Lancaster

Fences and Walls. a. Fences and Walls Permitted. Fences and walls may be erected and maintained in required yards subject to the requirements specified herein: 1) Front Yards. Fences and walls within a required front yard shall be a minimum height of 6 feet. 2) Corner Side Yards, Interior Side, and Rear Yards. Fences and walls within a required corner side yard, interior side, and rear yards shall be a minimum height of 6 feet and shall not exceed 15 feet in height. 3) Retaining Walls. Retaining walls not to exceed 6 feet in height are permitted in all yards. 4) Retaining Walls Topped with Walls or Fences. a) Where a retaining wall protects a cut below the natural grade and is located on a front, side or rear lot line, such retaining wall may be topped by a fence or wall of the same height that would otherwise be permitted at the location if no retaining wall existed. Where such retaining wall contains a fill, the height of the retaining wall built to retain the fill shall be considered as contributing to the permissible height of a fence or wall providing, however, that in any event an open-work non-view-obscuring fence of 3½ feet may be erected at the top of the retaining wall for safety protection. b) Where a wall or fence is located in the required yard adjacent to a retaining wall containing a fill, such wall or fence shall be set back from said retaining wall a distance of one foot for each one foot in height to a maximum distance of 5 feet, provided, however, that this does not permit a wall or fence in required yards higher than permitted by this section. The area between such wall or fence and said retaining wall shall be landscaped and continuously maintained in good condition. 5) Fences and Walls Exempted. Where a fence or wall exceeding the heights specified is required by any law or regulation of the state of California, a fence or wall not exceeding such required height is permitted. 6) Measurement of Fence and Wall Height. The height of a fence or wall shall be measured at the highest average ground level within 3 feet of either side of said wall or fence. In order to allow for variation in topography, the height of a required fence or wall may vary an amount not to exceed 6 inches, provided, however, that in no event shall the average height of such fence or wall exceed the maximum height specified. 7) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, if site plans and/or other pertinent information required by the Director for the proposed use are first submitted to and approved by the Director in accordance with Article VI of Chapter 17.32, the Director may permit fences or walls within any required yard to a height in excess of 15 feet, subject to materials requirements, and other conditions of approval. 8) Industrial uses adjacent to or across a street or alley from residentially zoned property or property developed with a residential use shall provide a minimum 6-foot high masonry wall along all common lot lines. All walls shall be consistent with the site's architecture and, in instances where visible from the public right-of-way, shall be constructed with decorative materials. 9) Temporary Fence. If site plans and/or other pertinent information required by the Director for the proposed use are first submitted to and approved by the Director in accordance with Article VI of Chapter 17.32, a temporary fence may be installed on vacant property, subject to time limits, materials, and other conditions of approval. Temporary fencing materials may include chain link.

Landscaping. a. Landscape designs shall be consistent throughout a project site. A combination of landscape materials should be arranged in a harmonious manner as an integral part of project design to enhance building design, public view, and interior spaces and provide buffers and transitions as needed. Unrelated and random choice or placement of plant materials shall be avoided; however, variety may be employed to intensify distinction between spaces or to strengthen a sense of place or movement, or to promote energy and water conservation and mitigate erosion. b. The type, scale and proportion of landscape materials shall be appropriate to the site and/or structures to which they relate. c. Plant material shall be selected for interest in its structure, texture, color, ultimate growth and water efficiency. Plants that are native or climate adaptive to the high desert area of Lancaster and/or others that will be hardy, harmonious with project design, and of good appearance, shall be used. Drought-resistant varieties of plants shall be used wherever feasible. Turf shall not be permitted. Drought-resistant varieties of plants shall be used in accordance with Title 8, Chapter 8.50, Landscaping Installation and Maintenance of the Lancaster Municipal Code. d. Landscaped areas shall be irrigated by an automatic system with separate stations for each hydrozone. The irrigation system shall be designed and equipped to incorporate water conservation techniques such as drip systems, moisture sensors and anti-drain valves. Sprinkler systems shall be designed to prevent water from falling onto impervious surfaces. The system shall comply with Title 8, Chapter 8.50, Landscaping Installation and Maintenance of the Lancaster Municipal Code. e. All areas which are within a site which has been approved by the city for development as a site plan or approved phase thereof, which are not needed for buildings, sidewalks, vehicle access or parking, shall be landscaped. f. All landscaped planter areas shall be completely bordered by a 6-inch P.C.C. curbing to prevent irrigation runoff and act as a wheel stop where necessary. Where used as a wheel stop, the 6-inch curb may be counted toward the required length of the parking space. g. All interior areas of parking lots shall be landscaped with a minimum of one shade tree plus one shade tree for each 4 parking spaces along with the other plant materials. h. Lots of 5,000 square feet or less in area shall have the area used for vehicle ingress, egress, circulation and parking, landscaped in accordance with the following percentages: | Zone | Landscaping | |------|-------------| Only landscaped areas exclusive of curbs shall qualify toward meeting this requirement and no landscaped area with a dimension of less than 2 feet shall be credited toward meeting the landscape requirement. i. Lots of more than 5,000 square feet in area shall have the area used for vehicle ingress, egress, circulation and parking, landscaped in accordance with the following percentages: | Zone | Landscaping | |------|-------------| Only landscaped areas exclusive of curbs shall qualify toward meeting this requirement and no landscaped area with a dimension of less than 2 feet shall be credited toward meeting this landscape requirement. j. Where off-street parking areas abut local or collector public streets, such areas shall be separated from an abutting street by a continuous landscaped planter which extends parallel to the street frontage of the parking area. Said planter shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width exclusive of perimeter curbs. Up to ½ of the area of this required landscaped planter may be counted toward fulfilling the requirements of subsection A.8.h. or i. (See Section 17.16.130.B.2.E and 17.16.130.B.4., regarding landscaping in yards.) k. Trees and landscaping shall be utilized wherever possible to shade buildings as a means of enhancing energy conservation. l. No tree shall be less than 15 gallon size. At least 50% of all shrubs shall be of 5-gallon size, and no shrub shall be less than one-gallon size. Ground covers shall be planted no further apart than 6 inches on center. m. All landscaped areas shall be continuously and properly maintained in good condition. (See definition of landscape maintenance in Section 17.04.240.)

All on-site utility services shall be underground.

No adult-oriented business shall be established, located or operated in any zone in the city other than within the heavy industry (HI) category.

Fencing Requirements All outside storage and display or portions thereof which do not fall under the requirements of subsection A.10.c. of this section shall be fenced with chain link or other durable metal material approved by the Director. No wood fence materials will be allowed. All fences shall be of uniform height in relation to the ground upon which they stand and no fence shall be less than 6 feet and shall not exceed 15 feet in height. The actual height shall be based upon the height of materials to be stored and methods of stacking such materials and the need for security.

Standards for Outside Storage and Display Areas All portions of outside storage and display areas shall meet the following requirements: 1. Grading: The site shall be graded to drain properly as required by the Director. 2. Fire Department Approval: Applicants must obtain approval of the Los Angeles County Fire Department prior to obtaining any city permits for any use that includes the manufacture, use or storage of hazardous materials or wastes. 3. Surface Requirements: The surface of the site shall be covered with at least 2 inches of crushed rock to prevent dust, or if hazardous materials are used or wastes are stored anywhere in the outdoor storage area, the entire area where such materials are used or stored shall, at a minimum, be paved in accordance with the standards of subsection A.2.a. of this section without expansion joints and with a curb for containment in accordance with city standards. Additional requirements may be imposed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. 4. Storage Limitations: All raw material, equipment, by-product, waste or finished products: a. Shall not be stored above the height of the wall or fence enclosing the area; and b. Shall not be stored within 300 feet of residentially zoned property, except where such property is separated by an arterial street; and c. Shall be stored in a manner that will not allow any material to be blown from the enclosed storage area; and d. Shall not be placed or allowed to remain outside the enclosed storage area.

Screening. a. Screening Standards Applicable to All I Zones 1. Ground-Mounted Equipment: Where mechanical equipment, junction boxes, satellite antennae, meters and similar utility equipment is ground mounted it shall be enclosed or screened from view where necessary to preclude visibility from freeways, expressways and arterial streets and adjacent properties. 2. Parking Areas: Parking areas adjacent to streets shall be screened with landscaping in the required yards and with low decorative walls, berms or combinations thereof. Where walls are used they shall be placed so as not to obscure landscaped areas from the street. b. Screening Standards Applicable to the LI Zone 1. Rooftop Equipment: All rooftop mechanical equipment, ducts, tanks, satellite antennae, etc., shall be enclosed or otherwise screened from view from all sides of the building. (This requirement does not include wind-powered turbines used for ventilation.) 2. Loading Areas: Loading areas shall be screened from view where necessary to preclude visibility from public streets and highways and adjacent properties. c. Screening Standards Applicable to the HI Zone 1. Rooftop Equipment: All rooftop mechanical equipment, ducts, tanks, satellite antennae, etc., shall be enclosed or otherwise screened from view from all sides of the building only where necessary to preclude visibility from freeways, expressways or arterial streets or adjoining residential, commercial or light industrial areas. (This requirement does not include wind-powered turbines used for ventilation.) 2. Loading Areas: Loading areas shall be screened from view only where necessary to preclude visibility from freeways, expressways and arterial streets and adjacent residentially and commercially zoned properties.

Service for Utilities All on-site utility services shall be underground.

Signs. a. Sign Design Standards Applicable to All I Zones 1. The colors, materials and lighting of every sign shall be restrained and harmonious with the building and site to which it principally relates. 2. The number of graphic elements on a sign shall be held to the minimum needed to convey the sign's major message and shall be composed in proportion to the area of the sign face. 3. The light source of externally illuminated signs shall not be visible. 4. No sign shall be placed in or over any public right-of-way. 5. Street numbers of all buildings shall be prominently located and not less than 8 inches in height on a contrasting background to be easily read from the street by public safety personnel (i.e., police, fire, ambulance). b. Sign Design Standards Applicable Only to the LI Zone 1. Use of individual letters for all signing is preferred and encouraged over "cabinet" signs. Where cabinet signs are utilized, such cabinet must be integrated into the design of the building or structure.

Refuse/Recycling Storage Commercial, industrial and institutional uses shall have on the same lot or parcel a refuse/recycling storage area at a ratio of 20 square feet of refuse/recycling storage area for each 1,000 square feet or portion thereof of net floor area of the facility but not less than 6 feet in width nor less than 18 in length (exterior dimension). Such storage areas shall include separate containers for waste and for materials to be recycled. Each container shall be clearly marked or color coded for its intended use. Such storage areas shall be enclosed on 3 sides by a minimum 5-foot-high reinforced masonry or concrete wall with a sight-obscuring gate of noncombustible materials which is the same height as the enclosing walls. The floor of the enclosure shall be of concrete construction and the walls shall be protected by a concrete curb not less than 2 inches high by 6 inches wide or conventional concrete wheel stops to preclude damage by dumpsters. Such storage areas shall not be placed in a location which is openly exposed to a fronting street or a neighboring residential area.

Special Standards for Automobile Dismantling, Scrap Metal Processing Yards and Junk and Salvage Yards No automobile dismantling yard or junk and salvage yard (as defined in Section 17.04.240) shall be permitted or maintained in the HI zone unless it complies with the following requirements: a. Enclosure of Operations All operations and storage, including all equipment used in conducting such business, other than parking, shall be conducted within an enclosed building, or within an area fully enclosed by a solid wall. No wrecked or dismantled vehicles, salvage or junk shall be placed or allowed to remain outside of the enclosed yard area. b. Storage Height Limitation No wrecked or dismantled vehicles, salvage or junk shall be stored at a height greater than the surrounding wall. c. Wall Standards Where walls are required they shall be developed in accordance with the following standards: 1. Height and Placement: All walls shall be of a uniform height in relation to the ground upon which they stand, and shall be a minimum of 8 feet and shall not exceed 15 feet in height. No walls shall be placed in a required front or street side yard established by Section 17.16.130.B.2. The required setback shall be landscaped in accordance with Sections 17.16.130.B.2.e., 17.16.130.B.4. and 17.16.220. All landscaped areas shall be continuously and properly maintained in good condition as defined in this title. 2. Construction Standards: Walls shall be constructed of masonry to the structural standards specified by the Director. 3. Gates: Gates shall be of solid construction. (Chain link with slats does not fulfill this requirement.) 4. Interior Fences: Other interior fences or walls not open to view may be constructed of alternative materials as approved by the Director. 5. Materials and Workmanship: All fences and walls shall be constructed in a workmanlike manner and shall consist solely of new materials unless the Director approves the substitution of used materials where, in his opinion, such used materials will provide the equivalent in service, appearance, and useful life. 6. Color Requirements: All walls shall be a uniform neutral color excluding black, which blends with the surrounding terrain and improvements and shall be maintained in a neat, orderly condition at all times. Such wall may contain signs as approved by the Director in lieu of freestanding signs with an area not to exceed the sign area permitted for freestanding signs. 7. Painting of Structures: Any structures which are used as part of the yard boundaries and/or are exposed to view from the street frontage shall be painted to conform with the color of the fencing. The Director may approve other appropriate architectural treatment. d. Paving 1. General Paving Requirement: The entire yard shall be paved with an asphalt surfacing as specified in subsection A.2.b. of this section or the Director may approve other paving materials which provide, in his opinion, the equivalent in service and useful life. The requirement may be waived where the Director finds that no dust or other problem would be aggravated by the absence of surfacing. 2. Hazardous Materials: If hazardous materials are used or wastes are stored anywhere in an outdoor storage area, the entire storage area and area where the materials are used shall be paved in accordance with subsection A.2.a. of this section without expansion joints and with a curb sufficient for containment in accordance with city standards. e. Compliance with Other Regulations The special standards for automobile dismantling yards and junk and salvage yards set forth in this title shall not relieve the proprietors of such yards from complying with all regulations, laws and ordinances of the city of Lancaster, county of Los Angeles, state of California or the United States.

Hazardous Materials Applicants must obtain the approval of the Los Angeles County Fire Department prior to obtaining any city permits for any use which includes the manufacture or use, of hazardous materials or the storage of hazardous materials or wastes.

Radioactive Materials The use of radioactive materials shall be limited to measuring, gauging or calibration equipment.

Noise Uses which generate noise by the nature of their function and/or processes shall be required to demonstrate that the noise levels emitted from the use shall not exceed 65 dBA at any property line which abuts a commercial or residential zone or use. A detailed noise attenuation study by a qualified acoustical engineer may be required by the Director or his designated representative to determine appropriate mitigation and methods to incorporate same into project design. Site design methods which may be utilized to reduce noise include: a. The use of building setbacks and dedication of noise easements to increase the distance between the noise source and receiver; b. The location of uses and orientation of buildings which are compatible with higher noise levels adjacent to noise generators or in clusters to shield more noise-sensitive areas and uses; c. The placement of noise-tolerant land uses, such as parking areas, between the noise source and receiver; d. The placement of noise-tolerant structures, such as garages or carports, to shield noise-sensitive areas; e. Clustering of office or commercial structures to reduce interior open space noise levels.

Projections Permitted into Yards The following projections are permitted in the LI zone only. a. Eaves, Cantilevered Roofs, Awnings and Similar Architectural Features Eaves, cantilevered roofs, awnings and similar architectural features may project a maximum distance of 2½ feet into any required front or side yard or 5 feet into a rear yard, provided that such features shall maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet from any property line and is not less than 8 feet in height above grade. Such appendages shall be supported only at or behind the building setback line. b. Landing Places and Access Stairs Landing places including access stairs, which exceed an average height of 2½ feet and do not extend above the level of the first floor may project a maximum distance of 2 feet into required interior side yards, and a maximum distance of 5 feet into required front and side yards, provided such features shall maintain a minimum distance of 3 feet from any property line, and that an open-work railing installed shall not exceed 3½ feet in height. c. Rain Conductors, Spouts, Utility Service Risers, and Similar Features

No adult-oriented business shall be operated in any manner that permits the observation of any material or activities depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas from any public way or from any location outside the building or area of such establishment.

No adult-oriented business shall be operated in any manner that permits the observation of any material or activities depicting, describing or relating to specified sexual activities or specified anatomical areas from any public way or from any location outside the building or area of such establishment.

The purpose and intent of the P Zone is to provide the means necessary to implement the city's general plan... No building in the P zone which is within 100 feet of any RR, SRR or R zone shall exceed a height of 2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less. Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1.0.

No building in the P zone which is within 100 feet of any RR, SRR or R zone shall exceed a height of 2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less. Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1.0.

The purpose of the School (S) zone is to implement policies contained in the Lancaster General Plan... No building in the S zone which is within 100 feet of any RR, SRR or R zone shall exceed a height of 2 stories or 35 feet, whichever is less. Maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) 1.0.