Division 3D.6 — ARTICULATION

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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The base, middle & top articulation requirement is composed of three separate and coordinated

articulating elements designed to visually break a building facade up into three separately legible

layers.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Base, Middle & Top Articulation) is to visually break a

building facade up into three separately legible building layers.

B. Applicability

Base, middle & top articulation standards apply to new construction or any exterior modifcationi

when the applied Character Frontage District (Div. 3B.9.) requires base, middle & top articulation

on facades pursuant to Sec. 3A.2.2.B.3. (Frontage Applicable Facades) .

C. Standards

1. General

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a. Base

i. The base building layer shall include at least one and no more than three contiguous

stories starting with the ground story and continuing upward.

Sec. 3D.6.1. (Base, Middle & Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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ii. At least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the

base layer, creating a transition between the base and middle layers:

a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ;

b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) ; or

c) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.3. (Shopfront Cornice) .

iii. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located

no higher than the top of the uppermost story included in the layer.

b. Middle

i. The middle building layer shall include at least twice as many contiguous stories than

the base building layer, starting at the top of the base layer and continuing upward.

ii. At least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the

middle layer, creating a transition between the middle and top layers:

a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ;or

b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) .

iii. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located

no higher than the top of the uppermost story included in the layer.

c. Top

i. The top building layer shall include at least one story and shall not include more stories

than the base building layer.

ii. All stories located in the top building layer shall be contiguous and include, at

minimum, all stories between the top of the middle layer and the top of the highest of the build-to applicable stories specified by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

iii. A roofine cornicel articulating element shall be applied to the top building layer when

the top building layer is the topmost story of the building or the topmost story before a street step-back. See Sec. 3D.6.5.C.4. (Roofline Cornice) .

iv. The roofine cornicel shall extend for the full width of the building and be located along

the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.

v. When the top building layer does not include the topmost story of the building or

the topmost story before a street step-back, at least one of the following articulating

elements shall be applied along the top of the top layer, creating a transition between

the top building layer and any story above:

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Sec. 3D.6.1. (Base, Middle & Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ; or

b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) .

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

vi. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located

along the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.

D. Measurement

For measurement of stories see Sec. 2C.4.3. (Height in Stories) .

E. Exceptions

1. Where the applied Form District (Part 2B.) requires a street step-back depth of 10 feet or

greater, the top building layer may terminate at the topmost story below the street step-back.

No articulating element is required above the top building layer.

2. When a building is less than five stories, the standards of this Section (Base, Middle & Top

Articulation) do not apply, and the standards of Sec. 3D.6.2. (Base-Top Articulation) apply.

F. Relief

1. Base, middle & top articulation standards may be met through alternative compliance in

accordance with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .

2. A deviation from number of stories in building layers of one story may be granted in

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

3. Deviation from any base, middle & top articulation standard may be granted as a variance in

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

Sec. 3D.6.1. (Base, Middle & Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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The base-top articulation requirement is composed of two separate and coordinated articulating

elements designed to visually break a building facade up into two separately legible layers.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Base-Top Articulation) is to visually break a building

facade up into two separately legible building layers.

B. Applicability

Base-top articulation standards apply to new construction and any exterior modifcationi of a building or structure possessing five stories or fewer when the applied Character Frontage District

(Div. 3B.9.) requires base-top articulation on all facades pursuant to Sec. 3A.2.2.B.3. (Frontage

Applicable Facades) .

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C. Standards

1. General

One articulating element option shall be provided for each building layer in accordance with

the building layer standards below. See Sec. 3D.6.5. (Articulating Elements) .

2. Building Layers

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Sec. 3D.6.2. (Base-Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

a. Base

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i. The base building layer shall include between one and three contiguous stories

starting with the ground story and continuing upward.

ii. At least one of the following articulating elements shall be applied along the top of the

base layer, creating a transition between the base and top layers:

a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ;

b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) ; or

c) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.3. (Shopfront Cornice) .

iii. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the facade and be located no

higher than the top of the uppermost story included in the layer.

b. Top

i. The top building layer shall include at least twice as many stories as the base building

layer and include all remaining above-grade stories not included in the base building

layer.

ii. A roofine cornicel articulating element shall be applied to the top building layer that is

the topmost story of the building or the topmost story before a street step-back. See Sec. 3D.6.5.C.4. (Roofline Cornice) .

iii. The roofine cornicel shall extend for the full width of the facade and be located along

the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.

iv. When the top building layer does not include the topmost story of the building or

the topmost story before a street step-back, at least one of the following articulating

elements shall be applied along the top of the top layer, creating a transition between

the top building layer and any story above:

a) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.1. (Material Change) ; or

b) Sec. 3D.6.5.C.2. (Belt Course) .

v. The articulating element shall extend for the full width of the building and be located

along the top of the topmost story included in the building layer.

D. Measurement

For measurement of stories see Sec. 2C.4.3. (Height in Stories) .

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Sec. 3D.6.2. (Base-Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

E. Exceptions

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Where the applied Form District (Part 2B.) requires a street step-back depth of 10 feet or greater,

the top building layer may terminate at the topmost story below the street step-back. No

articulating element is required above the top building layer.

F. Relief

1. Base-top articulation standards may be met through alternative compliance in accordance

with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .

2. A deviation from number of stories in building layers of one story may be granted in

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

3. Deviation from any base-top articulation standard may be granted as a variance in accordance

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

Sec. 3D.6.2. (Base-Top Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Horizontal band articulation is a continuous band of material running horizontally across a facade.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Horizontal Band Articulation) is to separate and align

windows on a building facade in a way that contributes to the established architectural character

of surrounding neighborhoods or districts.

B. Applicability

Horizontal band articulation standards apply to new construction or an exterior modifcationi

when the applied Character Frontage District (Div. 3B.9.) requires horizontal band articulations on

facades pursuant to Sec. 3A.2.2.B.3. (Frontage Applicable Facades) .

C. Standards

Horizontal band articulation shall meet the following standards:

1. Be no less than eight inches in height,

2. Extend for the full width of the facade, interrupted only by required articulating elements

or architectural features. Architectural features that interrupt either required vertical band

articulation or required horizontal band articulation shall cover cumulatively no more than 30 percent of the total facade area. A maximum of five architectural features that interrupt

required vertical band articulation or horizontal band articulation are allowed on the facade

area of any individual building width.

D. Measurement

1. Horizontal band articulation height is measured vertically from the lowest point to the highest

point of a horizontal band articulation meeting the standards above.

2. The facade area covered by an architectural feature that interrupts horizontal band articulation

or vertical band articulation is measured as the area of the smallest rectangle that fully

circumscribes the architectural feature.

E. Relief

1. Horizontal band articulation standards may be met through alternative compliance in

accordance with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .

2. A deviation from horizontal band articulation dimensional standards up to 15 percent may be

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

3. Deviation from any horizontal band articulation standard may be granted as a variance in

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

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Sec. 3D.6.3. (Horizontal Band Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Vertical band articulation is a continuous band of material running vertically up a facade.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Vertical Band Articulation) is to separate and align

windows on a building facade in a way that contributes to the established architectural character

of surrounding neighborhoods or districts.

B. Applicability

Vertical band articulation standards apply to new construction or an exterior modifcationi when

the applied Character Frontage District (Div 3B.9.) requires vertical band articulations on facades

pursuant to Sec. 3A.2.2.B.3. (Frontage Applicable Facades) .

C. Standards

Vertical band articulation shall meet the following standards:

1. Be no less than eight inches in width, and

2. Extend uninterrupted for the full height of all build-to applicable stories, only interrupted

by horizontal band articulation, required articulating elements or architectural features.

Architectural features that interrupt either required vertical band articulation or required

horizontal band articulation shall cover cumulatively no more than 30 percent of the total facade area. A maximum of five architectural features that interrupt required vertical band

articulation or required horizontal band articulation are allowed on the facade of any individual

building width.

D. Spacing

1. Vertical band articulation shall be applied across the full width of a facade separated by no

more than the maximum spacing and no less than the minimum spacing specified by the

applied Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

2. Vertical band articulation shall also be located at each corner of a building facade.

E. Measurement

1. Vertical band articulation width is measured parallel to the applicable facade and horizontally

from one end of a vertical band meeting the standards above to the opposite end.

2. Vertical band articulation spacing is measured horizontally and perpendicular to the applicable

building facade from edge of vertical band to edge of vertical band.

3. The facade area covered by an architectural feature that interrupts horizontal band articulation

or vertical band articulation is measured as the area of the smallest rectangle that fully

circumscribes the architectural feature.

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Sec. 3D.6.4. (Vertical Band Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

F. Relief

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

1. Vertical band articulation standards may be met through alternative compliance in accordance

with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .

2. A deviation from vertical band articulation dimensional standards up to 15 percent may be

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

3. Deviation from any vertical band articulation standard may be granted as a variance in

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

Sec. 3D.6.4. (Vertical Band Articulation) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Articulating elements are permanent architectural details used to embellish a facade design to

accentuate an articulation technique or facade composition.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Articulating Elements) is to provide visual interest to

the public realm and break up a building facade with visually separate building layers in a way that

contributes to the established architectural character of surrounding neighborhoods or districts.

B. Applicability

Articulating element standards apply to new construction or an exterior modifcationi when the

applied Character Frontage District (Div. 3B.9.) requires articulating elements on facades pursuant

to Sec. 3A.2.2.B.3 (Frontage Applicable Facades) .

C. Articulating Element Options

1. Material Change

a. Standards

i. The principal exterior material applied to the building layer shall be different from the

principal siding treatment applied to the abutting building layers.

ii. The principal exterior material shall be limited to those allowed by the applied

Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

iii. One of the following architectural details must be provided between building layers

applying the material change articulating element:

a) A belt course located at the transition from one principal exterior material to the

next. See Paragraph 2. (Belt Course) below; or

b) The building layer applying a material change articulating element shall be

recessed or project from the abutting building layers at least three inches.

b. Measurement

i. In measuring material change, principal exterior materials are considered different if they are entirely different materials or products having the same base material where the unit size or finish surface texture is visibly contrasting.

ii. Recessed building layers are measured horizontally from and perpendicular to the

immediately surrounding facade to the outermost point of the recessed building layer

facade.

iii. Projecting building layers are measured horizontally and perpendicular from the

immediately surrounding facade to the innermost point of the projecting building layer

facade.

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Sec. 3D.6.5. (Articulating Elements) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.6. (Articulation)

2. Belt Course

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A horizontal course projecting beyond the face of the surrounding building facade often

shaped to mark a division in the facade wall.

a. Standards

A belt course shall meet the following standards:

i. Extend uninterrupted for the full width of the building layer.

ii. Have a consistent profile across the width of the building.

iii. Project a minimum of two inches from the immediately surrounding facade for some

portion of the top two inches and the bottom two inches of the belt course profile,

iv. Have a height of no less than 12 inches if located on the first story. An additional two

inches in height are required for each story that the belt course is located about the first story. The greatest required minimum height is 48 inches.

b. Measurement

i. Belt course height is measured vertically from the lowest point to the highest point of the belt course profile meeting the standards in subparagraph a above.

ii. Projection is measured perpendicularly from the immediately surrounding facade to

the outermost point of a belt course meeting the standards in the subparagraph a

above.

3. Shopfront Cornice

A continuous molded projection located above a series of display windows on the ground

story facade.

a. Standards

A shopfront cornice shall meet the following standards:

i. Extend uninterrupted for the width of the building layer.

ii. Project a minimum of four inches from the immediately surrounding facade for some

portion of the top four inches and the bottom four inches of the cornice profile.

iii. Have a height of no less than 12 inches.

b. Measurement

i. Shopfront cornice height is measured vertically from the lowest point to the highest point of the cornice profile meeting the standards in subparagraph a above.

Sec. 3D.6.5. (Articulating Elements) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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ii. Projection is measured perpendicularly from the immediately surrounding facade

horizontally to the outermost point of a shopfront cornice meeting the standards in

the subparagraph a above.

4. Roofline Cornice

A continuous molded projection that crowns a wall, often as part of a parapet.

a. Standards

A roofine cornicel shall meet the following standards:

i. Extend uninterrupted for the full width of the building layer.

ii. Project a minimum of four inches from the immediately surrounding facade for some

portion of the top four inches of the cornice profile if located on the first, second or

third stories. An additional two inches of projection are required for each story the

roofine cornicel is located above the third story. A minimum projection of at least 36

inches is required.

iii. Have a height of no less than 12 inches if located on the first, second or third story.

An additional two inches in height are required for each story the roofine cornicel is

located above the third story. A minimum height of at least 48 inches is required.

b. Measurement

i. Roofine cornicel height is measured vertically from the lowest point to the highest point of the cornice profile meeting the standards above.

ii. Projection is measured perpendicularly from the immediately surrounding facade

horizontally to the outermost point of a roofine cornicel meeting the standards in the

subparagraph a above.

D. Measurement

Articulating elements are measured as "provided" or "not provided" based on whether the

applicable building layer facade applies an articulating element meeting the standards above.

E. Relief

1. Articulating elements standards may be met through alternative compliance in accordance

with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .

2. A deviation from articulating elements dimensional standards up to 10 percent may be granted

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

3. Deviation from any articulating elements standard may be granted as a variance in accordance

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

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Sec. 3D.6.5. (Articulating Elements) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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Div. 3D.7. (Features)