Hawthorne City Zoning Code

No intrusions are permitted in side yards that are three and one-half feet in width or less nor in front yards that are 10 feet in depth or less. Such side and front yards shall remain open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky at all times. No side yard shall be reduced to less than three and one-half feet and no front yard shall be reduced to less than 10 feet.

A fireplace structure, not wider than eight feet measured in the general direction of the wall of which it is a part, may intrude into a yard.

Uncovered porches and platforms which do not extend above the floor level of the first floor may extend into a required side or rear yard not more than two feet and may extend into a required front yard not more than six feet. Such uncovered porches and platforms may be enclosed with an openwork balustrade or railing not more than three feet in height.

Planting boxes or masonry planters not exceeding three feet in height may extend into any required front yard. Such height limitation does not apply to plants contained in the planter boxes except as set forth in Section 17.06e.090 with regard to vision clearance, corner, reverse corner, and key lots.

Eaves may intrude into a required side yard not more than two feet and into a required front yard not more than three feet.

Public utility meters, backflow irrigation equipment, and air condensers may intrude into a required side yard or front yard. All such utility meters, backflow irrigation equipment, and mechanical equipment shall be completely enclosed or screened from view from any pedestrian walk or public street. Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with any public utility regulations.

Walls, fences, and hedges are permitted in any required yard, but shall comply with Section 17.06e.090 with regard to vision clearance, corner, reverse corner and key lots. Shrubs, plants, trees, mail boxes and ornamental lighting standards that do not exceed four inches in diameter or six inches square, are permitted in any required yard except as set forth in Section 17.06e.090 with regard to vision clearance, corner, reverse corner and key lots.

Bay windows may not extend more than one and one-half feet into a required side yard provided the bay window is a minimum of one and one-half feet above ground level.

Paved Areas.

Garbage receptacles may be stored upon the required front or street side yards no longer than 12 hours prior to the regularly scheduled pickup. Bulk trash items may be placed in the same area not more than 12 hours before a special pickup. Trash receptacles and any uncollected items remaining must be removed from front or street side yards, or from the sidewalk or curb area, within 12 hours after the regularly scheduled pickup.

Appliances, tents, clotheslines, and building, electrical and plumbing materials may not be used or stored upon the required front or side yards. Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to restrict the right of the property owner or lessee to store building, electrical and plumbing materials for use on the premises stored thereon during the time that a valid building, electrical or plumbing permit is in effect for construction on the premises.

Small Structures. The following small structures may be permitted in front yards and street side yards, subject to reasonable limitations on size, height, number and bulk and subject to approval by the director of planning:

Open, unenclosed porches not extending above the ground floor level of the first floor may project into the side yard upon which such multifamily or single-family attached dwelling units front for a distance of not more than three feet.

The distance between a building containing a dwelling unit and any other buildings or structures on the same lot shall be not less than six feet.

An accessory dwelling unit or junior accessory dwelling unit pursuant to the development standards and review procedures in California Government Code §§ 66310 through 66342.

All buildings, structures, or fences shall maintain a distance of not less than 10 feet from the center line of an alley. A garage with a vehicular entrance from an alley shall maintain a minimum turning radius of 25 feet, as measured from the far right-of-way line of the alley.

Open space shall be provided for the project as a whole and there shall be no open space requirements for individual units, although private open space is encouraged, except as follows:

Minimum Open Space Per Unit.

Open space shall be provided in areas that are not driveways, parking areas, service areas, walkways, the required front yard, the street side yard of corner lots, the street side yard of reverse corner lots, or the rear yard on through lots.

Common open space may include, but is not limited to, swimming pools, tennis courts, children's play areas, barbecue and picnic areas, landscaped areas, and recreational buildings. Recreation facilities located within buildings may be counted toward common open space; provided, however, that not more than 10% of the required common open space may be indoors and must be immediately adjacent to and accessible from outdoor common open space.

The required front yard, required street side yard of corner lots, required street side yard of reverse corner lots, and required rear yard on through lots of all residentially zoned properties and residentially used properties in all other zoning classifications shall be fully landscaped, exclusive of permitted driveways and walkways. Such landscaped areas shall not count as part of the recreational open space required in Section 17.21.090.

A detailed landscaping plan in compliance with Chapter 17.10e, Landscaping, shall be submitted for approval to the Director at the time plans are submitted for plan check. Landscaped areas, excluding curbs, mow strips, and other encroachments, shall be permanently maintained with landscaping materials per the approved landscaping plans. Planting materials in moveable containers do not count toward meeting the landscaping requirements.

All landscaping and irrigation must comply with water efficiency standards detailed in Chapter 17.10e, Landscaping, of this Title. Common recreational open space required in Section 17.21.090 shall be exempt from this requirement.

The mobile home was constructed after July 1, 1976 and was issued an insignia of approval by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and has not been altered in violation of applicable codes.

The mobile home shall be attached to a permanent foundation system subject to the provisions of Section 18551 of the Health and Safety Code of the state of California.

The mobile home shall be utilized for single-family residential purposes only.

The mobile home shall be covered with an exterior material aesthetically compatible with other dwellings in the neighborhood and be approved by the director of building and safety and the planning director.

The mobile home shall have a roof consisting of shingles or other roofing materials aesthetically compatible with other dwellings in the neighborhood, and be approved by the director of building and safety and the planning director.

The mobile home shall be required to have porches with eaves and/or roofs with eaves when, in the opinion of the planning director, it is necessary to make the mobile home architecturally compatible with other dwellings in the neighborhood.

Each individual mobile home space shall have an area of not less than 1,200 square feet.

The property used for a mobile home park shall have no access except from a major or secondary street.

Any driveways providing entrance to or exit from the mobile home park shall not be closer than 50 feet to a street intersection measured from the street line established by a precise plan for either of the streets at the intersection.

A solid masonry wall or equivalent view-obscuring wall of decorative block or balanced combination of solid wood and decorative block panels six feet in height shall be established and maintained across the full width of the site, and such wall or fence shall be located on the rear line of the required front yard: on corner lots and reverse lots, such wall shall be located on the line of the required side street side yard setback, and the side yard area between the wall and the side street property line shall be permanently landscaped and permanently irrigated including all park-ways and street trees.

A solid wall or equivalent view-obscuring fence, of solid brick or decorative block, six feet in height shall be established and maintained on any boundary line with R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property, except that on any portion of such common property line constituting the depth of the required front yard on such adjoining property, a fence three and one-half feet in height shall be required.

If there are any openings in the required wall or fence for driveway purposes, such openings shall not be wider than 30 feet.

Other than mobile homes, no other type of dwelling unit shall be permitted on the mobile home park site except a dwelling unit for the owner or manager of such mobile home park.

The site of the mobile home park shall be improved and maintained in the manner specified by this Code or by uniform standards established by the City Council by resolution.

All landscaped areas, required by this Title or otherwise, shall be planted with drought-tolerant plants.

Not more than one accessory structure other than a garage may be permitted and shall be restricted to the rear half of the lot.

There is no minimum required distance between accessory buildings and structures, other than those specified in Section 17.21.060.

Storage rooms and tool sheds for customary household related items shall be limited to a maximum of 120 square feet. The storage room and tool shed may be wired for electrical service but shall not have any plumbing.

Permitted accessory uses:

Parking requirements for churches or other religious assembly use shall be provided as follows: one space for every 35 square feet of floor area used for assembly purposes including the sanctuary and meeting rooms, but excluding kitchens, hallways, storage areas, foyers, altar, stage, utility rooms, walls, closets, anteroom, stairwells, classrooms, offices, nursery rooms or areas, required exits and exit corridors. In determining the number of required parking spaces, the total number of adults present at the facility at concurrent times shall be considered. A listing of all uses, their location within the facility, the number of adults projected to attend, and the days of the week and times of day for all functions shall be submitted as part of the conditional use permit application.

In a residential zone the limitations on lot coverage by buildings need not apply.

Buildings and structures shall observe all yard requirements of the zone in which the property is located, and a single-family detached dwelling on the site shall observe the required distance between buildings as prescribed for the zone in which the site is located.

In a residential zone, buildings and structures may exceed the height limits established by this classification; provided, any required yard or open space adjacent to a perpendicular wall which exceeds the height limit shall be increased one foot in width for each foot such wall exceeds the height limit.

A masonry wall or fence six feet in height shall be constructed and maintained on any property line which is a common property line with R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property, except that along the portion of the common property line constituting the depth of the required front yard on the adjoining residentially classified property, such wall shall not exceed three and one-half feet in height.

In a residential zone, on interior lots, the side yards and the open space required at the lot rear line may be used for off-street parking and, on corner lots, the side yard at the lot interior side line and the open space at the lot rear line may be similarly used; under no circumstance, however, may the required front yard or the required yard on the street side be used for off-street parking.

All lights provided to illuminate any parking area or building on such lot or site shall be so arranged as to direct the light away from any adjoining premises.

All buildings or structures shall maintain a distance not less than 30 feet from any boundary line that is a common property line with R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property;

A fence or wall eight to 10 feet in height shall be erected and maintained on any boundary line which is a common property line with R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property, except that along the portion of the common property line constituting the depth of the required front yard on such adjoining property, such fence or wall shall not be greater than three and one-half feet in height. Any portion of such fence above eight feet shall be an openwork fence which is composed of solid portions evenly distributed and constituting not more than 50% of the total surface area of the fence. In addition, where a recreation play area abuts an alley or street, there shall be provided for emergency access, a gate or opening not less than three feet in width and located at a rate of one gate for each 200 lineal feet of continuous fence or wall or fraction thereof. No school fence or wall in such circumstances shall have less than one gate or opening.

One unlighted nameplate or placard not exceeding one square foot in area containing the name of the occupant of the premises only.

One unlighted sign not exceeding 18 inches by 24 inches and one rider sign not to exceed five inches by 16 inches pertaining only to the sale, lease or hire of the particular building, property or premises upon which displayed.

The parking area shall be used for the temporary parking of automobiles without monetary charge.

Any area used for parking purposes shall be improved and maintained in the manner specified by this Code or by the uniform standards established by the City Council by resolution.

The minimum front yard depth required by the development standards for the zone shall be maintained and a masonry wall or equivalent view-obscuring fence of solid brick or decorative block, not less than 3.5 feet nor greater than six feet in height, shall be placed on the rear line of the required front yard across the entire width of the lot except where entrance/exit facilities are specifically allowed by this subsection; and such front yard shall be permanently landscaped between the fence or wall and the front property line. All landscaping and irrigation must comply with Chapter 17.10e, Landscaping, of this Title. In addition, a solid fence or wall six feet in height shall be erected and maintained to the rear of the required front yard on any boundary line, except on corner or reverse corner lots, the wall shall be located on the inside side of the required street side yard setback line; provided further, that on that portion of the common property line constituting the depth of the required front yard, such fence or wall shall be 3.5 feet in height.

Entrance and exit facilities to the parking area shall be from the commercial or industrial property being served, or from the intervening alley, if there is one, unless the lot so used sides upon the commercial or industrial property being served, in which case entrance/exit facilities may be from the street upon which the property fronts.

No dancing is permitted and no liquor may be sold or served on the premises.

All buildings and structures shall maintain a distance of not less than 20 feet from any boundary line which is a common property line with R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property, unless a greater distance is required by reason of the greater height of buildings, in which case the greater distance shall control.

A solid wall or equivalent view-obscuring wall or fence of solid brick, concrete block or reinforced masonry, six feet in height shall be erected and maintained on any boundary property line which is a common property line with R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property; provided, that on the portion of the common property line constituting the depth of the required front yard on the adjoining R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property, such wall or fence shall be three and one-half feet in height.

Shock Mounting of Mechanical Equipment. All permanent mechanical equipment such as motors, compressors, pumps and compactors which, because of its rotation, reciprocation, expansion and/or contraction, turbulence, oscillation, pulsation, impaction or detonation, is determined by the director of building and safety to be a source of structural vibration or structure-borne noise shall be shock mounted with inertia blocks or bases and/or vibration isolators in a manner approved by the director of building and safety. Domestic appliances which are cabinet installed or built into the individual units, such as dishwashers, garbage disposals, trash compactors, clothes washers and dryers, exhaust fans or other appliances which are determined by the director of building and safety to be a source of structural vibration or structure-borne noise, shall be isolated from cabinets and the floor or ceiling by resilient gaskets and vibration mounts approved by the director of building and safety. The cabinets in which they are installed shall be offset from the back wall with strip gasketing of felt, cork or similar material approved by the director. Where such appliances utilize water, flexible connectors shall be installed on all waterlines. If provision is made with the units for the installation of nonpermanent appliances such as clothes washers and dryers then permanent rubber mounting bases and surface plates shall be installed in a manner approved by the director of building and safety.

Location of Plumbing Fixtures. No plumbing fixture shall be located on a common wall between two individual units.

Separation of Vents and Drain Lines. No common vents or drain lines shall be permitted for contiguous units until there is at least 10 feet of pipe between the closest plumbing fixtures within the separate units.

Isolation and Insulation of Water and Drainage Lines.

Attenuation of Noise.

Special Noise Sources.

Parking requirements for assembly halls shall conform to Chapter 17.10f, Section 17.10f.030C.2.

In an R-4 zone, the limitations on lot coverage by buildings need not apply.

Buildings and structures shall observe all yard requirements of the zone in which the property is located.

A masonry wall or fence six feet in height shall be constructed and maintained on any property line which is a common property line with R-1, R-2, R-3, and/or R-4 zoned property, except that along the portion of the common property line constituting the depth of the required front yard on the adjoining residentially classified property, such wall shall not exceed three and one-half feet in height.

In an R-4 zone, on interior lots, the side yards and the open space required at the lot rear line may be used for off-street parking and, on corner lots, the side yard at the lot interior side line and the open space at the lot rear line may be similarly used; under no circumstance, however, may the required front yard or the required yard on the street side be used for off-street parking.

All lights provided to illuminate any parking area or building on such lot or site shall be so arranged as to direct the light away from any adjoining premises.

One container is permitted on residential properties for a period not to exceed seven calendar days, and not more than two times within a calendar year, provided that they are prohibited within the front yard setback. Roll-off disposal bins are exempt from the time limitations of this section during approved demolition on the subject property.

A time extension not to exceed seven calendar days may be granted by the director of planning for a container placed on a residential property.

Natural Surveillance. Multifamily spaces shall be designed so that users feel that they will be seen if they do something inappropriate. It includes the organization of physical features, activities and people in ways that maximize visibility. It also includes: the thoughtful placement of windows, doors, and plazas; the alignment of sidewalks and paths so that lines of sight are created; the minimization of large areas of blank walls; the minimization of thick foliage; the locations and levels of lighting; and close connection of open spaces to surrounding living units.

Access Control. A multifamily property shall be designed to accommodate the activities of residents, but discourage individuals carrying out undesirable activities that jeopardize the health, welfare and safety of tenants and visitors. The adverse visual impacts of parking areas and garage openings on the residential character of the street should be minimized. Some examples of these impacts are: blank walls, garage doors, secluded parking facilities, and driveway openings along street frontages and long driveways.

Supportive Safety Design.

All residential developments shall comply with, in addition to the requirements of this Title, all applicable development requirements set forth in Chapter 8.50 (Stormwater and Urban Runoff Pollution Control) of Title 8 (Health and Safety) and Titles 13 (Sewers) and 14 (Technical Review and Study Requirements for Specified Development Projects).

Administrative plan review shall be required for all multifamily residential developments pursuant to Title 14.