Chapter 17.550 — VARIANCES, ADMINISTRATIVE MODIFICATIONS AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
Culver City Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Culver City
§ 17.550.005 PURPOSE. ¶
The provisions of this Chapter allow for:
A. Administrative Modification of specific development standards of this Title, when the strict application of those standards creates an unnecessary, involuntarily-created hardship, or unreasonable regulation that makes it impractical to require compliance with the development standards.
B. Variances from the development standards of this Title only when, because of special circumstances applicable to the property, including location, shape, size, surroundings, topography, or other conditions, the strict application of this Title denies the property owner privileges enjoyed by other property owners in the vicinity and in identical zoning districts.
C. Reasonable accommodations from specific development standards of this Title when the strict application of those standards would make it impractical for an individual with a disability to have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling unit.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. 2013-008 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.550.010 APPLICABILITY. ¶
A. Administrative Modification. The Director may grant an Administrative Modification for only the development standards identified in Table 5-2 (Administrative Modifications). Except for an Administrative Modification for a sign, an Administrative Modification may be granted only once for a specific type of request per parcel. A request exceeding the limitations identified in Table 5-2 (Administrative Modifications) shall require the filing of an application for a Variance. Nonconforming parcels that comply with the criteria for a legal building site pursuant to CCMC § 17.610.035 shall be eligible for an administrative modification request and may be granted an administrative modification provided findings pursuant to CCMC § 17.550.020.A. can be made.
Table 5-2
Administrative Modifications
| Administrative Modifications | |
|---|---|
| Types of Administrative Modification Allowed | Maximum Adjustment |
| Types of Administrative Modification Allowed | Maximum Adjustment |
| **1. Fence, walls, or retaining walls.**Fences, gates, pilasters, or walls in the side or rear yards that exceed 6 feet in height. |
Not to exceed 8 feet |
| **2. Distances between structures.**A decrease in the minimum distance between a detached accessory structure and the main structure |
10% |
| **3. Open space.**A decrease in the minimum open space requriements. | 10% |
| **4. Parking.**A decrease in the minimum parking lot and loading dimensions (e.g., aisle, driveway, and space widths). |
10% |
| **5. Projections.**An increase in the allowed projections into setbacks in compliance with § 17.300.020 (Setback Regulations and Exceptions). |
10% |
| **6. Setbacks.**A decrease in the minimum required setbacks. | 10% |
| **7. Structure height.**An increase in the maximum allowable structure height; proided that the increase complies with the height limitation established by the 1990 City of Culver City initiative. |
10% |
| --- | --- |
| **8. Sign.**An increase in the sign area of the allowed total area of a permanent sign, including applicable cumulative sign area. |
10% |
B. Variance. The Commission may grant a Variance from the requirements of this Title; except that a Variance shall not allow a use of land not otherwise allowed in the applicable zoning district by Article 2 (Zoning Districts, Allowable Land Uses and Zone-Specific Standards).
C. Reasonable Accommodation. The Director may grant reasonable accommodations from the requirements of this Title that may be necessary to ensure equal access to housing for an individual with a disability.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2013-008 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 2019-004 § 2 (part); Ord. No. 2022-008; Ord. No. 2024-006; Ord. No. 2025-010, Exhibit A (part))
§ 17.550.015 APPLICATION FILING, PROCESSING, AND REVIEW. ¶
A. Filing. An application for an Administrative Modification, a Variance or a Reasonable Accommodation shall be completed, filed, and processed in compliance with Chapter 17.500 (Applications, Processing, and Fees). The application package shall include all information specified in the application, any applicable Division handout, and any additional information required by the Director in order to conduct a thorough review of the proposed project. It is the responsibility of the applicant to establish evidence in support of the findings required by CCMC § 17.550.020 (Findings and Decision) below.
B. Notice and Hearings. Notice and hearings regarding an application for a Variance, an Administrative Modification or a Reasonable Accommodation shall be provided in compliance with Chapter 17.630 (Public Hearings and Administrative Review), and as follows.
1. Administrative Modification. The Director shall conduct an administrative review of an application for an
Administrative Modification.
2. Variance. The Commission shall conduct a public hearing on an application for a Variance.
3. Reasonable Accommodation. The Director shall conduct an administrative review of an application for a
Reasonable Accommodation.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2013-008 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.550.020 FINDINGS AND DECISION. ¶
A. Administrative Modification Findings. The Director shall record the decision in writing, with the findings on which the decision is based. The Administrative Modification may be approved, with or without conditions, only after making all of the following findings.
1. The strict application of the applicable development standard creates an unnecessary, involuntarily-created hardship, or unreasonable regulation that makes it obviously impractical to require compliance with the development standards.
2. Approval of the Administrative Modification would not be detrimental to the public health, interest, safety, or general welfare and would not be detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity and in the same zoning district.
3. The project is consistent with the General Plan and complies with all other applicable provision of this Title.
B. Variance Findings. The Commission shall record the decision in writing, with the findings on which the decision is based. The Variance may be approved, with or without conditions, only after making all of the following findings:
1. There are special circumstances applicable to the property (e.g., location, shape, size, surroundings, and topography), or to the intended use of the property, so that the strict application of this Title denies the property owner privileges enjoyed by other property owners in the vicinity and under identical zoning districts.
2. The strict application of the applicable development standard creates an unnecessary, involuntarily-created hardship, or unreasonable regulation that makes it obviously impractical to require compliance with the development standards.
3. The Variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights, possessed by other property owners in the same vicinity and zoning district, and denied to the property owner for which the Variance is sought.
4. The project is consistent with the General Plan and complies with all other applicable provisions of this Title.
5. Approval of the Variance would not be detrimental to the public health, interest, safety, or general welfare, and
would not be detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity and in the same zoning district.
- C. Reasonable Accommodation Findings. The Director shall record the decision in writing with the findings on which the decision is based. The Reasonable Accommodation may be approved with or without conditions only after making all of the following findings:
1. The dwelling, which is the subject of the request for reasonable accommodation will be used by an individual
with a disability.
2. The requested accommodation is necessary to make the dwelling available to an individual with a disability.
3. There is no reasonable alternative accommodation that will comply or come closer to complying with the
development standards of this Title.
4. Approval of the reasonable accommodation would not be detrimental to the public health, interest, safety, or
general welfare, and would not be detrimental or injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity and in the same zoning district.
- (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2013-008 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.550.025 CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL. ¶
In approving an Administrative Modification, a Variance, or Reasonable Accommodation the review authority may impose reasonable and necessary specific design, locational, and operational conditions, which may include, but are not limited to, the City's Comprehensive Standard Conditions of Approval for Discretionary Land Use Permits as adopted by the Commission to ensure that the approval will be in compliance with the findings required by § 17.550.020 (Findings and Decision) above.
- A. Reasonable Accommodation Conditions of Approval. The following shall apply to the approval of a reasonable accommodation:
1. Approval of a reasonable accommodation shall be granted to an individual and shall not run with the land unless the Director also finds that the modification is physically integrated into the structure and cannot be easily removed or altered to comply with the requirements of this Title.
2. Prior to the issuance of any permits relative to an approved reasonable accommodation the Director may require the applicant to record a covenant in the County Recorder's Office acknowledging and agreeing to comply with the terms and conditions established in the decision. The covenant shall be required only if the Director finds that a covenant is necessary to provide notice to future owners that a reasonable accommodation has been approved and may not apply to future owners and/or tenants.
B. Duration of Reasonable Accommodation. A reasonable accommodation shall not be considered permanent and shall be subject to the following:
1. The Reasonable Accommodation may continue to be used and maintained by the individual with a disability for
the duration of his or her tenancy in the dwelling subject to the findings in § 17.550.020.C.
2. Within 60 days of the termination of the tenancy by the individual with a disability, the Reasonable
Accommodation shall be removed unless the Director has determined that the Reasonable Accommodation may remain as provided in § 17.550.025.A.2.
3. A Reasonable Accommodation request shall be null and void if an individual with a disability fails to take advantage of said approval within one year or if said individual with a disability terminates tenancy prior to installing Reasonable Accommodation related structures.
- (Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2013-008 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)
§ 17.550.030 POST-APPROVAL PROCEDURES. ¶
Procedures relating to appeals, notices, revocations and modifications, as identified in Article 6 (Zoning Code Administration), in addition to those identified in Chapter 17.595 (Permit Implementation, Time Limits, and Extensions), shall apply following the approval of an Administrative Modification, a Variance, or a Reasonable Accommodation application.
(Ord. No. 2005-007 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2013-008 § 3 (part); Ord. No. 2024-006)