Chapter 17.100 — PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF ZONING CODE
Culver City Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Culver City
§ 17.100.005 TITLE. ¶
This Title is and shall be cited as the Culver City Zoning Code, Title 17 of the Culver City Municipal Code, hereafter referred to as "this Title."
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.100.010 PURPOSE. ¶
This Title carries out the policies of the Culver City General Plan by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the City. This Title is adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of residents and businesses in the City. More specifically, it is the purpose of this Title to:
A. Provide standards that will guide the orderly growth and development of the City;
B. Preserve and protect the integrity and character of the City's residential neighborhoods;
C. Maintain vital areas for business activities that serve the community and protect the quality of life;
D. Require thoughtful planning and design that enhances the visual character of the City and avoids conflicts between land uses;
E. Respect the City's physical setting and constraints, and protect and preserve its natural resources;
F. Create a comprehensive and stable pattern of land uses for which public services and infrastructure can be efficiently and adequately planned; and
G. Ensure that property within the City is well maintained by requiring each owner, occupant, or other person in charge of any property to keep it in good repair and in compliance with the provisions of this Title. (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.100.015 AUTHORITY, RELATIONSHIP TO GENERAL PLAN. ¶
A. Authority. This Title is enacted based on the authority vested in the City of Culver City (hereafter referred to as the "City") by the City Charter and the Culver City Municipal Code (hereafter referred to as "CCMC"); and by the State of California, including but not limited to: the State Constitution; the State Planning and Zoning Law (Cal. Gov't Code §§ 65800 et seq.); the California Environmental Quality Act (Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 21000 et seq.); the California Health and Safety Code; and other applicable statutory provisions.
B. General Plan Consistency. The City's General Plan is the document that establishes the broad goals and policies for all future development. This Title is the primary tool used to implement the goals, objectives, and policies of the General Plan. The City Council intends that this Title be consistent with the General Plan, and that any land use or development approved in compliance with this Title will also be consistent with the General Plan. (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.100.020 APPLICABILITY OF THE ZONING CODE. ¶
This Title applies to all land uses, structures, subdivisions, and development within the City, as follows:
A. New Land Uses or Structures. It shall be unlawful, and a violation of this Title, for any person to establish or construct any land use or structure, except in compliance with the requirements of this Title.
B. Existing Land Uses or Structures. The requirements of this Title are not retroactive in their effect on land uses or structures lawfully established before the effective date of this Title or any applicable amendment. Existing land uses or structures are lawful and not in violation of the CCMC only when operated and maintained in compliance with all applicable provisions of this Title. Any alteration, expansion, or modification of existing land uses or structures shall comply with all provisions of this Title.
C. Issuance of Building or Grading Permits. The City may issue building, grading, or other construction permits only when:
1. The proposed land use and/or structure satisfies the requirements of Subsection A. (New Land Uses or
Structures) above, and all other applicable statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations; and
2. The site was subdivided in compliance with all applicable requirements of Chapter 15.10 (Subdivisions) of the
CCMC.
D. Subdivision of Land. Any subdivision of land proposed within the City after the effective date of this Title shall be consistent with this Title and Chapter 15.10 (Subdivisions) of the CCMC.
E. Effect of Zoning Code Amendments on Projects in Progress. All land use permit applications that have been determined by the Division to be complete before the effective date of this Title, or any amendment to this Title, will be processed in compliance with the requirements in effect when the application was accepted as complete. F. Other Permits and Requirements. Nothing in this Title eliminates the need for obtaining any other permits required by the City, or any permit or approval required by other provisions of the CCMC or the laws, rules or regulations of any City department, or any County, regional, State, or Federal agency.
G. Conflicting Permits and Licenses. All permits shall be issued by the City in compliance with the provisions of this Title after the effective date of this Title or any amendment to this Title. Any permit, excluding business tax certificates, issued in conflict with this Title shall be void.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.100.025 RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION. ¶
This Title shall be administered by the City Council (hereafter referred to as the "Council"), Planning Commission (hereafter referred to as the "Commission"), Board of Zoning Adjustments (hereafter referred to as the "Board"), Planning and Development Director or his/her designee (hereafter referred to as the "Director"), and Current Planning Division (hereafter referred to as the "Division") as provided in Chapter 17.600 (Administrative Responsibility). (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.100.030 PARTIAL INVALIDATION OF ZONING CODE. ¶
If any article, section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Title is for any reason held to be invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable, these decisions shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Title. This Title, and each portion thereof, would have been adopted irrespective of the fact that one or more portions of this Title may be declared invalid, unconstitutional, or unenforceable. (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.100.035 PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS. ¶
Failure to follow the procedural requirements contained within this Title shall not invalidate City actions taken in the absence of a clear showing of intent.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)