Division 3C.6 — GROUND STORY

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Ground story height is defined as the floor-to-floor height of the story of a building having its fnished i

foor elevationl nearest to the finished grade.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Ground Story Height) is to promote active uses that

are directly connected to the public realm, and ensure high-quality ground story spaces that are

adaptable and appropriate to their context.

B. Applicability

Ground story height standards apply to new construction. When the ground story height standards apply, the standards apply to all portions of the ground story, within the first 15 feet of a facade of

a new building or structure, pursuant to Sec. 3A.2.2.B.3. (Frontage Applicable Facades) .

C. Standards

All occupiable space located in applicable portions of the ground story shall have floor-to-floor

height of no less than the ground story height minimum.

D. Measurement

1. Ground story height is measured vertically from the top of the finished ground story to the top

of the finished floor above.

2. Where no story exists above, ground story height is the shortest vertical distance from the top

of the ground foor elevationl to the top of the ceiling or roof structure above.

3. For determining the ground story, see Sec. 14.2.10.A. (Ground Story) .

E. Relief

1. A reduction in required ground story height up to one foot may be granted in accordance with

Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

2. Deviation from ground story height standards may be granted as a variance in accordance with

Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

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Sec. 3C.6.1. (Ground Story Height) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.6. (Ground Story)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Ground floor elevation is defined as the finished floor height associated with the story of a building

having its fnished fi oor elevationl nearest to the finished grade.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Ground Floor Elevation) is to promote high-quality

ground story spaces with direct connection and visual interplay with the public realm.

B. Applicability

1. Ground foor elevationl standards apply to new construction subject to the following:

a. For structures located less than 20 feet from the frontage lot line, all portions of the

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ground story located within the first 15 feet of a frontage applicable facade pursuant to

Sec. 3A.2.2.B.3. (Frontage Applicable Facades), measured inward and perpendicular to the

frontage lot line, shall comply with ground foor elevationl standards.

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C. Standards

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1. All occupiable space located in applicable portions of the ground story shall have a ground

foor elevationl no higher than the maximum ground foor elevationl specified by the applied

Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

2. All occupiable space located in applicable portions of the ground story shall have a ground

foor elevationl no lower than the minimum ground foor elevationl specified by the applied

Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

Sec. 3C.6.2. (Ground Floor Elevation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.6. (Ground Story)

D. Measurement

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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1. Where a building is located greater than 10 feet from a public sidewalk, ground story height

is measured vertically from the average finished grade within five feet of the frontage lot line

facing building perimeter to the fnished fi oor elevationl of the ground story.

2. Where a building is located 10 feet or less from a public sidewalk, ground foor elevationl is

measured vertically from the average sidewalk grade to the fnished fi oor elevationl of the

ground story. Average sidewalk grade is measured as the average of the highest and lowest

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3. Ground foor elevationl shall be measured independently for different modules of the building

width. The ground foor elevationl for each module shall be measured from either average

sidewalk grade for the portion of the sidewalk in front of the module or from average fnished i grade within five feet of the frontage lot line facing building perimeter based on the distance of

the building module from a public sidewalk according to Paragraph 1. and Paragraph 2. above.

a. For sloped lots, average elevation along the sidewalk shall be measured individually for

each module and calculated as the average of the highest and lowest sidewalk elevation

for the portion of the sidewalk located in front of the building module.

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Sec. 3C.6.2. (Ground Floor Elevation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.6. (Ground Story)

E. Exceptions

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Ground foor elevationl standards do not apply to structures located 20 feet or greater from the

frontage lot line.

F. Relief

1. A deviation in minimum or maximum ground foor elevationl up to 10 percent may be granted

in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

2. Deviation from ground foor elevationl standards may be granted as a variance in accordance

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

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Sec. 3C.6.2. (Ground Floor Elevation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ]

Contents

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Part 3D. CHARACTER FRONTAGE

RULES

Div. 3D.1. Build-To . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-93

Div. 3D.2. Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-93

Div. 3D.3. Landscaping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-93

Div. 3D.4. Ground Floor Elevation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-93

Div. 3D.5. Story Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-94

Sec. 3D.5.1. Ground Story Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-94

Sec. 3D.5.2. Upper Story Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-95

Div. 3D.6. Articulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-96

Sec. 3D.6.1. Base, Middle & Top Articulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-96

Sec. 3D.6.2. Base-Top Articulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-99

Sec. 3D.6.3. Horizontal Band Articulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-102

Sec. 3D.6.4. Vertical Band Articulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-103

Sec. 3D.6.5. Articulating Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-105

Div. 3D.7. Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-108

Sec. 3D.7.1. Restricted Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-108

Div. 3D.8. Entrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-110

Sec. 3D.8.1. Street-Facing Entrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-110

Sec. 3D.8.2. Entry Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-111

Sec. 3D.8.3. Focal Entry Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-112

Div. 3D.9. Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-116

Sec. 3D.9.1. Ground Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-116

Sec. 3D.9.2. Upper Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-120

Div. 3D.10. Exterior Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-122

Sec. 3D.10.1. Principal Material Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-122

Sec. 3D.10.2. Accessory Material Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-124

Sec. 3D.10.3. Exterior Material Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-126

Div. 3D.11. Roof Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-133

Sec. 3D.11.1. Roof Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-133

Sec. 3D.11.2. Roof Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-135

Article 3. Frontage Article Publication Update | July 23, 2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Character Frontage Rules