Chapter 22.110
Dimensional standards
Height & bulk
Servicing
- Geographic extent
- All zones in unincorporated Los Angeles County
Extracted standards
45 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Fencing & walls
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of fences and walls in required corner side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.6 ft
Fences and walls within a required corner side yard shall not exceed three and one-half feet in height where closer than five feet to the highway line, nor exceed six feet in height where located five feet or more from said highway line.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of fences and walls in corner side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. within 5 feet of highway line3.5 ft
Fences and walls within a required corner side yard shall not exceed three and one-half feet in height where closer than five feet to the highway line.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of fences and walls in required front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.3.5 ft
Fences and walls within a required front yard shall not exceed three and one-half feet in height.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of fences and walls in required interior side and rear yards6 ft
Fences and walls within a required interior side yard or rear yard shall not exceed six feet in height.
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of retaining walls within required yards6 ft
Retaining walls within required yards shall not exceed six feet in height.
Height
- Maximum floor area ratioFloor area ratio (FAR)Total floor area divided by lot area — an FAR of 2.0 permits 20,000 sq ft of floor on a 10,000 sq ft lot. (total floor area / buildable area)13 ratio
The height of buildings, except where otherwise provided, shall be determined by the total floor area in all the buildings on any one lot shall not exceed 13 times the buildable area of such lot.
Other
- Maximum percentage of required rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. covered by buildings or roofed structures50 pct
No more than 50 percent of the required rear yard shall be covered by buildings or other roofed structures.
- Maximum projection of awnings and canopies into required front, rear, and corner side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.5 ft
Awnings and canopies may project a maximum distance of two and one-half feet into a required interior side yard and five feet into a required front, rear, and corner side yard.
- Maximum projection of awnings and canopies into required interior side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.2.5 ft
Awnings and canopies may project a maximum distance of two and one-half feet into a required interior side yard and five feet into a required front, rear, and corner side yard.
- Maximum percentage of required rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. covered by covered patios50 pct
No more than 50 percent of the required rear yard is covered by buildings or other roofed structures, except as provided in Section 22.110.030.E.
- Minimum distance of covered patios from any lot line5 ft
Such patio roofs are not closer than five feet to any lot line;
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of covered porches, platforms, landings, and decks12 ft
Such covered porches, platforms, landings, and decks do not extend above the level of the first floor or 12 feet, whichever is lower.
- Default required area for zones without number (R-1, R-2, etc.)5,000 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
In Zones R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-A, RPD, A-1, R-R, CPD, and M-3, the same as in Zone R-1-5000;
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of driveways, walkways, patio slabs, and wooden decks above ground level1 ft
The maximum height of such structures in a required yard may not exceed one foot above ground level.
- Maximum projection of eaves and cantilevered roofs into required yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.2.5 ft
Eaves and cantilevered roofs may project a maximum distance of two and one-half feet into any required yard.
- Maximum projection of water heaters, water softeners, and gas or electric meters into required interior side or rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.2.5 ft
Water heaters, water softeners, and gas or electric meters, including service conduits and pipes, enclosed or in the open, may project a maximum distance of two and one-half feet into a required interior side or rear yard.
- Maximum projection of fireplace structures, buttresses, and wing walls into required yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.2.5 ft
Fireplace structures, not wider than eight feet measured in the general direction of the wall of which they are a part, buttresses, and wing walls may project a maximum distance of two and one-half feet into any required yard.
- Uniform distance from all lot lines for flag lots in lieu of required yards10 ft
In lieu of any yard required by this Title 22, a uniform distance of 10 feet from all lot lines may be substituted.
- Maximum front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. depth on sloping terrain as percentage of required depth50 pct
The required front yard of a lot need not exceed 50 percent of the depth required in a zone where the difference in elevation between the curb level and the natural ground at a point 50 feet from the highway line... is 10 feet or more; or, if there is no curb, where a slope exists of 20 percent or more...
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of garage/carport in front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. on sloping terrain15 ft
The garage or carport does not exceed a height of 15 feet above the level of the centerline of the adjoining street or highway.
- Minimum distance from highway line for garage/carport in front yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. on sloping terrain5 ft
The garage or carport is located not closer than five feet to a highway line...
- Minimum distance from opposite right-of-way line of alley for garages/carports with alley access26 ft
Where the garages or carports have direct vehicular access to an alley, they shall be located a distance of not less than 26 feet from the opposite right-of-way line of such alley;
- Minimum distance from front lot line for detached garages/carports in rear/side yards75 ft
The detached garages and carports are located 75 feet or more from the front lot line;
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of ground-mounted equipment measured from base6 ft
Such structures or equipment do not exceed a height of six feet measured from the base of the unit.
- Minimum distance of ground-mounted equipment from any lot line2.5 ft
Such structures or equipment are at least two and one-half feet from any lot line;
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of guard railings or fences for safety protection3.5 ft
Such railing or fence does not exceed a height of three and one-half feet.
- Minimum distance between any main residential building and any accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. building6 ft
Except where a greater distance is required by this Title 22, a minimum distance of six feet shall be required between any main residential building and any accessory building on the same lot.
- Minimum distance between main residential buildings on the same lot10 ft
A minimum distance of 10 feet shall be required between all main residential buildings on the same lot.
- Minimum distance from any lot line for other accessoryAccessory useA secondary activity customarily incidental to the main use of the lot — a garage, a home office. buildings in rear yards5 ft
Such buildings are placed not closer than five feet to any lot line;
- Maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. of planter boxes and masonry planters in required front yards3.5 ft
The maximum height of planter boxes and masonry planters in required front yards shall not exceed a height of three and one-half feet.
- Maximum projection of rain conductors, spouts, utility-service risers, etc. into required yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.1 ft
Rain conductors, spouts, utility-service risers, shut-off valves, water tables, sills, capitals, bases, cornices, and belt courses may project a maximum distance of one foot into any required yard.
- Minimum rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. on shallow lots10 ft
but in no event less than 10 feet in depth.
- Rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. on lots less than 75 feet deep as percentage of average depth20 pct
Where a lot is less than 75 feet in depth, such lot may have a rear yard equal to 20 percent of the average depth, but in no event less than 10 feet in depth.
- Minimum average width for lots with required area 7,000 square feetsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000. or more60 ft
An average width of 60 feet if the required area is 7,000 square feet or more;
- Minimum average width for lots with required area less than 7,000 square feetsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.50 ft
An average width of 50 feet where there is a required area and such required area is less than 7,000 square feet.
- Minimum interior side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. on narrow lots3 ft
but in no event less than three feet in width.
- Interior side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. on lots less than 50 feet wide as percentage of average width10 pct
Where a lot is less than 50 feet in width, such lot may have interior side yards equal to 10 percent of the average width, but in no event less than three feet in width.
- Maximum projection of stairways and balconies above first floor into required front or rear yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.4 ft
or four feet into a required front or rear yard.
- Maximum projection of stairways and balconies above first floor into required interior or corner side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.2 ft
Stairways and balconies above the level of the first floor may project a maximum distance of two feet into a required interior or corner side yard, or four feet into a required front or rear yard.
- Width of supplemental yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates. along limited secondary highways8 ft
A supplemental yard eight feet wide shall be established in all zones along and contiguous to the highway lines of limited secondary highways.
- Minimum distance of swimming pool from any lot line5 ft
A swimming pool is permitted in a required rear yard, provided that it is at least five feet from any lot line.
- Maximum projection of uncovered porches, platforms, landings, and decks into required front, rear, and corner side yards5 ft
and a maximum distance of five feet into required front, rear, and corner side yards.
- Maximum projection of uncovered porches, platforms, landings, and decks into required interior side yards3 ft
Uncovered porches, platforms, landings, and decks... may project a maximum distance of three feet into required interior side yards, and a maximum distance of five feet into required front, rear, and corner side yards.
Signage
- Maximum projection of on-site signs into front or corner side yardYardThe open space left between a building and its lot line — the space a setback creates.18 in
On-site signs permitted by Chapter 22.114 (Signs) and attached to a lawfully existing building may extend a maximum of 18 inches into the front or corner side yard.
- Minimum setbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from highway line for temporary signs10 ft
Temporary signs advertising the sale or lease of the premises on which the sign is located may be placed within the front or corner side yard if a minimum setback of 10 feet is maintained from the highway line.
From the ordinance
This Chapter prescribes development and site regulations to encourage development that produces an environment of desirable character, is compatible with existing development, and protects the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties.