Hermosa Beach City Zoning Code

Title 17 of the Hermosa Beach Municipal Code shall be known and cited as the “Hermosa Beach Zoning Ordinance”, “Zoning Ordinance of the City of Hermosa Beach”, or “Zoning Ordinance.”

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

The purpose of the Zoning Ordinance is to implement the City’s General Plan and to protect and promote the public health, safety, peace, comfort, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare. More specifically, the Zoning Ordinance is adopted to achieve the following objectives:

1. A.
   Provide standards for the orderly growth and development of the City, and guide and control the use of land to provide a safe, harmonious, attractive, and sustainable community.
2. B.
   Achieve the arrangement of land uses depicted in the Hermosa Beach General Plan, consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan.
3. C.
   Enhance the appearance of the City and promote high-quality design.
4. D.
   Preserve and enhance the quality of life and character of residential neighborhoods.
5. E.
   Promote economic growth and the creation of jobs.
6. F.
   Facilitate the appropriate location of community facilities, institutions, transportation, and parks and recreational areas.
7. G.
   Allow for public participation in government decision-making regarding land use and development in a manner consistent with State law.
8. H.
   Define duties and powers of administrative bodies and officers responsible for implementation of the Zoning Ordinance.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026) 

Effective on: 7/23/2026

The Hermosa Beach Zoning Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in Section 65850 of the California Government Code.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

This Zoning Ordinance implements the goals and policies of PLAN Hermosa, the city’s adopted Hermosa Beach General Plan, and Coastal Land Use Plan, by regulating the use of land and structures within the City. Any permit, license, or approval issued pursuant to this Zoning Ordinance must be consistent with the General Plan and all applicable specific plans.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

1. A.
   Applicability to Property. This Zoning Ordinance shall apply, to the extent permitted by law, to all property within the corporate limits of the City of Hermosa Beach and to property for which applications for development and/or subdivisions have been submitted to the City of Hermosa Beach, including all uses, structures, and land owned by any private person, firm, corporation or organization, or the City of Hermosa Beach or other local, State, or Federal agencies. Any governmental agency shall be exempt from the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance only to the extent that such property may not be lawfully regulated by the City.
2. B.
   Minimum Requirements. The provisions of this Zoning Ordinance shall be deemed the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, and general welfare. Where this Zoning Ordinance provides for more discretion on the part of a City official or body, that discretion may be exercised to impose more stringent requirements than set forth in this Zoning Ordinance as may be necessary to promote orderly land use development and the purposes of this Zoning Ordinance. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require or allow a City official or body to exercise its discretion in a manner that would be contrary to state or Federal law.
3. C.
   Compliance with Regulations. No land shall be used, and no structure shall be constructed, occupied, enlarged, altered, demolished, or moved in any zone, except in accordance with the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance, including the development and performance standards herein, and any permit issued pursuant hereto. The temporary or transitory nature of a use does not exempt it from this requirement.
4. D.
   Conflicting Regulations. The regulations of this Zoning Ordinance and requirements or conditions imposed pursuant to this Zoning Ordinance shall not supersede any other regulations or requirements adopted or imposed by the Hermosa Beach City Council, the State of California, or any Federal agency that has jurisdiction by law over uses and development authorized by this Zoning Ordinance. All uses and development authorized by this Zoning Ordinance shall comply with all other such regulations and requirements.
5. E.
   Private Agreements. This Zoning Ordinance shall not interfere with or annul any recorded easement, covenant, or other agreement now in effect, provided that where any recorded easement, covenant, or other agreement now in effect, is in conflict with state or federal law, or this Zoning Ordinance imposes a greater restriction than imposed by an easement, covenant, or agreement, this Zoning Ordinance shall control. The City of Hermosa Beach shall not be responsible for monitoring or enforcing private agreements.
6. F.
   Prior Ordinance. The provisions of this Zoning Ordinance supersede all prior ordinances codified in Title 17 of the Hermosa Beach Municipal Code and any amendments. No provisions of this Zoning Ordinance shall validate any land use or structure established, constructed, or maintained in violation of the prior Zoning Ordinance, unless such land use or structure is specifically authorized by this Zoning Ordinance and is in conformance with all other regulations.
7. G.
   Effect on Previously Approved Projects and Projects in Progress.

   1. 1.
      Building Permit. Any building or structure for which a Building Permit has been issued may be completed and used in accordance with the plans, specifications, and permits on which said Building Permit was granted, provided construction is diligently pursued and completed pursuant to the provisions of the California Building Code, as adopted by the City of Hermosa Beach.
   2. 2.
      Previously Approved Land Use Authorization. This Zoning Ordinance shall not interfere with, repeal, abrogate, or annul any previously granted land use authorization, unless otherwise specified in this Title. Any land use or structure, which was previously legally established, and has been deemed nonconforming as a result of adoption of this Zoning Ordinance, shall be subject to Chapter 17.52 (Nonconforming Buildings and Uses). All permits, entitlements, and conditions of approval of previous land use authorizations shall apply until the applicable review authority specifically repeals the allowance, requirement of this Title, or condition.
   3. 3.
      Land Use Authorization in Process. An application for a discretionary land use authorization that has been accepted by the Community Development Department as complete for processing prior to the adoption of this Zoning Ordinance or any applicable amendment shall be processed according to the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance or the prior Zoning Ordinance upon written request from the project applicant. The written request shall be made no later than 30 days after the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance and at least one action must be taken by the review authority within 210 days of the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance.
8. H.
   Application During Local Emergency. The City Council may authorize a deviation from a provision of this Zoning Ordinance during a local emergency declared and ratified under the Hermosa Beach Municipal Code. The City Council may authorize a deviation by resolution without notice or public hearing.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026) 

Effective on: 7/23/2026

The Zoning Ordinance shall be administered by the Hermosa Beach City Council, Planning Commission, and Community Development Department as established in Chapter 17.02, Zoning Review Authorities.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

This title shall be considered a permissive ordinance, whereby only those uses, structures, or facilities that are authorized hereby are allowed, except as provided through an administrative determination, an administrative use permit, or other discretionary action.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Zoning Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Zoning Ordinance. The Hermosa Beach City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Zoning Ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof, regardless of the fact that any or one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

The City Council shall establish by resolution, and may amend and revise from time to time, fees for processing the discretionary entitlement applications and other permits authorized or required by this Zoning Ordinance, as well as the necessary fees to mitigate impacts, as allowed by State law. All fees shall be paid at the time an application is filed, and no processing shall commence until the fees are paid in full.

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026)

Effective on: 7/23/2026

1. A.
   Violations of zoning regulations. Violations of the provisions of this title shall be subject to the administrative penalty provisions of Chapter 1.10.
2. B.
   Each day a separate offense. Each person, firm or corporation found guilty of a violation shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for every day during any portion of which any violation of any provision of this title is committed, continued or permitted by such person, firm or corporation, and any use, occupation or building or structure maintained contrary to the provisions hereof shall constitute a public nuisance.
3. C.
   Violation of conditions of conditional use permits and precise development plans. No person shall violate any conditions of a conditional use permit or precise development plan. Such violations shall be subject to the administrative penalty provisions of Chapter 1.10 in addition to the measures set out in Section 17.03.110 (Revocation of Permits).

(Ord. # 26-1500 §5 (Exh. A), adopted 06/23/2026, effective 07/23/2026) 

Effective on: 7/23/2026