La Habra Heights Municipal Code Ch. 7.11 Setback and Yard Use Standards

The purpose of this Chapter is to establish performance standards, development standards and the findings required for the modification of any applicable development standard for setbacks and yard uses.

This Chapter applies to all land uses, structures, and lots in the City of La Habra Heights regardless of the applicable Zone District.

All new development and modifications to existing structures must adhere to the City’s setback and yard use performance standards designed to maintain community character, privacy, views and public health and safety. The following performance standards are applicable to setback and yard uses:

A. Maintenance of Views, Privacy, Community Character, and Public Health and Safety. All lot development and the attendant setback and yard use requirements shall be implemented in a manner that will promote the maintenance of views, privacy, community character and public health and safety.

B. Encroachments May be Permitted. Many existing parcels were developed prior to the City’s incorporation. In these instances, the strict application of the development standards contained herein may be unreasonable or may result in development that is more detrimental to applicable performance standards (excessive grading, loss of views, elimination of landscaping, etc.). As a means to permit the improvement of existing structures while adhering to the performance standards, encroachments into the setbacks may be allowed subject to review and imposition of conditions. (Ord. 2015-01 § 12)

This section defines the development standards for setbacks and yard uses. Further, this section implements the City of La Habra Heights General Plan’s goals and policies as they relate to setbacks and uses of the yard areas. All new structures and projects consisting of modifications to existing structures shall comply with the requirements of the applicable Zone District in the absence of a standards modification request.

A. Encroachment of Structures Prohibited. Portions of any structure(s), including eaves
and roof overhangs, shall not extend beyond a property line or into an access easement or
street right-of-way.

B. Measurement of Setbacks. Setback lines used for the delineation of required yard areas
shall be established as follows:

1. The front yard setback line comprises all points located a specified distance,
measured at right angles, from any property line having frontage along any street or private road.

2. The other yard setback lines comprise all points located a specified distance,
measured at right angles, from property lines other than a front yard property line
(refer to Exhibit 7-3).

3. The setbacks for a multiple-lot development must be varied as indicated in Chapter
7.14.

Exhibit 7-3. Structure Setbacks and Required Yards R-A Zone

C. Determination of Yards. For those parcels where the location of yards or setback areas
are not clearly defined, the following shall apply:

1. On lots where the provisions of this Article do not clearly establish location of yards
and lot lines, the Community Development Director shall make the determination of
the required setback lines (refer to Exhibit 7-3).

2. For those parcels where a private residential access road traverses the parcel, the
setbacks are measured from the easement lines as if they are property lines (refer to
Exhibit 7-4).

3. For flag lots, the front yard is that portion of the lot that connects with the access road.

Exhibit 7-4. Setbacks and Yards Fronting Public Roads and Private Residential Roads
and Driveways for R-A Zone

D. Parking Setbacks. The setback requirements for parking areas and driveways are provided
in Table 7-6.

Table 7-6
Minimum Setback Requirements for Driveways 1 and Parking Areas

Zone District Front Setback Other Setback

Residential-Agricultural Zone (R-A Zone) 10 ft. 10 ft.

Institutional Overlay Zone (IO Zone) 35 ft. 25 ft.

Open Space-Resource Production Zone 35 ft. 25 ft.
(OS-RP Zone)

Open Space-Recreation Zone (OS-R Zone) 35 ft. 25 ft.

Open Space-Conservation Zone (OS-C 35 ft. 25 ft.
Zone)

Notes:
1. Does not apply to that portion of a driveway that provides access from the right-of-way.

E. Setback Standards for Structures. The required setbacks applicable to new development
within all Zone Districts are listed in Table 7-7.

Table 7-7
Minimum Setback Requirements for Structures

Front Setback Other Setback

Zone District 1st Floor 2nd Floor 1st Floor 2nd Floor

Residential-Agricultural 35 ft. 35 ft. 25 ft. 25 ft.
(Zone RA)

Institutional Overlay 60 ft. 70 ft. 40 ft. 50 ft.
Zone

Open Space-Resource 100 ft. NA 100 ft. NA
Production (Zone OS-RP)

Open Space-Recreation 50 ft. 60 ft. 40 ft. 45 ft.
(Zone OS-R)

Public Facilities (Zone 50 ft. 50 ft. 40 ft. 40 ft.
PF)

F. Variable Setback Standards. In addition to the minimum setback requirements shown in
Table 7-7, those portions of residential structures located in an RA zone that exceed
eighteen (18) feet in height shall be subject to the following:

1. Front Setbacks. The minimum required front setbacks shall be the sum of the
following: (35 feet) + [(height of structure minus 18) * (1.4)].

2. All Other Setbacks. The minimum required setback for non-front setbacks shall be
the sum of the following: (25 feet) + [(height of structure in feet minus 18) * (1.1)].

G. Access Gates. Gates for vehicles must be setback a minimum distance of twenty (20) feet
from the roadway edge of pavement.
(Ord. 2012-04 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 2015-01 § 13; Ord. 2019-02 § 3)

This Section identifies permitted and prohibited development within yards and setback areas.

A. Development Permitted. The following are permitted in the required setback areas
(yards).

1. Landscaping, garden paths, and/or steps are permitted in all yard areas.

2. Retaining walls and graded slopes are permitted subject to the following
requirements:

a. Retaining walls less than three (3) feet in height above grade and used for
landscaping and decorative purposes may encroach into the required yards.

b. For retaining walls and cut or fill slopes three (3) feet in height or greater, the
minimum setback distance of any portion of any cut, fill or retaining wall from
any property line is three (3) times its visible height at that point but not more
than the baseline required setback.

3. Certain architectural features attached to the main structure may extend into a
required setback area as specified in Table 7-8.

Table 7-8
Allowable Encroachments into Yards

Projections Setback Encroachment

Bay Windows and Similar Projections 24-inches
12 ft. in width

Chimney and Fireplace 24-inches
8 ft. in width

Cornice, Eave, Awning, or Roof 36-inches
Overhang

4. Other uses may be allowed with the approval of a Standards Modification.

B. Exemptions to the Requirements of this Section. Fences or walls not used for earth
retention, on the subject property, six feet or less in height above the finished grade of the
fence or wall, may be used in all required yards. The fence or wall must also be setback a
minimum of six feet from the edge of any pavement of a roadway, public or private or
shared multiple lot driveway. Any wall or fence located within the right-of-way, or within
six feet of the edge of any pavement, must conform to the terms of an encroachment permit.
Permit application procedures are identified in Article 8. Barbed wire, razor ribbon and
other security fencing materials are prohibited.

Solid walls and fences are allowed within the front yard setback area with an approved
minor exception, shall be located on the subject property, and shall have a minimum
setback of nine feet from the edge of any pavement.

See Section 7.18.40(L) for additional requirements.

C. Prohibited Uses in Yards. The following uses are prohibited in required yards unless a
Standards Modification is obtained.

1. Trash receptacles, except for fully screened enclosures located adjacent to the right-
of-way and used for storage prior to the regular collection of trash.

2. Air conditioning units, pool pumps, compressors and other mechanical equipment
that generates noise.
(Ord. 2015-01 §§ 14, 16, 17; Ord. 2026-02, 8/10/2026)

Setbacks.

The General Findings required by Section 7.19.80 must be made for the approval of a Standards Modification.