Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 22.24 Rural Zones

A.

General Purpose. The Rural Zones are established to implement the policies of preserving and maintaining the rural character of rural towns as identified in the General Plan.

B.

Purpose of Individual Zones. The purposes of individual zones are established as follows:

Rural Commercial Zone. The Rural Commercial Zone (C-RU) is established to implement the CR (Rural Commercial) land use designation in areas of the County mapped as such in the General Plan. Zone C-RU provides for a mix of commercial uses that are compatible with rural, agricultural, or low-density residential uses. Zone C-RU regulates both the type and intensity of development to protect natural resources, promote an area's economic self-sufficiency, maintain compatibility between C- RU-zoned areas and surrounding Residential and Agricultural Zones, and preserve the rural character of a community.

Rural Mixed Use Development Zone. The Rural Mixed Use Development Zone (MXD-RU) is established to implement the MU-R (Mixed Use-Rural) land use designation in areas of the County mapped as such in the General Plan. Zone MXD-RU provides for a mix of commercial uses, within a limited range, and low-density residential uses to be located within town centers. Zone MXD-RU encourages development of projects within town centers that serve as social and economic focal points, while maintaining compatibility of these projects with surrounding Rural Commercial, Residential, and Agricultural Zones.

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

Table 22.24.020-A, below, identifies "Rural Zones," as used in this Title 22:

(Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

General. This Section prescribes the land use regulations for Zones C-RU and MXD-RU.

B.

Permit and Review Requirements. Table 22.24.030-A, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each use listed in Subsection C, below.

C.

Use Regulations.

Principal Uses. Table 22.24.030-B, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each principal use.

TABLE 22.24.030-B: PRINCIPAL USE REGULATIONS FOR RURAL ZONES

Accessory Uses. Table 22.24.030-C, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each accessory use.

Temporary Uses. Table 22.24.030-D, below, identifies the permit or review required to establish each temporary use.

D.

Conditional Use Permit Required. In Zone C-RU, any use permitted with a ministerial review in Subsection C, above, that would generate vehicular traffic requiring the provision of new or additional traffic lights shall be subject to a Conditional Use Permit (Chapter 22.158) application.

(Ord. 2024-0054 § 6, 2024; Ord. 2024-0049 § 17, 2024; Ord. 2024-0028 § 5, 2024; Ord. 2023-0060 § 10, 2023; Ord. 2023- 0004 § 12, 2023; Ord. 2023-0001 § 9, 2023; Ord. 2022-0023 § 22, 2022; Ord. 2022-0008 § 16, 2022; Ord. 2021-0017 § 13, 2021; Ord. 2021-0011 § 6, 2021; Ord. 2021-0010 § 14, 2021; Ord. 2020-0064 § 6, 2020; Ord. 2020-0059 § 8, 2020; Ord. 2020-0008 § 47, 2020; Ord. 2019-0053 § 15, 2019; Ord. 2019-0020 § 7, 2019; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)

A.

Development on any lot in Zones C-RU and MXD-RU shall comply with Division 6 (Development Standards), where applicable.

B.

Table 22.24.040-A, below, identifies the development standards for Zones C-RU and MXD-RU:

Minimum Yards. In Zones C-RU and MXD-RU:

Where a lot fronts on a parkway, highway or street, and an adjoining lot along the same frontage is zoned Residential or Agricultural, the lot shall have a front or corner side yard equal to the front or corner side yard required for the adjoining Residential or Agricultural zoned lot. For example, see Figure 22.24.040-A, below.

Where a lot adjoins a lot that is zoned Residential or Agricultural, the lot shall have a minimum side or rear yard of not less than five feet from the lot line adjoining the Residential or Agricultural zoned lot. For example, see Figure 22.24.040-A, below.

Except as provided in Subsections A.1, and A.2, above, all required yards also shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Chapter 22.110 (General Site Regulations).

FIGURE 22.24.040-A: MINIMUM YARDS

D.

Landscaping. In Zones C-RU and MXD-RU, a minimum of 10 percent of the net lot area for lots devoted to commercial use, including parking and other accessory uses, shall be landscaped with drought-tolerant landscaping, which shall be continuously maintained in good condition. Incidental walkways may be developed in the landscaped area.

E.

Parking Requirements. In Zones C-RU and MXD-RU, in addition to Chapter 22.112 (Parking), all vehicle parking facilities shall have the following requirements:

Location.

a.

Where a lot fronts on a parkway, highway or street, vehicle parking and loading zone areas shall be set back not less than five feet from the right-of-way. The setback area shall be landscaped with at least one 24-inch box tree for every 20 linear feet of street frontage.

b.

Where a lot adjoins a lot that is zoned Residential or Agricultural, the vehicle parking and loading zone areas shall be set back not less than five feet from the lot line adjoining the Residential or Agricultural zoned lot.

Parking spaces shall be used only by visitors, customers, owners, or tenants of the legally established use on the premises.

Except where parking is provided for residential uses, vehicles shall not be parked in the required parking spaces on the premises for more than 24 hours.

Parking spaces for recreational vehicles, trailers, and semi-trucks shall be designed as pull-through parking spaces.

Parking spaces for recreational vehicles, trailers, semi-trucks, and other large vehicles shall not be placed within the same row as parking spaces for passenger vehicles and other small vehicles.

Driveways for recreational vehicles and semi-trucks shall be separate from driveways for passenger vehicles wherever feasible. If a shared driveway is used where large vehicles cross into identified pedestrian walkways, pavement markers, paint schemes, or signs shall be used to indicate caution that pedestrians may be in the area.

Adequate turning spaces shall be provided on site so that vehicles enter into and exit out of the parking or loading zone area head first.

All requirements for ingress from and egress to public rights-of-way shall be designed to the satisfaction of Public Works.

F.

Vehicle Parking Incentives. In Zones C-RU and MXD-RU, a maximum of 40 percent of the total required vehicle parking spaces may be converted to parking spaces for large vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, and semi-trucks, in any combination, in accordance with the following provisions:

The parking spaces shall be developed to provide the minimum dimensions and shall count towards compliance with the overall required number of parking spaces for the site as specified in Table 22.24.040-B and Figure 22.24.040-B, below.

FIGURE 22.24.040-B: MINIMUM PARKING SPACE DIMENSIONS

These incentives for semi-truck parking spaces apply in Special Parking Districts identified in an Area or Community Plan or Community Standards District.

If any parking is provided pursuant to Subsection E.1, above, then compact parking spaces otherwise authorized by Section 22.112.070.E (Compact Spaces) shall be prohibited.

G.

Screening. In Zones C-RU and MXD-RU, all mechanical equipment, trash containers, and dumpsters shall be completely screened from view from adjacent streets, walkways, and residences through the use of walls and/or landscaping. Trash and recycling containers shall conform Section 22.140.350.A.7.c (Trash/Recycling).

H.

New sensitive uses developed in the permitted zones and located adjacent to existing, legally-established industrial uses, recycling or solid waste uses, or vehicle-related uses listed in Table 22.22.030-B (Principal Use Regulations for Industrial Zones), except for the vehicle sales and rentals sub-category, shall comply with Division 7, Chapter 22.134 (Sensitive Uses). Where standards in Chapter 22.134 and this Section are in conflict, the more restrictive shall apply.

(Ord. 2022-0023 § 23, 2022; Ord. 2019-0004 § 1, 2019.)