Title 20›Division II — Specific Zone Regulations

Chapter 20.220

Brea Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Brea

R-3 MULTIPLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE

§ 20.220.010. Intent and purpose.

The R-3, Multiple Family Residential Zone is established to provide for the development of high density, multiple family housing, such as condominiums and apartments. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 863, 5-2-1989; Ord. 1254, 3-18-2025)

§ 20.220.020. Uses permitted.

  • A. Uses permitted in R-3 Zone are contained in Chapter 20.11 of this Title.

  • B. Keeping of animals.

    1. Up to six (6) dogs and/or cats. Animals that are less than our (4) months of age shall not be counted.

    2. Other household pets which are neither farm animals, exotic nor wild animals, such as domestic mice and rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, tropical fish, canaries, birds of the psittacine family, and other similar animals commonly sold in pet stores and kept as household pets, may also be kept, so long as animals are not maintained for commercial purposes, do not constitute a nuisance, are adequately provided with food, care and sanitary facilities, and do not exceed a total of six (6) animals (fish being exempt). Their offspring shall not be counted until four (4) months from birth.

  1. Any animal not specifically classified within this section shall be classified by the Community Development Director as necessary, based upon a determination as to the probable negative impact of the health, safety or general welfare upon the community.

(Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 467, 7-13-1970; Ord. 581, 11-18-1975; Ord. 594, 6-29-1976; Ord. 674, 4-3-1979; Ord. 863, 5-2-1989; Ord. 920, 5-19-1992; Ord. 1025, 7-20-1999; Ord. 1203, 2-20-2018; Ord. 1220, 3-16-2021; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023)

§ 20.220.030. Uses expressly prohibited.

Uses prohibited in R-3 Zone are contained in Chapter 20.11 of this Title. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 863, 5-2-1989; Ord. 920, 5-19-1992; Ord. 926, 8-18-1992; Ord. 1191, 3-21-2017; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023)

§ 20.220.040. Property development standards.

The following property development standards shall apply to all land and buildings in the R-3 Zones:

  • A. Lot area, width and depth.

    1. Area. The minimum lot area shall be ten thousand (10,000) square feet in an R-3 Zone.

    2. Width. The minimum average lot width shall be seventy-five (75) feet on an interior lot and eighty-five (85) feet on a corner lot in an R-3 Zone.

    3. Depth. The minimum average lot depth shall be one hundred twenty (120) feet in an

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City of Brea, CA § 20.220.040

BREA CODE

§ 20.220.040

R-3 Zone.

  • B. Dwelling unit density. The minimum land area for each dwelling unit on a lot in the R-3 Zone shall be one thousand seven hundred fifty (1,750) square feet.

  • C. Building height.

    1. Except as provided herein, buildings and structures in the R-3 Zone shall have maximum heights as follows:

      • a. Thirty-five (35) feet when located on a lot that is within one hundred (100) feet from any land zoned R-1, R1-H, R-1 (5,000), R-2 or HR.

      • b. Fifty (50) feet when located on a lot that is more than one hundred (100) feet but less than two hundred (200) feet, from any land zoned R-1, R1-H, R-1 (5,000), R-2, or HR.

      • c. Seventy-five (75) feet when located on a lot that is more than two hundred (200) feet from any land zoned R-1, R1-H, R-1 (5,000), R-2 or HR.

    2. The following structures may be permitted above the maximum height limits required herein:

      • a. Chimneys.

      • b. Domestic radio and television masts.

      • c. Fire and parapet walls.

      • d. Roof structures for the housing of air conditioners, elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans, and similar equipment.

      • e. Skylights.

    3. No structure shall be permitted above the height limits for the purpose of providing additional living area or floor space.

  • D. Yards.

    1. Front yard.

      • a. Except as provided herein, there shall be a minimum front yard of not less than fifteen (15) feet on lots in the R-3 Zone.

      • b. The entire front yard shall be maintained as required in § 20.208.040.E.1.b. of this title.

      • c. Recreational vehicles, as defined in § 20.00.070.B. of this title, may be located within front yard setback areas twice per calendar month for a continuous period of time not to exceed forty-eight (48) hours for housekeeping and loading purposes only.

      • d. Where an entire block frontage is designed and developed as a neighborhood unit, the front yards may vary, provided that an average of not less than fifteen (15) feet is maintained. However, no front yard shall be less than ten (10) feet.

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City of Brea, CA

ZONING CODE

§ 20.220.040

§ 20.220.040

  • e. Front yards on the turn around end of a cul-de-sac street may be reduced to not less than ten (10) feet.

  • f. Notwithstanding other requirements herein, all garages with vehicle entrances facing a street shall set back not less than twenty-three (23) feet from the front property line. A carport with a vehicle entrance facing a street and not screened from public view from any point on the public right-of-way line which abuts the property upon which such carport is located shall be prohibited.

    • g. All unimproved and/or unpaved portions of the entire front yard shall be improved and maintained with appropriate landscaping in a healthy and vigorous condition and/or synthetic turf.

  1. Side yards.

    • a. Except as provided herein, there shall be minimum side yard of not less than five (5) feet from the side property line on interior lots and from the interior side lot lines on corner lots in the R-3 Zone.

    • b. The minimum side yard from the street side property line shall be not less than ten (10) feet on a corner lot.

    • c. Except as provided herein, side yards adjacent to buildings or structures more than twenty (20) feet in height shall be increased two and one-half (2½) feet for each additional fifteen (15) feet in height; provided however, the total side yard need not be more than ten (10) feet in width.

    • d. Where any dwelling or group of dwellings face a common property line, the side yard shall be not less than ten (10) feet plus a distance of one-half (½) the height of the dwelling or fifteen (15) feet, whichever is greater.

    • e. All side yard widths shall be measured from the eave line.

    • f. Notwithstanding other requirements herein, a garage with a vehicle entrance facing a side street shall set back not less than twenty-three (23) feet from the street side property line. A carport with a vehicle entrance facing a side street and not screened from public view from any point on the public right-of-way line which abuts the property upon which such carport is located shall be prohibited.

    • g. Any storage of materials including but not limited to, trash and trash receptacles, newspapers, building and automotive materials, landscape maintenance tools, and debris, within side yards, shall be substantially screened with a combination of open or solid fencing, and landscaping, or enclosed within an openwork structure such as wood or metal lattice, so as to substantially minimize views as seen from adjacent private and public streets, and public right-of-way (excluding alleys).

  • Rear yard.

  • a. Except as provided herein, there shall be a minimum rear yard for main building of not less than fifteen (15) feet on lots in the R-3 Zone.

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City of Brea, CA

BREA CODE

§ 20.220.040

§ 20.220.040 

  - b. Except as provided herein, a rear yard adjacent to a building more than thirtyfive (35) feet in height shall be increased five (5) feet in width for each additional fifteen (15) feet in height. 

  - c. Detached accessory buildings not more than fifteen (15) feet in height may be permitted in the required rear yard, provided they are located not less than five (5) feet from the eave line to a property line.

  • d. Where access to a garage or carport is provided from an alley, the garage or carport shall be located not less than twenty-five (25) feet from the opposite property line or five (5) feet from the alley right-of-way line, whichever is more restrictive. If the vehicle entrance faces the alley, a garage only shall be permitted and the vehicle entrance door shall not project beyond the property line when open or being opened. A carport with a vehicle entrance facing an alley and not screened from public view from any point on the public right-ofway line which abuts the property upon which such carport is located shall be prohibited. 

    - e. Any storage of materials including but not limited to, trash and trash receptacles, newspapers, building and automotive materials, landscape maintenance tools, debris, inoperable motor vehicles, camper shells not mounted on motor vehicles, or boats and trailers, within rear yards, shall be substantially screened with a combination of open or solid fencing, and landscaping, or enclosed within an openwork structure such as wood or metal lattice, so as to substantially minimize views as seen from adjacent private and public streets, and public right-of-way (excluding alleys). Stored materials shall not cover an area greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total square footage of the rear yard.
    1. Projections into required yards. Except as provided herein, the provisions of § 20.08.020 of this title shall apply to projections into the required front, side, and rear yards.

  • E.

    • Outdoor living space.

    1. Each in the R-3 Zone shall contain not less than two hundred (200) square feet of outdoor living area for each dwelling unit located thereon.

    2. Outdoor living area shall be subject to the provisions of § 20.08.030 of this title.

  • F. Fences, walls, and landscaping. Fences and walls and solid hedges shall not exceed seven (7) feet above the finished grade immediately adjacent to the base of the fence with the following exceptions:

    1. Solid fences, walls, and hedges in a required front yard or within ten (10) feet of the property line along the street side of a reversed corner lot shall not exceed a height of thirty-six (36) inches.

    2. Open work fences (not less than ninety percent (90%) open) in a required front yard or within ten (10) feet of the property line along the street side of a reversed corner lot shall not exceed a height of four and one-half (4½) feet.

    3. Fences and walls shall be located a minimum of six (6) inches from any property line which is adjacent to a public right-of-way.

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City of Brea, CA

ZONING CODE

§ 20.220.040

§ 20.220.050

  1. The provisions of § 20.08.060 of this title pertaining to corner cut-off areas shall apply.

  2. For the purposes of this subsection, finished grade is defined as the elevation of the ground that would exist at the time of wall/fence construction. If the existing grade is modified to create a new finished grade, the finished grade shall be determined by calculating the midpoint of the highest existing grade and the highest finished grade.

  • G. Distance between buildings. The following minimum distances between exterior walls of buildings and structures on a lot in the R-3 Zone shall apply:

    1. One-half (½) the combined height of the walls of buildings or structures which do not form a court, or fifteen (15) feet, whichever is greater.

    2. One-half (½) the combined height of the walls of buildings or structures which form a court plus fifteen (15) feet.

    3. In no instance shall the eaves between buildings be closer than ten (10) feet.

  • H. Building area. The minimum living area for a dwelling unit on a lot in the R-3 Zone, which shall not include garage area, shall have a gross floor area of not less than the following:

    1. Studio Unit: Four hundred fifty (450) square feet.

    2. One (1) Bedroom Unit: Six hundred fifty (650) square feet.

    3. Two (2) or more - Bedroom Unit: Eight hundred (800) square feet.

  • I. Lot coverage. Not more than sixty percent (60%) of a lot in the R-3 Zone shall be covered by buildings and structures. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the required uncovered lot area shall be provided in one (1) contiguous location and shall be kept free and clear of any building and structural intrusions or any other intrusions that would inhibit the development of such area of uninterrupted usable, open green space.

  • J. Off-street parking. The provisions of § 20.08.040 of this title shall apply.

  • K. Signs. Signs permitted in the R-3 Zone shall be subject to the provisions of Chapter 20.28 of this title.

  • L. Lighting. All lighting, interior and exterior, shall be designed and located so as to confine all direct rays to the premises.

  • (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 470, 8-24-1970; Ord. 478, 12-14-1970; Ord. 741, 6-21-1983; Ord. 770, 3-19-1985; Ord. 863, 5-2-1989; Ord. 873, 9-5-1989; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023; Ord. 1247, 3-19-2024; Ord. 1254, 3-18-2025)

§ 20.220.050. Plan review.

The provisions of § 20.408.040 of this title shall apply to all developments in the R-3 Zone that are listed in § 20.408.040.B.

(Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 863, 5-2-1989; Ord. 963, 1-17-1995; Ord. 1254, 3-18-2025)

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City of Brea, CA § 20.224.010

ZONING CODE

§ 20.224.040

CHAPTER 20.224

C-P COMMERCIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL

§ 20.224.010. Intent and purpose.

The C-P Commercial, Administrative and Professional Office Zone is established to provide for the development of administrative and professional offices and other related uses and facilities. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968)

§ 20.224.020. Uses permitted.

Uses permitted in C-P Zone are contained in Chapter 20.11 of this title. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 581, 11-18-1975; Ord. 761, 3-19-1985; Ord. 1066, 4-20-2004; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023)

§ 20.224.030. Uses expressly prohibited.

Uses prohibited in C-P Zone are contained in Chapter 20.11 of this Title. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 1241, 8-15-2023)

§ 20.224.040. Property development standards.

The following property development standards shall apply to all land and buildings in the C-P Zone:

  • A. Lot area. No requirements.

  • B. Lot dimensions. No requirements.

  • C. Building height.

    1. Buildings and structures erected in the C-P Zone shall have a height no greater than thirty (30) feet.

    2. Structures permitted above height limit. Roof structures for the housing of elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the buildings and fire or parapet walls, skylights, towers, steeples, flagpoles, chimneys, wireless and television masts, water tanks, or similar structures may be erected above the maximum height permitted in each zone. No structure shall be allowed for purposes of providing additional floor space.

  • D. Yards.

    1. Front yards and side yards on the street side of a corner or reversed corner lot shall not be less than fifteen (15) feet and shall not be used for off-street parking. If the required yard is across a local street from any residential zone, a wall not less than thirty (30) inches nor more than six (6) feet in height shall be erected on the building (setback) line where there is no building on such line and where parking is provided to the rear of such line.

    2. Where the C-P Zone abuts any residential zone, there shall be a yard abutting the zone boundary of not less than ten (10) feet plus an additional one (1) foot of setback shall be required for each additional one (1) foot of building height in excess of ten (10)

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City of Brea, CA

ZONING CODE

§ 20.224.040

§ 20.224.040

feet. Such required yard may be used for parking, loading and access. A solid wall not less than six (6) feet nor more than seven (7) feet in height shall be erected on the zone boundary line, to within fifteen (15) feet of any street property line.

  • E.

    • Fences, walls and landscaping and property maintenance.

    1. Required walls.

      • a. Walls along common property lines shall be erected as required in paragraph D. above.

      • b. Required walls six (6) feet or more in height shall be constructed of masonry material.

      • c. Required walls less than six (6) feet in height may be constructed of other permanent material not including wood or corrugated sheet material.

    2. Permitted fences and walls. Fences and walls not to exceed seven (7) feet in height shall be permitted within any required side or rear yard area or along any common property line with the following exceptions:

      • a. Solid wall or fence shall not exceed a height of thirty-six (36) inches within the front yard or side yard on the street side of a corner lot.

      • b. Open work fences (not less than ninety percent (90%) open) in a required front yard or side yard on the street side of a corner lot shall not exceed a height of four and one-half (4½) feet.

    3. Height of walls and fences. The height of walls and fences shall be measured from finished grade immediately adjacent to the base of the wall.

  • a. For the purposes of this subsection, finished grade is defined as the elevation of the ground that would exist at the time of wall/fence construction. If the existing grade is modified to create a new finished grade, the finished grade shall be determined by calculating the midpoint of the highest existing grade and the highest finished grade.

    1. Landscaping. The provisions of § 20.236.040.M. of C-G Zone shall apply.

    2. Property maintenance. The provisions of § 20.236.040.M. of C-G Zone shall apply.

  • F. Distance between buildings. No requirements.

  • G. Site coverage. The site coverage of main building(s) shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total lot area.

    1. All loading spaces shall be located behind either masonry walls not less than six (6) feet in height, or buildings so that they will not be visible from any abutting street.

    2. The provisions of § 20.08.040 of this title shall apply.

  • H. Floor area ratio. All developments shall be subject to the floor area ratio established under the city's General Plan for the General Plan land use designation applicable for the site.

  • I. Off-street parking and loading.

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City of Brea, CA

BREA CODE

§ 20.224.040

§ 20.224.060

  • J. Access. Access to all off-street parking and loading areas shall conform with requirements of the City Engineer, and shall be subject to modification by the Planning Commission upon review of the site plans.

  • K. Signs. The provisions of Chapter 20.28 of this title shall apply. (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 873, 9-5-1989; Ord. 1247, 3-19-2024; Ord. 1250, 5-21-2024; Ord. 1254, 3-18-2025)

§ 20.224.050. Special development standards.

  • A. All uses in the C-P Zone shall be conducted entirely within a building. All storage of materials and trash shall be screened by a masonry wall in such a manner that it is not visible from adjacent property or from any abutting streets.

  • B. All noise producing equipment shall be located and housed in such a manner that sound does not create a nuisance beyond any common property line abutting any residential zone.

  • (Ord. 425, 10-14-1968)

§ 20.224.060. Plan review.

The provisions of § 20.408.040 of this title shall apply to all developments in the C-P Zone that are listed in § 20.408.040.B.

(Ord. 425, 10-14-1968; Ord. 963, 1-17-1995; Ord. 1254, 3-18-2025)

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City of Brea, CA

ZONING CODE

§ 20.228.010

§ 20.228.040