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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Building width is defined as the horizontal dimension of any building or collection of abutting buildings

on a lot.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Building Width) is to promote fine-grained patterns of development and prevent long buildings that are significantly out of context with traditional

patterns by breaking wide buildings into multiple, clearly distinguished building widths, and to

encourage larger projects to provide open space for pedestrians and recreation.

B. Applicability

Building width standards apply to new construction or an exterior modifcationi of any frontage lot

line-facing buildings or structures. When the building width standards apply, the standards only

apply to those portions of a building or structure located above the ground foor elevationl .

C. Standards

1. General

a. No applicable building or collection of abutting buildings located on the same lot shall be

wider than the maximum building width specified by the applied Form District (Part 2B.) .

b. In order to establish buildings on the same lot as separate buildings for the purpose of

measuring maximum building width, a building break shall be provided between the

buildings.

c. Buildings that are located on separate lots, share no interior circulation, and are structurally

independent, are considered separate buildings for the purpose of measuring building

width.

d. A building on a corner lot within the build-to zone area of overlap is allowed to exceed the

maximum building width by up to 40 feet along both primary street lot lines and side street

lot lines.

e. All applicable buildings and collections of abutting buildings located on the same lot shall

be separated by at least the minimum building break dimension for the full depth of the

building in order to establish them as separate buildings for the purpose of measuring

building width.

f. No building or structure shall encroach into the building break, except where allowed in

Subsection E. (Exceptions) below.

Sec. 2C.5.1. (Building Width) | 2-88 Last amended by Ord. 188,478 (Resolution), Eff. 06/18/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 2C.5. (Building Mass)

2. Bonus Building Width

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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a. Notwithstanding Paragraph 1. (General), above, buildings and structures may exceed the

maximum building width up to the bonus building width in feet of the applied Form District (Part 2B.) as allowed by Div. 9.3. (Community Benefits Program), if the participating project provides the required restricted afordable unitf s or other public benefits.

b. Projects participating in incentive programs intended to implement State law, including

the State Density Bonus Program (Sec. 9.2.1.), the Opportunity Corridors Housing Incentive

Program (Sec. 9.2.2.), the Corridor Transitions Incentive Program (Sec. 9.2.3.), Transit

Oriented Incentive Program (Sec. 9.2.4.), the Permanent Supportive Housing Incentive

Program (Sec. 9.4.1.), or the Accessory Dwelling Unit Incentive Program (Div. 9.5.), may

exceed the maximum bonus building width of the applied Form District (Part 2B.) .

D. Measurement

1. Building width is measured horizontally and parallel to each primary street lot line and side

street lot line from one end of an applicable building or collection of abutting buildings to the

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2. For lot line-facing, see Sec. 14.2.6. (Facing) .

3. For measuring building width on irregular lot lines, see Sec. 14.2.14. (Irregular Lot lines) .

4. A building break is measured perpendicular to the outermost surface of each applicable

portion of a building both vertically and horizontally.

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ELEVATION ELEVATION ELEVATION ELEVATION

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3 4

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Minimum Building Break Street-facing Facade

Number of Stories

Sec. 2C.5.1. (Building Width) PLAN PLAN PLAN | 2-89

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Last amended by Ord. 188,478 (Resolution), Eff. 06/18/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 2C.5. (Building Mass)

E. Exceptions

1. Encroachments

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

The following are allowed to encroach into the building break, as listed below:

ALLOWED HORIZONTAL ENCROACHMENTS

2. Building Break Amenity Space Alternative

As an alternative to a building break, a street-facing amenity space that meets the following

standards may be used to establish buildings or collections of abutting buildings as separate

buildings for the purpose of measuring maximum building width:

a. The amenity space shall meet the design standards of an amenity space type pursuant

to Sec. 2C.3.3. (Amenity Space Types) and for outdoor space pursuant to Sec. 2C.3.4.C.1.

(Outdoor Space) .

b. The amenity space width shall be at least two times the minimum building break

dimension specified in the applied Form District (Part 2B.), measured parallel to the

applicable street lot line.

Sec. 2C.5.1. (Building Width) | 2-90 Last amended by Ord. 188,478 (Resolution), Eff. 06/18/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 2C.5. (Building Mass)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

c. The amenity space width shall not be greater than the maximum building width, measured

parallel to the applicable street lot line.

d. The amenity space depth shall be at least five times the minimum building break

dimension specified in the applied Form District (Part 2B.), measured perpendicular to the

street lot line.

e. A minimum of 75 percent of the amenity space area shall meet the design standards in

Sec. 2C.3.3.C.2. (Pedestrian Amenity Space) .

f. The amenity space may count toward the required minimum build-to width required by

the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.), provided it meets the requirements of Sec. 3C.1.3.E.

(Exceptions) .

g. Any portion of the amenity space may count toward lot amenity space and residential

amenity space, provided it meets all applicable standards.

F. Relief

1. Increased building width of 20 percent or less or reduced building break of 20 percent or less

may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

2. Increased building width or reduced building break may be granted as a variance in

accordance with Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

Sec. 2C.5.1. (Building Width) | 2-91 Last amended by Ord. 188,478 (Resolution), Eff. 06/18/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 2C.5. (Building Mass)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 2C.5.1. (Building Width) | 2-92 Last amended by Ord. 188,478 (Resolution), Eff. 06/18/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 2C.6. (Upper-Story Bulk)