Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A Div. 2C.2 Coverage

Building coverage is defined as the percentage of lot area covered by buildings or structures.

A. Intent

the intent of the standards of this Section (Building Coverage) is to preserve open area on a lot by limiting the amount of buildings or structures that may cover a lot.

B. Applicability

Building coverage standards apply to new construction or a major remodel. When building coverage standards apply, the standards apply to all buildings and structures on a lot.

c. Standards

covered structures on a lot shall not have a cumulative area in excess of the maximum building coverage specified by the applied Form District (Part 2B.) .

D. Measurement

1. Building coverage is measured by dividing the cumulative area of the structure footprints of all covered structures on the lot by the lot area.

[Figure]

2. Structure footprints include all building footprints and structure footprints but do not include flatwork.

[Figure]

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Sec. 2C.2.1. (Building Coverage) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USe - DeNSitY ] Div. 2C.2. (Coverage)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

[Figure]

3. For covered structures, see Sec. 14.2.2.A.1. (Covered) .

4. For structure footprint and building footprint determination, see Sec. 14.2.1. (Building Footprint) .

e. Exceptions

1. covered structures or portions of covered structures less than six feet in height, as measured from adjacent finished grade, are not included in the calculation of building coverage.

2. For lots with two or fewer dwelling units, having a House Form District (Div. 2B.3.) applied, a maximum of 400 square feet per lot is exempt from the calculation of building coverage, provided the building or structure is:

   • a. Used for required automobile parking;

   • b. Detached from the primary building or structure by a minimum of 10 feet; and

   • c. located a minimum of 40 feet from a primary street lot line.

[Figure]

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Sec. 2C.2.1. (Building Coverage) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USe - DeNSitY ] Div. 2C.2. (Coverage)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

F. Relief

1. Up to a 20 percent increase to the total allowed area of covered structures on a lot may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

2. increased building coverage may be granted as a variance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

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Sec. 2C.2.1. (Building Coverage) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USe - DeNSitY ] Div. 2C.2. (Coverage)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Building setback is defined as the area on a lot not intended for buildings and structures. Building setbacks include primary street setbacks, side street setbacks, side setbacks, rear setbacks, alley setbacks, and special lot line setbacks.

A. Intent

the intent of the standards of this Section (Building Setbacks) is to provide open areas on the lot and help reduce the impact of buildings or structures on abutting sidewalks and neighboring development.

B. Applicability

Building setback standards apply to new construction or a major remodel. When the building setback standards apply, the standards apply to all buildings and structures on a lot.

c. Standards

All buildings and structures on the lot shall be located on or behind a minimum building setback, except where allowed in Subsection E. (Exceptions) below.

D. Measurement

All building setbacks are measured perpendicular to the applicable lot line:

[Figure]

1. A primary street setback is measured from the primary street lot line.

2. A side street setback is measured from the side street lot line.

3. A side setback is measured from the side lot line.

4. A rear setback is measured from the rear lot line.

5. An alley setback is measured from the alley lot line.

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Sec. 2C.2.2. (Building Setbacks) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

[ FORM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USe - DeNSitY ] Div. 2C.2. (Coverage)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

6. A special setback is measured from the special lot line.

   • a. Where a special setback is specified by the applied Form District (Part 2B.) as "Special: All", the setback is measured from all special lot lines.

   • b. Where a special setback is specified by the applied Form District (Part 2B.) as "Special: river" or "Special: Alley", the setback is measured from the special lot line as designated according to Sec. 14.2.12.C.3. (Special Lot Line) .

   • c. Where a special setback is specified by the applied Form District (Part 2B.) as "Special: Other", the setback is measured from all special lot lines that are not otherwise specified.

7. Where an interior setback is specified, the setback is applied only to a lot within a unified development and shall be measured from any abutting lot within the same unified development. Where a lot within a unified development shares a lot line with a property outside of the unified development, the standard setback requirement applies.

8. For measurement on portions of a lot required for dedication of land, see Sec. 14.2.11. (Lot) .

9. For measurement on a lot affected by a public access easement, see Sec. 14.2.17.B.1. (Building Setback) .

e. Exceptions

1. the following are allowed to encroach beyond the building setback up to the minimum distance from the lot line specified below:

Sec. 2C.2.2. (Building Setbacks) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

[ FORM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USe - DeNSitY ] Div. 2C.2. (Coverage)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

2. For existing nonconforming building exceptions, see Sec. 12.2.1. (Coverage Exceptions) .

3. Modifications to existing structures may encroach beyond the limitations specified in the Horizontal encroachments Allowed into Setbacks table, pursuant to Paragraph 1. above, only where such limitations conflict with california State Accessibility Standards or Fire code. When greater encroachments are necessary, the horizontal encroachment shall extend the minimum amount necessary to achieve compliance.

4. Motor vehicle use areas and charging equipment that facilitates the charging of electric vehicles in electric vehicle parking stalls and any required use standards of the applied Use District (Part 5B.) for electric vehicle charging facilities and carports integrated with electric vehicle charging facilities are allowed to encroach into the required building setback but in no case shall encroach into the required Frontage and transition screen.

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Sec. 2C.2.2. (Building Setbacks) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

[ FORM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USe - DeNSitY ] Div. 2C.2. (Coverage)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

F. Relief

1. A deviation from a required setback along a special lot line that abuts a public right-of-way or public open space may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) . in addition to the finding otherwise required by Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) , the Director shall also consider:

   • a. that the granting of the application will improve a site's connection with the public right- of-way or public open space.

   • b. Where a deviation from a required setback from a special river lot line is granted, the application will improve a site’s connection with the river or will improve river access.

2. A reduction in required setback of 20 percent or less may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) , provided the resulting setback is at least three feet.

3. A setback reduction may be granted as a variance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

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Sec. 2C.2.2. (Building Setbacks) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

[ FORM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USe - DeNSitY ] Div. 2C.3. (Amenity)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A