Burbank Municipal Code Div. 5 Rancho Commercial (rc) Zone

The Rancho Commercial (RC) Zone is intended to encourage and support the development of community oriented retail and service commercial uses in conjunction with professional offices. [Added by Ord. No. 3343, eff. 6/26/93.]

In the RC Zone, all uses shall be consistent with the maximum FAR and maximum residential density, as prescribed in the General Plan, as follows:

[Added by Ord. No. 3839, eff. 5/24/13; amended by Ord. 24-4,022, eff. 1/17/25.]

In the RC Zone, uses are allowed as set forth in Section 10-1-502. [Added by Ord. No. 3343; Amended by Ord. No. 3504, eff. 12/26/98; 3465, 3464, 3457, 3439, 3400, 3376.]

10-1-2430, 2431 AND 2432:

[Deleted by Ord. No. 3504, eff. 12/26/98.]

The following property development standards shall apply in an RC Zone:

A. STRUCTURE HEIGHT.

1. The maximum height of a structure shall be 35 feet as measured from grade, as defined in this chapter. Roof and architectural features may exceed the maximum height up to 15 additional feet without the need of a Conditional Use Permit if a 45 degree angle is maintained as depicted in Diagram No. 1.

2. Maximum building height shall be measured to the ceiling height of the highest room permitted for human occupancy.

3. A Conditional Use Permit is required for a structure higher than 35 feet.

B. OPEN SPACE.

1. Distance Requirements.

Each lot which abuts or is adjacent to an R-1, R-1-H or R-2 lot shall provide open space not less than 20 feet wide along the area that abuts the residential property. Lots abutting or adjacent to R-3 and R-4 lots shall provide a minimum five (5) foot open space between the properties.

2. Determination of Open Space.

This open space shall be measured from the lot line of the residential property to the commercial structure. Public rights-of-way may be included within the calculation of such area, except as otherwise provided in this section.

3. Landscaping Requirement. When the commercial property abuts or is adjacent to R-1, R-1-H, or R-2 property, a five (5) foot strip of the open space which lies adjacent to the residential property shall be landscaped, unless a public right-of-way is utilized in the calculation of the open space. This landscaping is intended to provide screening between the different zones.

4. Parking Allowed in Open Space.

When the commercial property abuts property other than R-1, R-1-H, or R-2, open space may be used for surface parking.

C. YARDS.

1. Front Yard - Definition.

For the purpose of this section, side yards on corner lots shall be considered as front yards.

2. Setbacks.

a. Front Yards.

The first story shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from the front lot line; the second story, excluding balconies, shall be set back a minimum of 30 feet from the front lot line; the third story, excluding balconies, shall be set back 35 feet from the front lot line. A minimum of a ten (10) foot setback from the front lot line to any surface parking area is required.

b. Side Yards.

A minimum of a ten (10) foot side yard building setback is required. A minimum of a five (5) foot setback from the side lot line to any surface parking is required.

c. Rear Yards.

A minimum of a five (5) foot rear yard building setback is required. A minimum of a five (5) foot setback from the rear lot line to any surface parking area is required.

3. Landscaping.

a. Californian native plants and California Sycamore trees shall be used as required landscaping materials. California Sycamore trees shall be used as the required street trees.

b. The landscaping requirements of Section 10-1-705(C)(3) shall apply in the RC Zone.

c. The requirements for parking structures and surface parking lots in Article 14 of this Chapter shall apply in the RC Zone.

4. Retail Structures.

On retail structures, bay windows at least three (3) feet high may project over 75 percent of the required front yard not to exceed three (3) feet into the front yard. The bay windows shall be spaced to allow adequate sunlight to reach required landscaping.

5. Parking.

a. No surface parking area frontage shall comprise more than 50 percent of any street frontage.

b. Surface parking shall be organized into parking courts not to exceed 40 stalls, surrounded on all sides with a minimum five (5) foot landscape buffer.

c. Parking structures shall not be allowed in the rear 50 percent of the property if the property abuts or is adjacent to a residential zone.

d. Commercial retail requires five (5) parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area and professional offices requires three (3) parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area.

e. For additional parking area requirements, see Article 14 of this chapter.

6. Walls, Fences, Satellite Dishes, Flagpoles, Antennae and Light Standards.

a. MINIMUM DISTANCE FROM LOT LINES. Walls, fences, satellite dishes, flagpoles, antennae and light standards shall be set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from any lot line which separates the lot from a street and from any lot line which separates two (2) properties within the Rancho Commercial Zone. The Community Development Director may reduce or waive the setback requirements for a segment of a wall or fence fronting on a street, as well as for a segment of a wall or fence (not to exceed ten (10) feet in length) along any lot line which separates two (2) properties within the Rancho Commercial Zone where necessary to connect such wall or fence to the edge of a building at the lot line, provided, in either instance, the Community Development Director determines that such reduction or waiver will not unreasonably impair the visibility of building frontages on adjacent property as viewed from an arterial street which is parallel to, or which intersects, or is perpendicular to, such lot line.

b. CORNER CUTOFF AREA. There shall be a corner cutoff for all walls, fences, satellite dishes, flagpoles, antennae and/or light standards at the intersection of a lot line separating two (2) properties and the right-of-way line for an arterial street. No structure shall be erected or maintained above the height of three (3) feet within the cutoff area. The cutoff shall consist of a triangular area, the corners of which are located on the subject property as follows: (i) the point of intersection of the interior property line and the right-of-way (ii) a point 30 feet from point one on the interior property line and (iii) a point 40 feet from point one on the property line abutting the right-of-way. Based on input from the Traffic Engineer, the Community Development Director may reduce or waive the requirements of this subsection if traffic visibility can otherwise be maintained consistent with traffic engineering standards.

c. DESIGN STANDARDS.

(i) No wall or fence shall exceed six (6) feet in height.

(ii) Any wall or fence shall consist of one (1) or more of the following materials: wood, rough cut timbers, river rock, Spanish tile, textured stucco, brick or wrought iron.

(iii) Where a wall or fence in excess of four (4) feet in height is to be located on property frontage along an arterial street and said frontage is greater than 200 feet in length, any portion of such wall or fence over four (4) feet in height shall consist of a material which allows visibility into the property, such as wrought iron. In addition, where there is a wall or fence in excess of four (4) feet in height located on property frontage along an arterial street and said frontage is greater than 200 feet in length, such wall or fence shall have a projection or recess having no dimension less than five (5) feet for a minimum of 35 percent of the lineal frontage.

(iv) Where a wall or fence in excess of four (4) feet in height is to be located on or adjacent to a lot line which separates two (2) properties within the Rancho Commercial Zone and said lot line is greater than 60 feet in length, any portion of such wall or fence over four (4) feet in height shall consist of a material which allows visibility into the adjacent property, such as wrought iron. The Community Development Director may reduce or waive this requirement if the Community Development Director determines, with input from the Traffic Engineer, that such reduction or waiver will not unreasonably impair the visibility of building frontages on the adjacent property as viewed from an arterial street which intersects, or is perpendicular to, such lot line.

(v) Notwithstanding the regulations for walls and fences set forth in this section, a wall or fence of three (3) feet in height or less is permitted within the setback and corner cutoff areas if in conjunction with a landscaping plan approved by the Community Development Director.

d. SATELLITE DISHES. Satellite dishes which exceed eight (8) feet in height shall require an Administrative Use Permit.

D. ADDITIONAL STANDARDS.

For additional standards see the remainder of this chapter.

E. Mixed-Use and Multifamily Residential-Only Development.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section shall not apply to the following projects:

1. Mixed-use developments (multifamily residential with nonresidential use) allowed as set forth in Section 10-1-502. These projects shall be governed by the provisions of Article 9, Division 4 of this Code, commencing with Section 10-1-915.

2. Multifamily residential-only developments allowed as set forth in Section 10-1-502. These projects shall be governed by the provisions of Article 6, Division 3.5 of this Code, commencing with Section 10-1-621. [Added by Ord. No. 3343, eff. 6/26/93; amended by Ord. No. 23-3,996, eff. 7/7/23; 23-3,994; 15-3,860; 3810, 3548, 3491, 3488, 3382.]

Unless specifically exempted by Section 10-1-1914 of this Code, no structure shall be erected in the RC Zone, nor shall any permits related thereto be issued until an application for Development Review has been submitted to and approved by the Director, as provided in Division 2, Article 19 of this chapter. These permits include but are not limited to site preparation permits such as demolition permits and grading permits. [Added by Ord. No. 3343, eff. 6/26/93.]

The following design criteria shall apply in the RC Zone:

A. Pitched roofs with overhangs are required. Mansard roofs are prohibited.

B. Architectural design-Mission, Rancho or Spanish Colonial style shall be used incorporating a number of the following elements: verandas, arbors, patios, courtyards, plazas, arches, simulated wood roofs, tile roofs, open beam ceilings, walkways, archways, colonial columns and heavy posts.

C. Color-Whites, natural wood grain finishes, earth tones, pale tones, tans, rusts, adobe pink, and copper patina shall be used and incorporated. No bright colors may be used.

D. Materials and Finishes-A number of the following may be incorporated, if otherwise permitted by the Burbank Municipal Code: wood, rough cut timbers, river rock, Spanish tile and textured stucco.

E. The design standards of Section 10-1-1113.1 shall apply in the RC Zone. [Added by Ord. No. 3343, eff. 6/26/93.]