La Palma Municipal Code § 44-79 Development standards for residential zoning districts

This division provides regulations applicable to development and land uses in the residential zoning districts established by Section 44-39. The purpose of the individual residential zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied is provided in Section 44-76.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)

(a) R-1, single-family residential. The R-1 zoning district identifies areas intended for single-family housing types, including conventional single-family detached homes, patio homes, zero lot line homes, mixed-use developments, and attached, lower-density developments such as single family residential duplexes. The allowable density range is from 1.0 to 8.7 dwelling units per net acre. The R-1 zoning district is consistent with the single-family residential land use designation of the general plan.

(b) R-3, multiple-family residential. The R-3 zoning district identifies areas intended for the development of a range of attached and detached residential uses. Typical housing types include higher density single-family residences, patio homes, zero lot line homes, mixed-use developments, and attached multiple-family dwellings such as multiple family residential duplexes, townhomes, condominiums, and garden apartments. Smaller sites composed of two acres or less are permitted to be developed with a maximum density of ten dwelling units per net acre. Larger sites that are between two and one-tenth to four acres are permitted to be developed with densities up to 15 dwelling units per net acre and sites composed of at least four and one-tenth acres are permitted to be developed with a maximum density of 25 dwelling units per net acre. The R-3 zoning district is consistent with the multiple-family residential land use designation of the general plan.

(c) VRO, village residential overlay. The VRO designation is intended as an overlay zone for certain areas within the multiple-family residential land use designation that involve special development opportunities and require a tailored approach to planning and design. The designation is intended to provide for a variety of housing types within one project or development, ranging from single-family housing to multiple-family dwellings. The types of developments that are suitable to the village residential overlay include affordable housing projects, senior housing projects, or multiple family residential duplexes that involve tailored development standards and site design. Such tailored development standards and site design shall be permitted only upon approval of the City Council via specific plan. Absent City Council approval of a tailored site design or of tailored development standards for a particular parcel, the development standards applicable to all properties in the R-3 zone as detailed in section 44-79 et seq. apply all parcels to which the VRO designation is applied.

VRO, specific plan required. It is required that the design and development of a parcel within the VRO with tailored development standards shall only be conducted in accordance with the provision of state law and approved by the City Council. Any specific plan for development within the VRO shall specify, among other features, the distribution, densities, location and extent of uses of land, including open space; and the standards and criteria by which development will proceed within the VRO.

VRO, density. The maximum allowable density on a parcel within the multiple-family residential (R-3) to which the VRO designation is applied shall be 30 units to the acre (30 du/ac), regardless of the size of the parcel in the multiple-family residential (R-3) to which the VRO designation is applied. Approval of the specific plan by the City Council shall establish the density for parcels upon which a specific plan is required for tailored development standards. No component of a specific plan in the VRO shall have more than (30 du/ac) unless a request for a density bonus is approved under State Density Bonus Law.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 10, 5-3-2016; Ord. No. 2019-01, § 4, 1-15-2019; Ord. No. 2022-01, § 9, 5-3-2022; Ord. No. 2024-04, § 4, 12-10-2024)

A precise plan shall be required for all residential development except for single-family dwellings on previously subdivided lots, and for all nonresidential developments exceeding 2,000 square feet of total floor area.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 11, 5-3-2016; Ord. No. 2022-01, § 10, 5-3-2022; Ord. No. 2024-04, § 4, 12-10-2024)

The following table indicates those uses that are permitted (P), allowed subject to the approval of a conditional use permit (C), or prohibited (X) in residential zoning districts:

KEY TO ALLOWABLE USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

KEY TO ZONING DISTRICTS

Notes:

See section 44-139, regarding uses not listed.

See article I for definitions of land uses.

TABLE II-1. ALLOWABLE USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

* Requires written approval of landlord/property manager.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-02, § 6, 1-19-2016; Ord. No. 2018-03, § 5, 5-15-2018; Ord. No. 2022-01, § 11, 5-3-2022; Ord. No. 2022-06, § 7, 8-2-2022; Ord. No. 2023-02, § 5, 2-7-2023; Ord. No. 2024-04, § 4, 12-10-2024)

(a) New land uses and structures and alterations to existing land uses and structures shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in table II-2 (development standards for residential zoning districts), in addition to all other applicable development standards (e.g. landscaping, parking, loading, etc.) in article III (standards applicable in all zoning districts).

(b) Permanently sited manufactured homes certified under the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. § 5401 et seq.) may not be excluded from lots zoned for single-family dwellings, and are subject to the same rules a site-built homes, except architectural requirements concerning the manufactured home's roof overhang, roofing materials, and siding materials. Pursuant to California Government Code § 65852.4, and with the exception of architectural requirements, the City shall not subject an application to permanently site a manufactured home on a lot zoned for single-family dwelling to any administrative permit, planning or development process, or requirement which would not be imposed on a conventional site-built single-family residential dwelling on the same lot.

TABLE II-2. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

1 For conventional single-family parcels only. For other permissible housing types, minimum lot size shall be determined by density range or section 44-1259.

2 This setback requirement applies in the applicable residential property zone, unless another, more specific setback requirement applies, or unless otherwise preempted by law. Paved areas other than the driveway and paved ancillary parking area shall not encroach into the required front yard area in single-family developments.

3 This setback requirement applies in the applicable residential property zone, unless another, more specific setback requirement applies, or unless otherwise preempted by law. Tailored development standards and site design permitted on housing projects, other than conventional single-family, shall be permitted with approval of the City Council.

4 20-foot setback for front loaded garages and 15 feet for side-loaded garages.

5 This setback requirement applies in the applicable residential property zone, unless another, more specific setback requirement applies, or unless otherwise preempted by law.

6 Ten-foot rear yard setback provided the rear yard backs up to an arterial roadway, railroad right-of-way, Southern California Edison right-of-way, flood control channel, industrial zoned property, or commercial zoned property and maintain a minimum rear yard area of 1,000 square feet.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015; Ord. No. 2016-06, § 12, 5-3-2016; Ord. No. 2020-03, § 6, 6-2-2020; Ord. No. 2022-01, § 12, 5-3-2022; Ord. No. 2024-04, § 4, 12-10-2024)

(a) Lighting in multifamily housing type occupancies shall be as follows:

(1) Aisles, passageways and recesses related to and within the building complex shall be illuminated with an intensity per Section 44-278 at the ground level during the hours of darkness. Lighting devices shall be protected by weather and vandalism-resistant covers.

(2) Open parking lots and carports shall be provided with a maintained minimum of one foot-candle of light on the parking surface during hours of darkness. Lighting devices shall be protected by vandal-resistant covers. These lighting devices shall be automatically energized during hours of darkness.

(3) Each residential unit of multifamily housing type occupancies shall have an enclosed parking space with a garage door equipped as in Section 10-336.

(Ord. No. 2015-01, § 3, 5-5-2015)