A.

Short Title: The provisions of this Chapter regulate zoning of land located within the City. This Chapter may be cited as the City's Zoning Regulations.

B.

Scope of Provisions: The Zoning Act ^[1] regulates the local control of zoning and authorizes the City to enact local ordinances to adopt and administer zoning laws, ordinances, rules and regulations as well as to implement the City's General Plan. This Article incorporates by reference those provisions of the Zoning Act which are mandated by State law and adopts additional provisions governing zoning in those areas where the Zoning Act allows the City to exercise discretion.

(Ord. 164, 2-2-85)

It is hereby declared that in the creation of the respective zones and other regulations by this Chapter, the City Council has given due and special consideration to the peculiar suitability of each and every such zone and regulation herein established, for the particular uses enumerated therefor, the conservation of property values, the most appropriate use of land throughout the City and the goals and policies of the City's General Plan.

(Ord. 164, 2-2-85)

The following words, phrases and terms are hereby defined for the purpose of this Chapter:

Accessory Building: A subordinate building or structure on the same lot or building site, the use of which is incidental to that of the main building and which is used exclusively by the occupants of the main building.

Accessory Use: A use customarily incidental and accessory to the principal use of a lot or building located upon the same lot or building site.

Alley: A thoroughfare having a width of not less than 20 feet nor more than 30 feet, which affords only a secondary means of access to abutting property.

Buildable Area: The portion of a site other than the required Yards.

Building: A structure having a partially or completely solid roof supported by columns or walls.

Building Height Cap: The greatest vertical dimension of a building as measured from the lowest point where the foundation adjoins the finished exterior grade to the top of the highest portion of the finished roof (excluding chimneys). In addition, one ramp that measures a minimum of 12 feet and a maximum of 20 feet in width and does not exceed 17 feet in width at the garage opening that provides vehicular access to a basement garage located fully below grade, may be excluded when determining the lowest point adjacent to the foundation.

Building Height Envelope: The vertical dimension of the building as measured from each point of the pre-existing grade to the directly vertical point of the finished roof (excluding chimneys).

Building, Main: A building constructed, designed or intended for the conduct of the principal use of the lot on which it is located.

Building Official: That person charged with the responsibility of administering the Building Code for the City, namely the City Engineer or his duly appointed representative.

Commercial Use: Any activity engaged in for valuable consideration, whether or not measured in money or service or goods of value. Such activity includes, but is not limited to, hiring for profit, renting, boarding, rooming, selling, training, assembling or manufacturing within the City.

Court: An area surrounded on three or more sides by one or more structures.

Dwelling, Single-Family: A building containing but one kitchen designed and used to house not more than one family, including domestic employees of such family.

Emergency Shelter: Housing with minimal supportive services for homeless persons that limits occupancy by homeless persons to six months or less and that does not deny emergency shelter due to a person's inability to pay.

Family: Two or more persons living together as a single housekeeping unit in a single dwelling unit. Family also means the persons living together in a licensed residential facility, as that term is defined in California Health & Safety Code Section 1502(a) (1), serving six or fewer persons, excluding the licensee, the members of the licensee's family, and persons employed as facility staff who reside at the facility.

Farm Worker Housing: Farm worker housing means any living quarters or accommodations of any type, including mobile homes, which meet the requirements of the California Building Code and State Housing Law (California Health and Safety Code Sec. 17910 et seq.), provided by any person for individuals or families employed principally in farming or other agricultural activities on or off the property on which the farm worker housing facility is to be located.

Finished Grade: The grade of the site as improved or, if the grade is not within the parameters shown on approved plans, the grade shown on the approved plans for the site.

Floor Area, Gross: The area of all floors or levels included within the surrounding walls of a building or structure, except for area devoted exclusively to subsurface parking in commercial zones.

Garage, Private: An accessory building or an accessory portion of the main building, designed or intended to be used only for the shelter or storage of vehicles owned or operated by the occupants of the main building.

Kitchen: Any room or space within a dwelling used, intended or designed to be used for cooking or the preparation of food.

Licensed Residential Facilities: State licensed facilities maintained and operated to provide non-medical residential care, day treatment, or foster agency services for six or fewer adults, children, or adults and children and which are required by State law to be treated as a single housekeeping unit for zoning purposes.

Lot or Parcel: Either:

A.

A parcel of real property when shown as a delineated parcel of land with a number or other designation as a plot recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles County;

B.

A parcel of land, the dimensions or boundaries of which are defined by a record of survey recorded pursuant to the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act of the State of California in the office the County Recorder of Los Angeles County; or

C.

A parcel of land, the dimensions or boundaries of which are defined by metes and bounds and held under separate ownership of record on March 4, 1985.

Lot Area or Area of Lot: The total horizontal area within the boundaries of a lot or parcel; except, there shall be excluded from the computation thereof any portion or strip of said lot (commonly known as flat lot) which:

A.

Has a width of less than 30 feet; and

B.

Serves as the sole means of ingress and egress from any public or private street to the main portion of said lot.

Lot Lines: The boundary line of lots as follows:

Front Lot Line: The line dividing an interior lot from the street or road or from the street or road easement, whichever is applicable. On a flag lot, a corner lot, a through lot or a through corner lot, only one lot line shall be considered as a front lot line, and such front lot line shall be determined by the Planning Agency or the Building Official.

Rear Lot Line: The line opposite the front lot line. For a triangular or cone-shaped lot, the rear lot line shall be determined by the Planning Agency or Building Official.

Side Lot Line: Any lot line other than the front lot line or the rear lot line.

Natural/Grade: The grade of the site in its original condition prior to commencement of any grading by any person or entity on the site.

Nonconforming/Building or Structure: A building or structure, or portion thereof, which was lawfully altered or constructed in accordance with the then existing zoning regulations of the City but which did not comply with subsequently adopted zoning regulations or which does not conform to these regulations.

Nonconforming/Use: The utilization of any lot, building, buildings or structures, or any combination thereof, which use, when established, conformed to the then existing zoning regulations but which did not comply with subsequently adopted zoning regulations or which does not conform to these regulations.

Pre-Existing/Grade: The finished grade of the site on date of submittal of an application to repair, remodel, reconstruct, or construct on the site or, if there are no approved plans for the site, the natural grade.

Single Housekeeping Unit: The functional equivalent of a traditional family, whose members are an interactive group of persons jointly occupying a single dwelling unit, including the joint use of and responsibility for common areas, and sharing household activities and responsibilities such as meals, chores, household maintenance, and expenses, and where, if the unit is rented, all adult residents have chosen to jointly occupy the entire premises of the dwelling unit, under a single written lease with joint use and responsibility for the premises, and the makeup of the household occupying the unit is determined by the residents of the unit rather than the landlord or property manager.

Story: The portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the next floor above it or, if there is no floor above it, the space between the floor and the ceiling next above it. "Story" shall include mezzanines and penthouses, but shall not include:

1.

Basements and cellars which are less than three feet above finished grade;

2.

Floors devoted exclusively to mechanical equipment for the building and for rooftop elevator lobbies in the C-R Zone. The area of each such elevator lobby shall not exceed 100 square feet per elevator cab.

Street: A public or private thoroughfare which affords primary means of access to abutting property.

Structure, Walls, Fences: Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires more or less permanent location on the ground or attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground.

Supportive Housing: Housing occupied by a specified target population defined in Section 50675.14 of the California Health and Safety Code that has no limit on length of stay, and that is linked to onsite or offsite services that assist the resident in retaining the housing, improving his or her health status, maximizing his or her ability to live, and - when possible - work in the community. Supportive housing is a residential use subject to the same regulations and procedures that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone.

Transitional Housing: Temporary rental housing intended for occupancy by homeless individuals or families transitioning to permanent housing that is operated under program requirements that terminate assistance to residents and recirculate the assisted unit to another eligible program recipient at some predetermined future point in time, which shall be no less than six months from the initial occupancy date of the recipient. Transitional housing often includes a supportive services component, such as job skills training or rehabilitation counseling to allow individuals to gain the necessary life skills to support independent living. Transitional housing is a residential use subject to the same regulations and procedures that apply to other residential uses of the same type in the same zone.

Use: The purpose for which land or a building is arranged, designed or intended or for which it either is or may be occupied or maintained.

Use, Conditional: The use of land or buildings pursuant to a permit issued by the City in accordance with Article H. of this Chapter.

Variance: A variance from the terms of this Chapter which is authorized pursuant to Article I of this Chapter.

Yard: An open space, other than a court, on a lot, unoccupied and unobstructed at, above and below the finished grade, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter.

Yard, Front: A yard extending across the full width of the lot between the side lot lines and measured in depth between the front lot line and a line parallel to and separated from the front lot line or the road easement line by the minimum front yard setback but in no case less than 50 feet from the road easement line.

Yard, Rear: A yard extending across the full width of the lot between the side lot lines and measured in depth between the rear lot line and nearest rear line of the main building or the nearest line of any supporting member of any enclosed or covered porch attached thereto.

Yard, Side: A yard extending from the front yard to the rear yard between the side line and the nearest line of a supporting member of the main building.

(Ord. 240, 4-22-91; 1994 Code; Ord. 281, 1-27-97; Ord. 283, 5-12-97; Ord. 287, 9-8-97; Ord. No. 314, § 2, 12-8-03; Ord. No. 317, § 1, 2-28-05; Ord. No. 318, § 3, 3-14-05; Ord. No. 344, § 3, 6-24-13; Ord. No. 345, § 1, 10-14-13; Ord. No. 381, § 2, 9-12-22)

A.

The interpretation and application of the provisions of this Title shall constitute the minimum requirements to insure the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. It is not intended by this Title to interfere with or abrogate or annul any existing easement, covenant, restriction or other agreement between parties. When this Title imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or land or upon the height of buildings or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by other ordinances, rules, regulations or easements, covenants or agreements, the provisions of this Title shall control.

B.

Provisions of this Title shall not bar any legal, equitable or summary remedy which the City or which any person may otherwise have to restrain or enjoin any attempted or proposed sale, contract of sale or conveyance in violation of this Title, or of any other operative ordinance, statute or contractual obligation or limitation.

(Ord. 164, 2-2-85)

Except as hereinafter provided, land or buildings may be used and structures may be erected or altered only in accordance with the following provisions:

A.

Land Use Limitations: No building may be erected and no existing building shall be moved, altered or enlarged nor shall any land be used for any purpose or in any manner other than a use listed in this Title, or amendments hereto, as permitted in the zone in which such land, building or premises is located.

B.

Height Limitations: No building shall be erected nor shall any existing building be moved, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit established by this Chapter or amendments hereto for the zone in which such building is located.

C.

Development Standards: No building shall be erected nor shall any existing building be moved, altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any open spaces surrounding any building be encroached upon or reduced in any manner, except in conformity with the development standards outlined in this Chapter, or amendments hereto, and the zone in which such building is located.

D.

Yard Requirements: No yard or open space provided adjacent to any building for the purpose of complying with the regulations of this Chapter, or amendments hereto, shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building.

(Ord. 229, 11-12-90)