Article 2 — SPECIFIC PLANNING - ZONING - COMPREHENSIVE ZONING PLAN

SEC. 12.00. TITLE.

This article shall be known as the “Comprehensive Zoning Plan of the City of Los Angeles.”

It is well settled that a municipality may divide land into districts and prescribe regulations governing the uses permitted therein, and that zoning ordinances when reasonable in object and not arbitrary in operation constitute a justifiable exercise of police power, and as intendment is in favor of the validity of such ordinances the court will not substitute its judgment for that of the zoning action.

Lockard v. The City of Los Angeles , 33 Cal. 2d 453. Clemens v. The City of Los Angeles , 36 Cal.2d 95. Wheeler v. Gregg , 90 Cal. App. 2d 348. Burke v. City of Los Angeles , 68 Cal. App.2d 189. Ex Parte Quong Wo , 161 Cal 222. Miller v. Board of Public Work s, 95 Cal. 485. Zahn v. Board of Public Works , 195 Cal. 497. People v. Norton , 108 Cal. App. Supp. 767. Otis v. City of Los Angeles . 52 Cal. App. 2d 605. Hadacheck v. Alexander . 169 Cal. 616. Brown v. City of Los Angeles . 183 Cal. 783, 789. Ex Parte Hadacheck .165 Cal. 416. Marblehead Land Co. v. City of Los Angeles , 47 Fed. 2d 528. Kort v. City of Los Angeles , 52 Cal. App. 2d 804. Acker v. Baldwin , 18 Cal 2d 341. I n re Ruppe , 80 Cal. App. 629. Village of Euclid v. Amber Realty Co. , 272 U.S. 365, 71 L. Ed. 303. Wilkins v. City of San Bernardino , 29 Cal 2d 332.

The right to use private property may be restricted by an ordinance which follows a reasonable plan even though the use is neither a nuisance per se, nor a menace to health, safety or morals in the district from which it is excluded. A retroactive ordinance which causes substantial injury to a business which is not a nuisance would be unreasonable and unjustifiable. People v. Nixon , CR A 2201.

Comprehensive Zoning is a legitimate exercise of the police power and city ordinances prohibiting the production of oil in designated zones are valid if reasonable and not arbitrary.

Beverly Oil Company v. City of Los Angeles , 40 Cal. 2nd 552.

Any zoning regulation is a valid exercise of the police power which is necessary to subserve the ends for which the police power exists, namely, the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. The police power as evidence in zoning ordinances has a much wider scope than the mere oppression of offensive users of property. Such regulations do not constitute a taking of property for which compensations must be made.

Miller v. Board of Public Works . 195 Cal. 482.

It is not a ground of invalidity of a zoning ordinance that a business is lawful, innocent, inoffensive and dignified, for if restrictions on business could be invalidated on that ground there could be no such thing as comprehensive city planning. K ort v. City of Los Angele s, 52 Cal. App. 2nd, 804, 809.

A master plan or some over-all plan contemplated by a city in the development and building up of a subdivision need not be approved and adopted before authority vests in relation to conditions imposed by the city on a subdivider, where a Charter contemplates that portion of the plan may be adopted.

Ayers v. City of Los Angeles , 34 Cal. 2d 31.

(Added by Ord. No. 144,365, Eff. 4/5/73, Oper. 9/1/73.)

The following regulations shall apply to the C1.5 Limited Commercial Zone:

A. Use – No building, structure or land shall be used and no building or structure shall be erected, structurally altered, enlarged or maintained, except for the following uses, and when a “ Supplemental Use District ” is created by the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter, for such uses as may be permitted therein.

1. Any use permitted in the C1 Limited Commercial Zone, provided that all regulations and limitations of said C1 zone are complied with except as provided in this section. Any single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling or apartment house use permitted in the R4 Multiple Dwelling Zone provided that all regulations of said R4 zone are complied with except as provided in this section. (Amended by Ord. No. 156,994, Eff. 9/25/82.)

2. The following stores, shops, services or facilities when conducted in accordance with the limitations hereafter specified:

(a) Types of Uses:

• (1) Addressograph service.

• (2) Air conditioning equipment service.

• (3) Appliance repair, household.

• (4) Aquarium.

• (5) Auditorium having a seating capacity for not more than 3,000 people.

(6) (None)

• (7) Baths, Turkish and the like.

• (8) Blueprinting and photostating.

• (9) Bootblack stand.

• (10) Broadcasting studio, without transmitting towers.

• (11) Building materials, retail.

• (12) Burglar alarm business.

• (13) Collection agency office.

• (14) Department store.

• (15) Employment agency or bureau.

• (16) Exhibits, commercial or cultural.

• (17) Export import business, with not more than 3,000 square feet of storage area.

• (18) Frozen food store.

• (19) Interior decorating store.

• (20) Locksmith shop.

• (21) Mimeographing service.

• (22) Museum (for profit).

• (23) Newsstand.

• (24) Physical culture institution, reducing salon.

• (25) Rubber or metal stamp store.

• (26) Sound score production.

• (27) Studio, except drama, dancing, music, and motion picture.

• (28) Swimming pool, commercial.

• (29) Telephone exchange.

• (30) Theater, and showcase theater. (Amended by Ord. No. 148,910, Eff. 11/17/76.)

• (31) Trading stamp business.

• (32) Typewriter or adding machine repair.

• (b) Limitations. (Amended by Ord. No. 156,924, Eff. 8/23/82.)

• (1) All merchandise shall be sold at retail only;

(2) All merchandise sold shall be new, except merchandise which is sold incidental to the operation of a permitted repair shop; or unless the sale of used merchandise is authorized in an indoor swap meet pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.24 W.42. (Amended by Ord. No. 173,492, Eff. 10/10/00.)

(3) All activities, including storage, with the exception of Outdoor Dining Areas, shall be conducted wholly within an enclosed building. (Amended by Ord. No. 188,073, Eff. 1/31/24.)

(4) All products produced, whether primary or incidental, shall be sold on the premises, and not more than five persons may be engaged in such production or in servicing of materials at the same time.

3. Golf course or club; not including miniature or pitch and putt courses, golf driving tees or ranges, and similar commercial golf uses.

4. Park, playground or recreational or community center, privately operated. (Amended by Ord. No. 145,250, Eff. 12/24/73.)

5. Parking buildings and all buildings containing automobile parking as primary or accessory uses. For the purposes of this section, all references to the “PB” Zone in Section 12.12.1.5 shall be deemed to mean the “C1.5” Zone and the requirements and restrictions applicable to the erection, alteration and maintenance of parking buildings and all buildings containing automobile parking as primary or accessory uses therein shall apply in the “C1.5” Zone. (Amended by Ord. No. 160,273, Eff. 9/16/85.)

6. Signs as permitted in the C1 Zone - Section 12.13 A.2.(b)(4).

7. Other uses similar to the above, as provided for in Section 12.21 A.2.

8. Uses (not involving open storage) customarily incident to any of the above uses, and accessory buildings, when located on the same lot.

9. Automobile parking space as required in Section 12.21 A.4., or as provided in connection with all uses permitted in this zone.

10. The conducting of any game of bingo pursuant to the provisions of Article 4.5 of Chapter IV of this Code. (Added by Ord. No. 153,620, Eff. 5/18/80.)

11. (Deleted by Ord. No. 188,072, Eff. 7/1/24.)

12. (Deleted by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)

13. (Deleted by Ord. No. 171,687, Eff. 8/19/97.)

B. Area – No building or structure nor the enlargement of any building or structure shall be erected or maintained unless the following yards, lot areas and loading spaces are provided and maintained in connection with such building, structure or enlargement.

1. Front Yard. There shall be a front yard of not less than 10 feet in depth.

2. Side and Rear Yards. Same as required in the C1 Zone. (Section 12.13 C.2. and 3.)

3. Lot Area. The lot areas requirements of the R4 Zone (Section 12.11 C.4.) shall apply to all portions of buildings erected and used for residential purposes.

4. Loading Space. As required by Section 12.21 C.6. Exceptions to area regulations are provided for in Section 12.22 C.

5. Minimum Density. A minimum density of one Dwelling Unit or Guest Room, inclusive of Accessory Dwelling Units, for every 2,000 square feet of lot area is required for every Housing Development Project on lots meeting the minimum width and lot area requirements for the zone, prior to any subdivision, except when Section 12.22 C.28. applies. The minimum density calculation shall be rounded up to the nearest unit to ensure the minimum density standard is met. If the minimum lot area per Dwelling Unit or Guest Room for the zone does not allow for construction of the required minimum density, the minimum density shall not apply. (Added by Ord. No. 188,479, Eff. 2/11/25, Oper. 2/11/25.)

ision, except when Section 12.22 C.28. applies. The minimum density calculation shall be rounded up to the nearest unit to ensure the minimum density standard is met. If the minimum lot area per Dwelling Unit or Guest Room for the zone does not allow for construction of the required minimum density, the minimum density shall not apply. (Added by Ord. No. 188,479, Eff. 2/11/25, Oper. 2/11/25.)

C. Restriction. (Amended by Ord. No. 173,268, Eff. 7/1/00, Oper. 7/1/00.) For any lot designated as Public, Quasi-Public, Public/Quasi-Public Use, other Public, or Open Space on the land use map of the applicable community or district plan; any lot shown on the map as having existing lakes, waterways, reservoirs, debris basins, or similar facilities; any lot shown on the map as the location of a freeway right-of-way; and any property annexed to the City of Los Angeles where a plan amendment was not adopted as part of the annexation proceedings:

Any of the uses permitted by Subsection A. of this section shall require prior approval in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.24.1 of this Code.

(Added by Ord. No. 176,343, Eff. 1/20/05.)

The following regulations shall apply in the “LAX” Los Angeles International Airport Specific Plan Zone:

A. Purpose. This section creates a new LAX Zone and the regulations set forth in this section refer to the regulations contained in the LAX Specific Plan.

B. Use. No building, structure or land shall be used and no building or structure shall be erected, structurally altered, enlarged, or maintained, except as permitted by the LAX Specific Plan.

C. Area. No building or structure, nor the enlargement of any building or structure, shall be erected or maintained unless the requirements of the LAX Specific Plan are met and maintained in connection with the building, structure or enlargement.

D. The provisions of this section apply only to properties owned by the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) or which LAWA has the right to possess. Properties not owned by LAWA or which LAWA does not have the right to possess shall only be subject to the LAX Zone regulations if and when LAWA either obtains ownership or the right to possession. Until that time, the property shall retain the zoning in effect at the time this ordinance becomes effective and shall not be subject to the LAX Zone regulations. If and when LAWA does become the owner or obtains the right to possess, the LAX Zone shall immediately become operative for that property.

(Amended by Ord. No. 142,081, Eff. 7/22/71.)

The following regulations shall apply to the SL Ocean Submerged Land Zone:

A. Nature, Scope and Purpose. The Los Angeles City seacoast and off shore water and underwater areas constitute a unique and important geographical and scenic resource, utilized for shipping, industry, commerce,

residence and recreation.

Offshore zoning and incidental districts are a related and appropriate extension of city planning and zoning principles and practices on land. Their basic purpose is to protect all users of affected land from the recognized problems and depreciation brought about by unregulated development. Particular purposes in Los Angeles include (1) protection of the recreational, residential and scenic uses of coast areas, now much in demand for these uses and with greater demand forecast for the future; (2) preservation of the near seaward prospect of residential zones along the coast, where this outlook constitutes part of the environment and value of overlooking onshore properties and (3) provision for such other uses as benefit the public and City without significant impairment of these recreational and residential uses.

To permit new coastline or offshore developments of conflicting type which are not essential to the public interest and could jeopardize or downgrade existing recreational and residential users, would not constitute proper consideration of public necessity, convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice.

To realize the purposes enumerated above, in accordance with established city planning principles, practice and supportive zoning, certain general objectives must be met and certain specific requirements are normally necessary for the constructive control of offshore activities, whether achieved by zone change, variance, special district or otherwise.

1. There must be no chemical and biological contamination, visual clouding or soiling of urban coastline, beaches or offshore waters by industrial/commercial uses.

2. Installations onshore, temporary or relatively permanent, must be of such size, nature, location and spacing that they do not significantly interfere with or adversely affect the residential and recreational use, operation, environment or enjoyment of coastline and offshore areas.

3. The preservation of urban coastline and offshore areas, above and below water level, in the natural state or for recreation and residence, should take precedence if their function and enjoyment are threatened by additional potentially conflicting offshore uses which are not clearly of greater public necessity and interest.

4. Any shoreline industrial/commercial uses should be of limited and designated duration, with provision for complete removal of installations and restoration of the prior or natural state after expiration of the permissible time period, unless such removal and restoration are unnecessary to maintain desirable recreational and residential environment.

5. No industrial/commercial operations should be undertaken where or when they may cause significant alterations to the underlying geologic stability of other areas, offshore and onshore, or otherwise bring about undesirable changes of basic topographical condition.

6. Piers, jetties, causeways, human-made islands, bridges or other connective structures should be prohibited, except when they enhance the recreational/residential environment.

7. Emission of smoke, steam, chemical, odor, sound, artificial light of other form of atmospheric pollutant or environmental impairment from any seaside industrial/commercial installation or facility should be controlled to fulfill the purposes of this zoning.

8. No provision of offshore urban zoning should conflict with state, federal or international rights or control established by law within the same geographical areas.

B. Use. No property of any kind shall be used except for the following uses or when a Supplemental Use District is created by the provisions of Article 3 of this chapter, provided, however, that in no event shall any property be used for surface-type operations (either above or below water level) relating to oil drilling and production of oil, gas or hydrocarbons.

1. Navigation

2. The following uses when conducted in accordance with the limitations hereafter specified:

(a) Types of Uses :

• (1) Commercial Shipping;

• (2) Fishing;

• (3) Recreation;

• (4) Any use required by any trust or legislative grant to the City of Los Angeles.

(b) Limitations. (Amended by Ord. No. 173,492, Eff. 10/10/00.) No piers, jetties, human-made islands, floating installations or the like are permitted in connection with any of the above uses unless authorized under the provisions of Section 12.24 U.

(Amended by Ord. No. 187,712, Eff. 1/23/23, Oper. 1/22/24; Ord. No. 187,930, Eff. 7/7/23.)

See Sec. 13B.9.1. (Coastal Development Permit (Pre-Certification)) of Chapter 1A of this Code.

(Amended by Ord. No. 187,712, Eff. 1/23/23, Oper. 1/22/24; Ord. No. 187,930, Eff. 7/7/23.)

See Sec. 13B.9.2. (Coastal Development Permit (Post-Certification)) of Chapter 1A of this Code.

(Amended by Ord. No. 187,712, Eff. 1/23/23, Oper. 1/22/24; Ord. No. 187,930, Eff. 7/7/23.)

See Div. 13B.8. (Historic Preservation) of Chapter 1A of this Code.