Article 2 — FORM

Division 2C.6 — UPPER-STORY BULK

Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A · edición 2025 · actualizado 2026-07-08 · Los Angeles

Sec. 2C.6.1. STREET STEP-BACK

Esta sección aún no está traducida y se muestra en inglés.

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Street step-back is a step-like recess in the massing of a building that requires upper stories to be

pushed back from the lower stories from the street.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Street Step-Back) is to reduce the perceived bulk and

mass of a building along facades facing public ways, ensuring a height along the street that is

appropriate to its neighboring context, while allowing for additional building height.

B. Applicability

Street step-back standards apply to new construction, a major remodel, or a facade modifcationi

of buildings or structures on a lot that face a frontage lot line.

C. Standards

The following standards shall be met for a minimum of 85 percent of the building width:

  1. When the applied Form District (Part 2B.) specifies a maximum number of stories without a

step-back, all stories above that maximum shall be stepped back from the street-facing facade by at least the minimum street step-back depth, as specified by the applied Form District (Part

2B.) .

  1. No building or structure shall extend into a minimum street step-back depth, except where

allowed in Subsection E. (Exceptions) below.

  1. Buildings having a height less than the maximum stories without street step-back are not

required to provide a street step-back.

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Sec. 2C.6.1. (Street Step-Back) | 2-93 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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

D. Measurement

  1. Stories Without Street Step-back

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

When the applied Form District (Part 2B.) specifies a maximum number of stories without a

step-back, that maximum is measured according to Sec. 2C.4.3. (Height in Stories) .

  1. Street Step-back Depth

Minimum street step-back depth is measured as the horizontal distance from the outermost

edge of the building facade with the topmost story without street step-back to the outermost

edge of the facade of the stepped back stories. Street step-back depth is required regardless of

the provided or required building setback.

E. Exceptions

The following are allowed to encroach beyond the street step-back as listed below:

ALLOWED HORIZONTAL ENCROACHMENTS

Architectural Details (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.a.) Col2
Encroachment (max) 2’
Roof Projections (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.b.)
Encroachment (max) 2.5’
Unenclosed Structures (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.c. -Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.d.)
Encroachment (max) 5’
Enclosed Structures: Projecting (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.e.)
Encroachment (max) 2.5’
Mechanical/Electrical Equipment (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.f. -Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.g.)
Encroachment (max) 1.5’

Sec. 2C.6.1. (Street Step-Back) | 2-94 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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

ALLOWED VERTICAL ENCROACHMENTS

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Mechanical/Electrical Equipment: Roof Mounted (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.b.) Col2
Encroachment (max) 5'
Setback from roof edge (min) 3'
Architectural Elements (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.c.)
Encroachment (max) 5'
Setback from roof edge (min) 2'
Safety Barriers (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.e.)
Encroachment (max) 4'
Setback from roof edge (min) 0'
Unenclosed Structures (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.f.)
Encroachment (max) 8
Setback from roof edge (min) 2'
Flatwork (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.g.)
Encroachment (max) 2.5'
Setback from roof edge (min) 1'
Vegetation (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.h.)
Encroachment (max) unlimited
Setback from roof edge (min) 1'

F. Relief

  1. A reduced street step-back depth of 20 percent or less may be granted in accordance with

Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

  1. A reduced street step-back greater than 20 percent may be granted as a variance in

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

  1. Increased stories without street step-back may be granted as a variance in accordance with

Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

Sec. 2C.6.1. (Street Step-Back) | 2-95 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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

Sec. 2C.6.2. DISTRICT BOUNDARY HEIGHT TRANSITION

Esta sección aún no está traducida y se muestra en inglés.

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

District boundary height transition is defined as a reduction in the maximum height of a building for a

limited depth where abutting districts have substantially lower height allowances.

A. Intent

The intent of this Section (District Boundary Height Transition) is to prevent looming impacts and

reduce the perceived bulk and mass of buildings along zoning district boundaries where maximum height standards change significantly.

B. Applicability

  1. District boundary height transition standards apply to all lots abutting a zoning district that

have a maximum height or bonus height of less than or equal to the abutting district allowed height pursuant to Sec. 2C.6.2.D.1. (Abutting District Allowed Height) below, specified by the

applied Form District (Part 2B.) .

  1. All structures located on an applicable lot shall comply with district boundary height transition

standards unless listed as an exception in Subsection E. (Exceptions) below.

C. Standards

  1. Any portion of a story located above the maximum stories without height transition pursuant

to Sec. 2C.6.2.D.2. (Stories Without Height Transition) below, shall be located no less than the

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

  1. Buildings are not required to provide a district boundary height transition from public right-of

ways.

  1. No structure or portion of a structure shall be located within the minimum height transition

depth pursuant to Sec. 2C.6.2.D.3. (Height Transition Depth) below, except where allowed in

Subsection E. (Exceptions) .

D. Measurement

  1. Abutting District Allowed Height

Abutting district allowed height is measured for every abutting lot which is zoned with a different zoning district than the subject lot. The abutting district height is considered to be the

maximum height or bonus height allowed by the zoning district applied to the abutting lot.

  1. Stories Without Height Transition

Stories without height transition is measured according to Sec. 2C.4.3. (Height in Stories) .

  1. Height Transition Depth

Height transition depth is measured as the horizontal distance from any lot zoned with a district that specifies a maximum building height of less than or equal to the maximum

abutting district allowed height ( Paragraph 1. (Abutting District Allowed Height) above) to the nearest point of any structure located above the specified maximum stories without height

transition pursuant to Paragraph 2. (Stories Without Height Transition) above.

E. Exceptions

The following are allowed to encroach into the district boundary height transition as listed below:

ALLOWED HORIZONTAL ENCROACHMENTS

Architectural Details (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.a.) Col2
Encroachment (max) 2’
Roof Projections (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.b.)
Encroachment (max) 2.5’
Unenclosed Structures (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.c. -Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.d.)
Encroachment (max) 5’
Enclosed Structures: Projecting (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.e.)
Encroachment (max) 2.5’
Mechanical/Electrical Equipment (Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.f. -Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.g.)
Encroachment (max) 1.5’

Sec. 2C.6.2. (District Boundary Height Transition) | 2-97 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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

ALLOWED VERTICAL ENCROACHMENTS

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Mechanical/Electrical Equipment (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.b.) Col2
Encroachment (max) 5'
Setback from roof edge (min) 3'
Architectural Elements (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.c.)
Encroachment (max) 5'
Setback from roof edge (min) 2'
Safety Barriers (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.e.)
Encroachment (max) 4'
Setback from roof edge (min) 0'
Unenclosed Structures (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.f.)
Encroachment (max) 8
Setback from roof edge (min) 2'
Flatwork (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.g.)
Encroachment (max) 2.5'
Setback from roof edge (min) 1'
Vegetation (Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.h.)
Encroachment (max) unlimited
Setback from roof edge (min) 1'

F. Relief

  1. A reduced height transition depth of 20 percent or less may be granted in accordance with

Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

  1. A reduced height transition depth may be granted as a variance in accordance with Sec.

13B.5.3. (Variance) .

  1. Increased stories without height transition may be granted as a variance in accordance with

Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

Sec. 2C.6.2. (District Boundary Height Transition) | 2-98 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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