The purpose of this title is to designate and regulate, the best location, use and design of buildings, structures and land for residence, commerce, trade, industry, water conservation, environmental preservation, or other purposes in appropriate places and in accordance with the La Verne general plan; to regulate and determine the size of yards and other open spaces and the size, height, bulk and design of structures; and to regulate and limit the density of population, and for that purpose to divide the city into districts and zones of such number, shape and area as may be deemed best suited to carry out these regulations and provide for their enforcement.

Further, such regulations are deemed necessary in order to encourage the most appropriate use of land; to conserve and stabilize the value of property; to provide adequate open spaces for light and air and to prevent and fight fires; to prevent undue concentration of population; to lessen congestion on streets; to protect the beauty, livability, economic viability, safety, charm, and existing character of the built and natural environment to facilitate adequate provisions for community utilities such as transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements; and to promote the public health, safety and general welfare.

All new construction, building, improvement, alteration or enlargement, movement undertaken after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, and all new uses or occupancy of premises within the city, shall conform with the requirements, character and conditions as to use, height and area laid down for each of these several zones or districts as described in this title.

No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, establish, move into, alter, enlarge or use, or cause or permit to be erected, constructed, established, moved into, altered, enlarged or used, any building, structure, improvement or use of premises located in any zone described in this title contrary to the provisions of this title.

This section is intended to regulate the continuation, expansion, and abatement of structures, lots, and uses which originally were legally constructed, subdivided, or initiated but which are now nonconforming according to current codes because of subsequent changes in land use regulations or annexations.

Lawfully established nonconforming uses, structures, and lots may be continued, provided such nonconforming uses, structures, and lots are not in violation of any other ordinance or law. Nonconformities are provided for as follows:

The intent of this subsection C is to make it possible for owners of single-family homes to make additions to the first floor of their homes when the addition would be an extension of a legal/nonconforming setback. It is not intended to encourage excessively large additions that do not conform to other development standards. The provisions of this subsection C apply only to existing nonconforming setbacks on single-family homes in residential zones and specific plans that permit single-family residential uses and do not supersede or relieve a property owner from compliance with other development standards of the city of La Verne Municipal Code, specific plans, zoning, and other applicable ordinances and subdivisions requirements and resolutions.

All massage establishments shall be required to obtain a conditional use permit no later than June 1, 2018.

A nonconforming massage establishment use shall terminate if it is discontinued for a period of ninety consecutive days or if the massage establishment fails to timely apply for and obtain a conditional use permit. Notification of the termination shall be provided to the owner(s) of the business and the owner(s) of record of the property upon which a massage establishment is located, hereafter referred to as the "interested parties." Notice of the pending termination shall be provided in writing by the community development department, served by certified, return receipt, first class mail. Notification shall contain the following information:

Any interested party may appeal the proposed termination of a nonconforming massage establishment pursuant to the following administrative procedure:

All buildings hereafter erected and existing buildings which may be reconstructed, altered, moved, or enlarged shall comply with the height regulations of the zone in which they may be located. Roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans, or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the buildings and fire or parapet walls, skylights, church spires, chimneys, smoke-stacks, television antenna, or similar structures may be erected above the height limits subject to approval of a precise plan if permitted in the zone.

In all cases, structures exceeding established height limits shall be permitted only if they are in proportion to the structures on the site and adjacent properties, as determined in the precise plan review, and provided that the same may be safely erected and maintained at such height in view of the surrounding conditions and circumstances.

Flagpole height shall be proportionate to the height of adjacent buildings; in no case shall a flagpole exceed the building height standards of the zone in which it is located.

No roof structures or any space above the height limit shall be allowed for the purpose of providing additional living floor space.

All buildings hereafter erected and existing buildings which may be reconstructed, altered, moved, maintained or enlarged shall comply with the area regulations of the zone in which they may be located.

The lot area shall be that prescribed by this title and shall not be reduced, diminished or maintained so that the yards or open spaces are smaller than that prescribed by this title, and the density of population shall not be increased in any manner except in conformity with the area regulations of the zone in which the property is located.

Every building hereafter erected shall be located on a lot as defined in this title.

Every individual parcel of land existing on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title shall be deemed one lot until the parcel of land is divided into two or more lots in accordance with regulations and procedures for the creation of additional lots.

The required open spaces around a building shall not be considered the yard space for another building unless specifically provided in an adopted agreement or plan.

In the case of a through lot, front yard setbacks shall be required on both streets, and no building shall be permitted to be located within the front yard setback.

In computing the depth of a rear yard where such rear yard opens onto an alley, one-half of such alley shall be included in computing the required rear yard.

No accessory building shall occupy any portion of the front yard setback of any lot.

Accessory buildings shall match or be in harmony with the design, style, quality, materials, and general appearance of the primary structure(s) on a property, and shall be in proportion to and compatible with the primary structure(s) and other structures on the property. These standards shall be determined by the community development director or designee.

Building setbacks are established and maintained for the following purposes: continuity of the existing urban pattern, beauty, landscaping, drainage, light, air, privacy, utility and emergency access. Setbacks shall be intruded upon only as provided in this code or other applicable regulations.

Building projections and architectural elements at ground level, permitted under the provisions of a specific plan, this code, or other adopted land use regulation, shall not reduce an interior side setback to less than three feet, in order to provide for proper drainage and minimal building separation.

Any person constructing any structure, building, dwelling, public or semi-public parking lot, or developing any area in the city shall also construct and install, at their own cost, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, paving, drainage facilities, sanitary sewers, street signs, street lights, street trees, underground electrical transmission lines, water mains, gas lines, rubberized railroad crossings, improved medians, off-site improvements as necessary, and appurtenances in accordance with the standards and specifications of the city and in accordance with the La Verne general plan of streets and highways of the city.

Such improvements shall be constructed or installed along all public streets and alley frontage adjoining the land upon which the structure, building, dwelling, public or semi-public parking lot is to be constructed unless adequate curbs, gutters, paving, sidewalk, drainage facilities, sanitary sewers, street signs, street lights, street trees, medians, underground electrical transmission lines, rubberized rail crossings, improved medians, water mains, and gas lines, already exist along the street and alley frontage. Where additional right-of-way or easements for public purposes are required, the right-of-way or easements shall be dedicated without cost to the city. In the case of gas lines, water mains, electrical transmission lines, drainage facilities, and sanitary sewers, the facilities shall be constructed so as to connect to the nearest accessible existing facility.

When needed, the public works director shall require construction of off-site improvements associated with the project in question if it can reasonably be shown that the project benefits from the improvements, and that the applicants are bearing a fair proportion of the financial burden of such improvements.

The lot on which the use is located, if such lot may not be further divided under applicable zoning regulations; or

The minimum street frontage required for the use by applicable zoning regulations, including building width, driveways, side yards and lot area; or

In the case of gas lines, water lines, electrical transmission lines and sanitary sewers, the distance necessary to connect such facilities to the nearest similar existing facility.

Upon application for a building permit or permit required under Chapter 12.08 of this code, the public works director shall provide the applicant with a notice of improvements required to comply with the provisions of this article. The applicant shall provide engineering plans and quantity estimates to the public works director. Upon the filing of the engineering plans and quantity estimates, the public works director shall estimate the cost of such improvements, the cost to be calculated using standard unit prices on file in the office of the public works director.

Such required permits shall not be issued for any dwelling, building, structure, public or semi-public parking lot or for the development of any area until the public works director certifies that the improvements required by this article exist or that money in an amount equal to the estimated cost of the construction of the improvements has been deposited or that a performance bond has been posted with the city to guarantee the construction of the improvements.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to land being divided or improved under the provisions of Title 16 of this code.

The provisions of this article shall not apply in cases of additions to or reconstruction or alterations of existing residential buildings or structures where such additions, reconstructions or alterations do not exceed a permit valuation, as determined by the building official, of a minimum dollar amount as set by the city council from time to time.

The provisions of this article shall not apply in cases of additions to or reconstruction or alterations of existing commercial or industrial buildings or structures where such additions, reconstruction or alterations do not exceed a permit valuation, as determined by the building inspector, of a minimum amount as established by the city council from time to time.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to those specific improvements to be installed or constructed by special assessment district or by any approved alternate method of financing.