Laguna Beach City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 25
14 R-3 RESIDENTIAL HIGH DENSITY ZONE
§ 25.14.002 Intent and purpose.
This zone is intended for high density residential use, free from commercial and industrial activities, maintaining a design character in keeping with the intent, purpose and guidelines of Chapter 25.40, Design Review. It is intended to implement the applicable provisions of the general plan, as amended from time to time.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 248, 1945; Ord. 809 § 1, 1974)
§ 25.14.004 Uses permitted.
Buildings, structures and land shall be used and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, designed, structurally altered or enlarged only for the following uses:
(A)
Single-family and two-family dwellings, except those devoted to time-share use;
(B)
Multifamily dwellings, except those devoted to time-share use;
(C)
Supportive or affordable housing;
(F)
Public parks, playgrounds and beaches, and such recreation, refreshment and service uses and buildings as are purely accessory and incidental thereto; and
(G)
Residential care facility, small licensed, subject to: (1) no outdoor smoking, (2) fire and building code inspection and compliance, and (3) maximum occupancy of six persons.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 809 § 1, 1974; Ord. 832 § 5, 1975; Ord. 988 § 4, 1980; Ord. 1550 § 9, 2011; Ord. 1575 § 9, 2013; Ord. 1680 § 4, 2022; Ord. 1712, 3/11/2025)
§ 25.14.005 Uses permitted subject to an administrative use permit.
The following uses may be permitted subject to the granting of an Administrative Use Permit as provided for in Section 25.05.020:
(A)
Family day care home, large, subject to the following standards:
(1)
The operator of the facility must be licensed pursuant to Chapter 3.5 or 3.6 of the California Health and Safety Code;
(3)
No signs identifying the day care facility are permitted other than those permitted pursuant to Section 25.54.010;
(5)
Hours of operation shall be limited to the hours between seven a.m. and seven p.m.;
(6)
Outdoor play for children shall not begin before nine-thirty a.m.;
(7)
The facility shall comply with State Fire Marshal fire and life safety standards.
(B)
Parking or storage of recreational vehicles (meaning any travel trailer, boat, camper, motor home, van, travel and utility trailer or converted bus) that is more than twenty feet in length and more than six feet in height, subject to the following:
(1)
The vehicle shall be owned by the owner of the property or the tenant who is the primary resident of the property.
(2)
The outdoor parking of such vehicles shall not be closer than five feet to a property line, shall not be parked in the front or side yards and shall be located on a paved, or any other stable, all-weather surface approved by the director of community development.
(3)
The vehicle shall not be connected to electricity, sewer or water.
(4)
The vehicle shall not be used, either temporarily or permanently, for sleeping or living purposes.
(5)
The vehicle shall not be used for storage of goods, materials or equipment other than those that constitute part of the unit or are essential for its immediate use.
(6)
The vehicle shall be in operable condition.
(7)
The vehicle shall be effectively screened from a public right-of-way and/or adjacent residences with fencing and/or landscaping to the maximum extent allowed under the zoning regulations.
All vehicles being parked or stored as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this subsection and not conforming to the provisions hereof shall within three months after receiving appropriate notice from the community development department, either obtain approval of an administrative use permit or cause the vehicle to be removed from the property. |
(Ord. 1088 § 6, 1985; Ord. 1353 § 4, 1999; Ord. 1474 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1651 § 4, 2020)
§ 25.14.006 Uses permitted subject to conditional use permit.
The following uses may be permitted subject to the granting of a conditional use permit as provided for in Section 25.05.030:
(A)
Residential facility, assisted living;
(B)
Lodges;
(C)
Nursery school;
(D)
Recreation facilities, municipal and public;
(E)
Public and private schools;
(F)
Structures crossing subdivided lot lines, or structures attached at common lot lines. See criteria established in Section 25.14.008(B)(2);
(G)
Utility substation;
(J)
Church; and
(K)
Such other uses as the planning commission may deem, after a public hearing, to be consistent with the intent and purpose of this zoning district and similar to and no more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, than other permitted uses.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 525, 1963; Ord. 809 § 1, 1974; Ord. 832 § 6, 1975; Ord. 942 § 4, 1978; Ord. 992 § 6, 1981; Ord. 1063 § 3, 1984; Ord. 1223 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1320 § 3, 1996; Ord. 1346 § 4, 1998; Ord. 1550 § 10, 2011; Ord. 1575 § 10, 2013; Ord. 1680 § 5, 2022; Ord. 1712, 3/11/2025)
§ 25.14.008 Property development standards.
The following property development standards shall apply to all land and structures in the R-3 zone:
(A)
Lot Area and Dimension Standards.
(1)
Lot Area. Each lot shall have a minimum area of four thousand square feet, except where, on the official zoning map, a number greater than four thousand follows and is connected with a hyphen with the zone symbol. Such number shall designate the minimum lot area in square feet. Example: R-3—6,000.
(B)
Density and Bulk Standards.
(1)
There shall be a minimum of two thousand square feet of net lot area for each dwelling unit, guest house or guest room, except where a number following the zone symbol or minimum lot area requirement is greater than two thousand but less than the minimum lot area requirement. Such number shall be the minimum number of square feet of land area required for each dwelling unit, guest house, guest room or combination thereof on any lot.
(2)
Building Across Subdivided Lot Lines. A conditional use permit may be granted by the board of adjustment to allow the construction of buildings to cross a subdivided lot line or to be attached at the common lot line, provided that the total number of units and the number of attached units within any building shall not exceed that which could be constructed on each lot separately. This requirement shall not apply to a single-family dwelling crossing a subdivided lot line.
(C)
Yard Area, Building Setback, Open Area and Coverage Standards.
(2)
Front Yards. Each lot shall maintain a front yard or yards of not less than twenty feet. Front yards shall not be used for the storage of trailers, boats, campers or other materials or the regular or constant parking of automobiles or other vehicles. See additional front yard requirements in Sections 25.50.004(D) and (E) and 25.50.008(E) of this title.
(3)
Side Yards. Each lot shall maintain side yards, each of which shall be at least ten percent of the average lot width, with a maximum requirement of twelve feet and a minimum of four feet. See additional side yard requirements in Section 25.50.004(F) of this title.
(4)
Rear Yards. Each lot shall maintain a rear yard of at least ten feet. See additional rear yard requirements in Sections 25.50.004(D) and 25.50.008(E).
(6)
Open Space Requirements. Every lot occupied by more than one dwelling unit shall maintain an open space for each dwelling unit, guest house and guest room, which area shall meet the criteria established in Section 25.50.010 and shall be increased by fifty square feet for each attached dwelling unit, guest house or guest room.
(9)
Subterranean Parking Structures. Parking structures to satisfy the parking requirements of the uses allowed may encroach into required yard areas up to within five feet of the front property line and ten feet of the curb face, provided that such structure does not project above the level of the adjacent natural grade.
(D)
Building Height.
(1)
No new building, additions to existing buildings or structures in this zone shall have a height greater than permitted under the following table when measured from the finished or natural grade, whichever is more restrictive:
Slope in Percent | Height Permitted (in feet) |
|---|---|
0 to 15 | 30 |
16 | 31 |
17 | 32 |
18 | 33 |
19 | 34 |
20 and over | 35 |
(2)
In addition to subsection (D)(1) above, building height shall be limited to the following:
Rear Lot Line Above Street Through Lot Rear Lot Line Below Street (slope in percent) | Height Permitted Above Rear Lot Line Height Permitted Above Upper Curb Elevation Height Permitted Above Curb Elevation (in feet) |
|---|---|
0 to 5 | 30 |
5+ to 10 | 25 |
Over 10 | 20 |
(3)
See Section 25.50.004(D) for further relationship of building height to yard requirements.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 431, 1958; Ord. 622, 1969; Ord. 632, 1969; Ord. 641, 1970; Ord. 809 § 1, 1974; Ord. 832 §§ 7, 8, 1975; Ord. 1054 §§ 1, 2, 1983; Ord. 1094 § 11, 1985; Ord. 1187 § 3(4), 1989; Ord. 1223 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1416 § 11, 2002; Ord. 1474 § 1, 2007)