Cerritos City Zoning Code

Adjacent to Pioneer Boulevard. The setback of any buildings or structures (excluding perimeter block walls and decorative fences) shall be a minimum of twenty feet as measured from the face of the street curb; provided, that at least seventy-five percent of the total building frontage shall be set back a minimum of twenty-seven feet, as measured from the face of the street curb.

Adjacent to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Right-of-Way. The setback of any buildings or structures (excluding perimeter block walls and decorative fences) shall be a minimum of six feet; provided, that the average setback is a minimum of fourteen feet.

Other Adjacent Land Uses. The setback of any buildings or structures (excluding perimeter block walls and decorative fences) shall be a minimum of nine feet as measured from the adjacent property line; provided, that at least seventy percent of the building elevations are set back a minimum of eighteen feet from the adjacent property line.

Adjacent to Interior Roads. Interior roadways shall be separated from perimeter block walls and/or decorative fences and shall be buffered by dense landscaping, including landscape planters, shrubs, or trees.

All buildings and structures within the area development plan shall adhere to a unified architectural design theme. Such theme shall integrate mass, height, materials, colors, textures and character for the purpose of maintaining a consistent scheme throughout the area development plan.

A minimum of thirty percent of the combined area of all building elevations, excluding the area of window, door, and balcony openings, shall be faced with enhanced materials including, but not limited to, brick, natural stone (granite, limestone, marble, sandstone, etc.), and/or other enhanced materials deemed comparable by the department of community development.

All buildings shall exhibit four-sided architecture, by which enhanced architectural detailing, building projections, and offsets are incorporated on all building elevations in order to create visual interest and depth. Design elements shall be creatively repeated on all building elevations in order to foster a unified architectural motif through the development.

Special attention shall be given to the appearance of building elevations that immediately face Pioneer Boulevard and/or adjacent uses to ensure that said building elevations are visually treated as part of the uniform development.

Architectural accent lighting shall be incorporated to further enhance the building elevations, while maintaining the standards set forth in Section 22.15.290.

Awnings, shade structures, and site amenities shall be designed to complement the architectural design theme of the development and shall be uniform in style and design. Site amenities, including site furniture and barbecue areas, shall be routinely maintained and/or replaced as necessary and shall be subject to city approval.

Trellises and pedestrian arbors shall be designed in order to enhance the architecture of the development or provide screening of units from adjacent uses and shall be subject to city approval.

All aspects of design, material and color shall be subject to precise plan approval to ensure that the general design of the residential development conforms to the purpose and intent for the area plan.

In order to provide for a measure of architectural harmony, all roofs shall consist of clay mission or mission-type light concrete tile.

There shall be at least two garage parking spaces for each dwelling unit. The interior dimensions of the garage shall be no less than twenty feet in width and twenty-two feet in depth, and shall remain free and clear of any permanent structures, including, but not limited to, walls, utility equipment and storage facilities, that preclude the parking of vehicles.

There shall be at least four-tenths visitor off-street parking space for each dwelling unit.

Exterior parking spaces shall be at least ten feet by twenty feet and shall be arranged in a manner that will not impair the traffic safety of any unit in the development.

Drive aisles shall be not less than twenty-four feet in width for two-way traffic. Drive aisle width may be reduced to a minimum of fourteen feet and shall be deemed legal and conforming; provided, that the drive aisle length shall not exceed fifty lineal feet and shall provide access to a maximum of two dwelling units.

All garage parking spaces and driveway aprons shall be constructed of concrete, whereas roadways may be constructed of asphalt in accordance with city standards. Drive aisles into and around the area development plan shall have enhanced decorative paving at key drive aisle intersections and major vehicular access points, subject to city approval.

All parking shall be arranged so that vehicles accessing or serving the dwelling units are not required to back onto a public street.

All walls or fences shall be of decorative concrete, brick, block or decorative wrought iron, or a combination of the above. The design of walls and fences and the selection of landscape materials shall result in unifying elements throughout the development area. All walls and fences shall be coordinated to serve a common theme in terms of design, color, materials and location. The design, color, material and location of walls and fences shall be subject to the approval of the department of community development.

Decorative walls and fences shall be wholly contained within private property line boundaries of the development area; provided, that the minimum setback distance for such walls or fences shall be at least fifteen feet from the face of street curb along Pioneer Boulevard.

Lighting shall be designed to provide safety and security, and shall serve to unify and enhance the general appearance of the residential development. All lighting shall be in accordance with a lighting plan and a photometric plan. The lighting plan shall examine the degree to which exterior lighting affects adjacent uses and shall consider the light source, level of illumination, and hours of illumination. The photometric plan shall depict the anticipated light levels generated by all exterior lights located on adjacent properties and immediately beyond the residential development boundaries. Both plans shall be subject to city approval and shall ensure that light fixtures and illumination levels do not adversely impact aesthetics and architectural elements of the development.

The installation of a specific style or type of lighting fixture shall be required to create harmony and compatibility of architectural elements within the area development plan.

Landscape lighting inclusive of the down-lighting, up-lighting or spot-lighting of specimen trees, decorative walkways, fountain, sculpture, and common spaces shall be required.

Accent lighting shall be designed and integrated into the architecture of the buildings, with an emphasis on inset, tucked-away light fixtures in lieu of externally mounted light fixtures, to showcase key architectural features of the buildings and key elements of the landscaping and shall be subject to the approval of the department of community development.

No light shall direct or deflect glare to residential unit interiors, streets, or adjacent uses. Special attention shall be provided to ensure that illumination shall not have a negative environmental impact on the land uses surrounding the area development plan.

The pattern, form and relationship of public and private open spaces and the design of landscaping shall be developed in harmony, integrating and complementing the permitted land use and the architectural design of buildings within the area development plan. Dense shrubs, trees, and landscape screens shall be encouraged in order to provide screening and enhance and soften residential development along arterial street frontages and adjacent uses.

Landscaping design shall include a variety of open space areas, utilizing trees and shrubs of variable heights, with a variegated grouping pattern of trees, shrubs and groundcover.

A minimum of forty percent of the area plan not covered by buildings or structures shall be landscaped. A majority of the landscaping shall be within visible open areas.

All landscaped areas shall be provided with an automatic irrigation system as approved by the department of community development.

Landscaping shall be designed in accordance with a landscape plan subject to city approval. Landscaping plans shall be designed and prepared by a licensed landscape architect in the state of California. Landscape architectural plans shall indicate the location of turf, trees, shrubs, walkways, fences and/or other decorative features. The landscape architect shall also prepare an irrigation plan to convey the use of an automatic/permanent irrigation system and a hardscape plan identifying proposed surface treatments. Furthermore, the landscape architect shall prepare a lighting plan and planting plan identifying the location and placement of light fixtures and all proposed plant material. The planting plan shall also include a legend to identify the botanical names (genus and species) of all proposed plant material as well as recommended quantities, spacing requirements and plant sizes.

Any and all revisions or modifications to landscaped or common areas shall be subject to city approval. Dead, dying, or diseased landscape shall be replaced per the original city approved landscape plan and alternative plant materials or deviations from the original city approved landscape plan shall be prohibited.

The entrance to the development area shall be designed to indicate arrival at a special residential location. Decorative entrance features and/or architectural elements such as decorative walls, planters, fountains, landscape lighting, specimen trees, and special decorative surfacing of sections of the roadway and walkways leading into the development area shall also be required as approved by the department of community development.

When a precise plan that provides for private and public open spaces, common parking areas or common facilities is approved, such approval shall be conditioned upon the preservation and maintenance of such spaces, areas, or facilities for the purposes indicated in the precise plan. Common areas and facilities shall be maintained for the entire area development plan, including all areas between buildings and the face of street curbs or adjacent uses. All perimeter walls and decorative fences shall be properly maintained, including routine painting, washing, and/or replacement of broken elements or fixtures. Any preservation or maintenance activities as a result of weathering, damage, and/or criminal activity shall match the originally approved architectural design and style of the development.

One or a combination of the following methods of administering such spaces, areas, or facilities may be utilized:

The developer shall submit evidence to the department of community development of the manner in which it will comply with the requirements of this section. The approving authority may, at any time, require the establishment of a maintenance district that permits the city to provide for maintenance in the instance that the home-owners’ association or other controlling body or person fails to provide for the maintenance at a level of quality prescribed in the document approved by the approving authority.

Air Conditioning and Filtration Systems.

Attic Ventilators.