Article 17.4 — LIVE-WORK OVERLAY ZONE

§ 12-38.80. Objectives. ¶

The objectives of the live-work overlay zone and live-work regulations are:

(1) To allow accessory residential uses in existing non-residential structures, in areas of the City that are appropriate locations for live-work uses.
(2) To allow live-work units that function primarily as workspaces that also contain ancillary residential space in each unit.
(3) To allow for the architecturally appropriate incorporation of residential uses into existing nonresidential structures; to ensure that any modifications seamlessly enhance the structures and are compatible with the surrounding commercial or industrial area's design character; and to maintain the physical characteristics that are typical for areas of commerce (e.g., business signage, commercial street frontage).
(4) To protect existing or potential commercial and industrial uses from displacement and/or conflicts that can arise from the introduction of residential uses.
(Ord. 14-11 8-5-14)

§ 12-38.81. Applicability. ¶

This Article is applicable to the conversion of existing structures that are located in either a Commercial (C) or Manufacturing (M) zone and are also located in the live-work overlay zone. (Ord. 14-11 8-5-14)

§ 12-38.82. Review and Approval Authority. ¶

(1) Establishment of five or more live-work units on a site shall be subject to a zone adjustment.
(2) Establishment of up to four live-work units on a site shall not be subject to a zone adjustment.
(3) Live-work units that do not comply with the building height limitations, new floor area, or open space requirements shall be subject to a zone adjustment.
(Ord. 14-11 8-5-14)

§ 12-38.83. General Regulations. ¶

(1) Prohibited Uses. The following business activities are prohibited in a live-work unit:
- (a) Adult entertainment activities.
- (b) Animal hospitals and clinics.
- (c) Gun and weapon sales.
- (d) Motor vehicle repair, servicing, painting, storage, or washing.
- (e) Schools (does not include tutoring/counseling).
- (f) Medical clinics, medical offices, laboratories, pharmacies.
(2) Live-work units are exempt from the minimum dwelling unit requirements of Article 1.1.
(3) The following shall be considered residential space in a unit:
- (a) Sleeping facilities.
- (b) Cooking facilities.
(4) The following areas serve dual purposes and may be considered either residential or nonresidential space in a unit:
- (a) Areas for drawing, reading, accounting.
- (b) Sanitary facilities.

(Ord. 14-11 8-5-14)

§ 12-38.84. Design Standards. ¶

The following development standards are intended to ensure that live-work units maintain the physical characteristics of existing commercial and industrial areas of the City and achieve the objectives of Section 12-38.80 :

(1) Unit Size. Five hundred square-foot minimum.
(2) Residential/Commercial Floor Area. A minimum of fifty percent of a unit must be used for nonresidential purposes. Each unit must contain a minimum residential floor area of two hundred fifty square feet.
(3) Open Space. On a property with only one live-work unit, forty square feet of private open space. On a property with multiple live-work units, forty square feet of shared interior space, shared open space, or private open space per unit.
(4) Height. Height of existing structures may not be increased to accommodate the residential portion of a live-work unit. Height may be increased for non-residential purposes and for nonhabitable spaces (e.g., enclosed parking, stairwells, elevator shafts, open space and the like) that are required by the Inglewood Municipal Code.
(5) New Floor Area. Floor area of existing structures may not be increased to accommodate the residential portion of a live-work unit and may only be increased under the following circumstances:
- (a) To increase the non-residential floor area of the unit.
- (b) A mezzanine for residential use that does not exceed thirty-three percent of the area of the floor below may be constructed within an existing building envelope.
- (c) For non-habitable spaces (e.g., enclosed parking, stairwells, elevator shafts, open space and the like) that are required by the Inglewood Municipal Code.
(6) Laundry Facilities. On-site laundry facilities are required if the total number of units on an integrated development site exceeds five.
(Ord. 14-11 8-5-14)

§ 12-38.85. Covenant Required. ¶

A covenant shall be recorded with the Los Angeles County Recorder by the owner of the subject property agreeing that the commercial or industrial use will be maintained as the primary use in the live-work unit; that the work space will not be leased separately from the residential space; that a business license must be maintained at all times when a live-work unit is occupied; and that these requirements will be reflected in tenant leases. (Ord. 14-11 8-5-14)

§ 12-38.86. Business License Required. ¶

A business license shall be maintained at all times when a live-work unit is occupied. (Ord. 14-11 8-5-14)