bring goods for storage and retrieve them any time during normal business hours without any assistance from the operator of the building. For purposes of this definition, storage of these goods may not be in containers, such as boxes, barrels and/or drums set on pallets or racks, or that require the use of forklifts or other similar mechanical equipment for access or mobility. A storage building for household goods does not include the storage of commercial inventory to be sold, displayed, rented or otherwise relocated for sale. (Added by Ord. No. 173,979, Eff. 6/29/01.)
STORY. The space in a Building between two vertically adjacent finished floor levels or, for the topmost level of a Building, the space between its finished floor level and the roof directly above it. Finished floor levels within four vertical feet of each other shall be deemed a single Story. Any space that is defined as a Basement is not considered a Story. (Amended by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
STORY, FIRST. The lowest Story of a Building where the finished floor level directly above the Story is more than six feet above grade for more than 50 percent of the total perimeter of the Building or is more than 12 feet above grade at any point. If no such Story exists, then the topmost Story of a Building shall be deemed the First Story. (Added by Ord. No. 184,802, Eff. 3/17/17.)
STREET. Any public thoroughfare other than an alley or walk, except that in those cases where a subdivision has been recorded containing lots which abut only on an alley or walk, said alley or walk may be considered to be a street.
STREET – COLLECTOR. Any street designated as a collector street on an adopted community plan element of the general plan. (Added by Ord. No. 150,799, Eff. 6/5/78.)
STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS. Any change which would prolong the life of the supporting members of a building or structure, such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.
STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected which is supported directly or indirectly on the earth, but not including any vehicle which conforms to the California State Vehicle Act. (Amended by Ord. No. 107,884, Eff. 9/23/56.)
SUBSTANDARD HILLSIDE LIMITED STREET. A Street which does not meet the minimum requirements of a Standard Hillside Limited Street as defined in Section 12.03 of this Code (public or private) with a width less than 36 feet and paved to a roadway width of less than 28 feet, as determined by the Bureau of Engineering. (Amended by Ord. No. 181,624, Eff. 5/9/11.)
SUITE. A group of habitable rooms designed as a unit, and occupied by only one family, but not including a kitchen or other facilities for the preparation of food, with entrances and exits which are common to all rooms comprising the suite. (Added by Ord. No. 138,685, Eff. 7/10/69.)
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. Housing with no limit on length of stay for persons with low incomes who have one or more disabilities and may include, among other populations, adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people. The housing is linked to onsite or offsite Supportive Services, and any Floor Area used for the delivery of Supportive Services shall be considered accessory to the residential use. (Added by Ord. No. 185,489, Eff. 4/20/18.)
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. Services that are provided on a voluntary basis to residents of Supportive Housing and Transitional Housing, including, but not limited to, a combination of subsidized, permanent housing, intensive case management, medical and mental health care, substance abuse treatment, employment services, benefits advocacy, and other services or service referrals necessary to obtain and maintain housing. (Added by Ord. No. 185,489, Eff. 4/20/18.)
TEMPORARY GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATORY CORE HOLE. (Deleted by Ord. No. 187,709, Eff. 1/18/23.)
TENANT. A person who rents, leases or sub- leases, through either a written or oral agreement, residential real property from another. (Added by Ord. No. 151,432, Eff. 10/12/78.)
TENNIS OR PADDLE TENNIS COURT. A game court designed for the purpose of playing tennis, paddle tennis or similar game, utilizing a concrete slab or other conventionally accepted hard playing surface, an enclosing fence and frequently overhead lighting fixtures. (Added by Ord. No. 151,466, Eff. 10/27/78.)
TOWNHOUSE. A dwelling unit, structurally separated from another dwelling unit or other dwelling units in a building containing two or more dwelling units, and complying with the provisions of Section 91.2305(k)(2) of this Code, and which may be sold jointly with the lot upon which the dwelling unit is situated. Provided, however, that common roofing, flashing, and siding are permitted so as to enclose the airspace resulting from said structural separation. (Added by Ord. No. 141,474, Eff. 2/27/71.)
TRAILER OR AUTOMOBILE TRAILER. A vehicle without motive power, designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and to be used for human habitation or for carrying persons and property, the terms “trailer” and “automobile trailer” shall not include a mobilehome. (Amended by Ord. No. 161,716, Eff. 12/6/86.)
TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE. A residential building designed or used for one or more dwelling units or a combination of three or more dwelling units and not more than five guest rooms or suites of rooms wherein occupancy, by any person by reason of concession, permit, right of access, license, or other agreement is for a period of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, counting portions of calendar days as full days. (Added by Ord. No 167,689, Eff. 5/9/92.)
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. A building where housing linked to Supportive Services is offered, usually for a period of up to 24 months, to facilitate movement to permanent housing for persons with low incomes who may have one or more disabilities, and may include adults, emancipated minors, families with children, elderly persons, young adults aging out of the foster care system, individuals exiting from institutional settings, veterans, and homeless people. (Added by Ord. No. 185,489, Eff. 4/20/18.)
TRASH CHUTE. Any vertical smooth shaft used to convey rubbish, trash, or garbage from the upper floors of a building to a trash storage bin or room at the bottom end of the chute. (Added by Ord. No. 181,227, Eff. 9/1/10.)
TRUCK GARDENING. The cultivation of berries, flowers, fruits, grains herbs, mushrooms, nuts, ornamental plants, seedlings or vegetables for use on-site or sale or distribution off-site. (Added by Ord. No. 181,188, Eff. 7/18/10.)
UNDERFLOOR SPACE. A space between the ground and the floor directly above. (Added by Ord. No. 109,714, Eff. 8/26/57.)
URBAN AGRICULTURE INCENTIVE ZONE. (Added by Ord. No. 185,023, Eff. 8/6/17.) Any land designated as being eligible for the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Act, in accordance with California Government Code Sections 51040 - 51042 and County of Los Angeles Planning and Zoning Code Sections 22.52.3400 et seq., as may be amended from time to time, and as also shown in the Department of City Planning’s Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Map, dated August 2016, attached to Council File No. 14-1378. The map is maintained by the Department of City Planning as part of the Geographic Information Systems database, and identifies all current farming and gardening zones, which may be amended from time to time.
The map shall be used by the Director of Planning, or the Director's designee, to determine eligibility for the City of Los Angeles’ Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Program, as set forth in Los Angeles Administrative Code Sections 19.170 et seq., based on the criteria outlined in California Government Code Sections 51040 through 51042, the County of Los Angeles Planning and Zoning Code Sections 22.52.3430 through 22.52.3450, as may be amended from time to time.
USE. The purpose for which land or a building is arranged, designed or intended or for which either land or a building is or may be occupied or maintained.
UTILITY RENTAL TRAILER. Any non- passenger carrying, box-type open or van designed to be towed by a passenger vehicle, not exceeding 3,500 pounds gross vehicle weight (GAW), and not exceeding 96 inches in total width, nor 72 inches in box width, nor 14 feet in box length. (Added by Ord. No. 148,857, Eff. 10/30/76.)
VEHICLE, COMMERCIAL. Any vehicle, excluding Household Moving Rental Trucks, and Utility Rental Trailers, which when operated upon a highway is required to be registered as a commercial vehicle by the Vehicle Code of the State of California or by any other jurisdiction and which is used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit, or designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property. (Amended by Ord. No. 148,857, Eff. 10/30/76.)
WINDROW COMPOSTING. The process in which compostable material is placed in elongated piles or windrows which are mechanically turned or aerated to encourage decomposition and to reduce odors. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
WOOD WASTES. Any untreated and/or unpainted wood material such as pallets, plywood and other construction related scrap lumber, stumps and tree trimming. (Added by Ord. No. 170,054, 11/13/94.)
YARD. An open space other than a court, on a lot, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except as otherwise provided in this article.
YARD, FRONT. A yard extending across the full width of a lot, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance between the front lot line and a line parallel thereto on the lot.
YARD, REAR. A yard extending across the full width of the lot, the depth of which is the minimum horizontal distance between the rear lot line and a line parallel thereto on the lot. (Amended by Ord. No. 121,925, Eff. 6/4/62.)
YARD, SIDE. A yard more than six (6) inches in width between a main building and the side lot line, extending from the front yard or the front lot line where no front yard is required, to the rear yard. The width of the required side yard shall be measured horizontally from the nearest point of the side lot line toward the nearest part of the main building.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR. See Div. 13C.1. (Administration Definitions) 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.)