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Hawthorne City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

20d R-4 ZONE

§ 17.20d.010 Purpose.

The principal objectives and purposes to be served by this classification and its application are: establish areas for multifamily residential development consistent with the General Plan and with the standards of public health, safety, and welfare established by this Code; provide an adequate supply and range of housing types to accommodate the City's future population growth; ensure adequate light, air, privacy, and open space for each dwelling; protect residential areas from public safety hazards; provide sites for public or semi-public land uses needed to complement residential development or requiring a residential environment; and ensure the provision of public services and facilities needed to accommodate the residential population.
(Ord. 1894 § 24, 2007; Ord. 1997 § 12, 2011; Ord. 2263, 6/23/2026[1])
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter was renumbered from Ch. 17.19.

§ 17.20d.016 Floor area ratio.

In addition to density and other limitation within this chapter, residential developments in R-4 shall be limited to a floor area ratio of 1:3, as calculated over the entire project area.
(Ord. 2107 § 5, 2016; Ord. 2263, 6/23/2026)

§ 17.20d.017 Design and development standards.

The property development standards set forth in Chapter 17.21 of this Title and Chapter 17.22 shall apply to all multifamily developments in the R-4 Maximum-Density Residential classification.
(Ord. 2022 § 5, 2012; Ord. 2263, 6/23/2026)

§ 17.20d.020 Permitted uses and general standards.

All uses and structures in the R-4 Maximum-Density Residential classification shall comply with the standards and requirements of the table below.
Table of Uses and General Standards for R-4 Zone1
Minimum Lot Size
Minimum Lot Width
Minimum Lot Depth
Minimum Front Setback2
Side Setback Interior3/Street4
Minimum Rear Setback5
Maximum Lot Coverage
Maximum Building Height6
Minimum Open Space Per Unit7
Uses permitted in R-1, R-2, or R-3 subject to standards of that zone
See Ch. 17.20a (R-1), Ch. 17.20b (R-2), and Ch. 17.20c (R-3)
Multifamily dwelling units (min. 3 units)
1,452/unit
50
100
15
5/10
5
80%
60
150
Hospital (CUP) excluding animal hospitals
5,000
50
100
15
5/10
5
—
22
—
Mobile home park (CUP)
5 acres
50
100
15
0
0
—
22
—
Private clubs (CUP)
5,000
50
100
15
5/10
5
—
22
—
Single-room occupancy
See § 17.34a.040
Residential care facility, large (CUP)
See § 17.34a.020
Employee housing
Subject only to those restrictions that apply to other residential uses of the same type in this zone.
Residential care facility, small
Supportive housing
Transitional housing
CUP = Conditional Use Permit required; - = Not Applicable
Notes:
1
Units are feet except lot size and open space, which are square feet.
2
For garage facing street, minimum setback of 18 feet required.
3
Side setback is 10% of lot width up to 5 feet, but not less than 3.5 feet.
4
Side yard adjacent to a street shall have a minimum width of 20% of lot width, up to 10 feet.
5
On through lots the rear setback shall be the same as required for front setback.
6
12 feet maximum on lots less than 40 feet average width and less than 5,000 square feet.
7
Not more than 50% may be private open space.
(Ord. 2240, 11/14/2023; Ord. 2263, 6/23/2026)

§ 17.20d.021 Security requirements.

A. 
Security standards included in Chapter 17.21 shall apply to all multifamily development projects in the R-4 Maximum-Density Residential zone.
B. 
The applicant for approval of a project that includes residential condominiums shall ensure that the covenants, conditions and restrictions that are recorded for the project require owners of individual condominium units to comply with the City's Crime-Free Multifamily Housing Program and that they include a crime-free lease addendum, in the form that is on file with and approved by the City.
C. 
The owner of property for a new residential apartment project shall ensure that a covenant is recorded against the property ensuring that the property owner, and each successor in interest, comply with the City's Crime-Free Multifamily Housing Program and that the owner and successor require tenants to execute a crime-free lease addendum, in the form that is on file with and approved by the City.
(Ord. 2107 § 6, 2016; Ord. 2263, 6/23/2026)

§ 17.20d.030 Prohibited uses.

Cannabis cultivation, processing, delivery, except as authorized in Section 17.34d.070, and cannabis dispensaries, except where the City is prohibited by federal or state law from enacting a prohibition on any such activity.
(Ord. 2106 § 6, 2016; Ord. 2148 § 6, 2017; Ord. 2263, 6/23/2026)