Division 3C.3 — LANDSCAPING

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Frontage planting area is defined as the area in a frontage yard designated and designed for plants.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Frontage Planting Area) is to support a comfortable,

attractive, and contextually appropriate streetscape along the public realm, while promoting infiltration, slowing stormwater runoff, and offsetting urban heat island effect.

B. Applicability

Frontage planting area standards apply to new construction, a major remodel, or a site

modifcationi, on any lot possessing yards abutting a frontage lot line.

C. Standards

1. Each frontage yard shall provide a cumulative area at least the size of the planting area

required by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.).

2. All required planting areas shall meet Sec. 4C.6.4.C.2. (Planting Area) .

3. All provided plants shall meet Sec. 4C.6.4. (Plant Design & Installation) .

D. Measurement

1. Frontage planting area is a percentage calculated as the cumulative planting area located in a

frontage yard divided by the total frontage yard area.

2. For frontage yard designation, see Sec. 14.2.16. (Yards) .

3. For a lot affected by a public access easement, see Sec. 14.2.17.B.6.(Frontage Planting Area) .

E. Exceptions

Where there is less than three feet between the building and frontage lot line, planting area

standards are not applicable.

F. Relief

1. Frontage planting area standards may be met through alternative compliance in accordance

with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .

2. Up to a 20 percent reduction to the total required planting area may be granted in accordance

with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

3. A reduction in the required planting area may be granted as a variance in accordance with Sec.

13B.5.3. (Variance) .

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Sec. 3C.3.1. (Frontage Planting Area) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.3. (Landscaping)

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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Frontage yard fence & wall is defined as fences, walls, and hedges that are allowed in a frontage yard.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) is to balance the needs for

human-scale activation and visual interest along the public realm, and to provide security and privacy

for private ground story uses in a manner appropriate to context.

B. Applicability

Frontage yard fence & wall standards apply to a site modifcationi involving construction or

installation of fences, walls, or hedges, in a frontage yard.

C. Standards

1. General

a. Allowed frontage yard fence & wall types are hierarchical. Where a frontage yard fence &

wall type with a higher number designator (e.g. Type A2) is allowed by the applied Frontage

District (Part 3B.), all frontage yard fence & wall types having a lower number designator (e.g.

Type A1) are also allowed.

b. No frontage yard fence & wall type with a greater number designator (e.g. Type A4) than the

allowed frontage yard fence & wall type (e.g. Type A3) may be located in the frontage yard.

c. If a required frontage screen includes a wall or fence, then the required fence or wall shall

be located in the frontage yard if the wall or fence complies with the allowed frontage yard fence & wall standards specified by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

d. All fences and walls including their sub-grade elements, such as footings or foundation, shall

be located on-site.

e. All fences and walls provided shall include the necessary gates or openings to comply

with the applicable pedestrian access package standards in Sec. 4C.1.1. (Pedestrian Access

Packages) .

f. Pools, ponds, and other bodies of water requiring protective barriers according to Chapter

IX. (Building Regulations), Sec. 91.6109. (Swimming Pools and Other Bodies of Water -

Protective Devices Required) of this Code, are only allowed in a frontage yard where the

required protective barrier can be designed to conform with the frontage yard fence & wall standards specified by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.) .

g. All fences and walls provided shall comply with Sec. 4C.7.3. (Fence/Wall Design &

Installation) .

h. All hedges provided shall comply with Sec. 4C.6.4. (Plant Design & Installation) .

i. Fences and walls provided within the frontage yard shall not include barbed wire or

concertina.

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Sec. 3C.3.2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.3. (Landscaping)

2. Frontage Yard Fence & Wall Types

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A package of standards, specified by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B), that applies to fences, walls, and

hedges located in a frontage yard.

a. Type A1

Intended for frontage yards where buildings should engage directly with the public realm to provide visual interest and activation, especially where ground story uses are commercial or non-fenced frontage yards are

Sec. 3C.3.2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

b. Type A2

Intended for frontage yards where the need for visual interest and activation along the public realm shall be balanced with the need for separation between private ground story uses and the public realm.

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.3. (Landscaping)

c. Type A3

Intended for frontage yards where the need for visual interest and activation along the public realm shall be balanced with the need for security between private ground story uses and the public realm.

Sec. 3C.3.2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

d. Type A4

Intended for frontage yards in areas with high pedestrian and automobile traffic, where visual interest and activation along the public realm is less critical than the need to mitigate impacts from the public realm on

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.3. (Landscaping)

e. Type A5

Intended for frontage yards in areas with high pedestrian and automobile traffic, where visual interest and activation along the public realm is less critical than the need to mitigate intrusions from the public realm

Sec. 3C.3.2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.3. (Landscaping)

D. Measurement

1. Frontage Yard

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City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

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For frontage yard designations and their measurement see Sec. 14.2.16. (Yards) .

2. Fence & Wall Height

a. Where a public sidewalk is located within five feet of a wall or fence, height is measured

vertically from the topmost point of the wall or fence to the adjacent public sidewalk.

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Sidewalk

b. Where no sidewalk exists within five feet of a wall or fence, height is measured vertically

from the topmost point of the wall or fence to the finished grade at the base of the wall or

fence on the side that faces outward from the lot.

c. To measure retaining walls see Sec. 4C.9.2. (Retaining Walls) .

d. Fence/wall height maximums listed as "Prohibited" allow no fence or wall within the

frontage yard.

3. Hedge Height

a. Hedge height is measured according to Sec. 4C.6.4.D.11. (Height at Maturity) .

b. Hedge height maximums listed as "Prohibited" allow no hedge within the frontage yard.

4. Opacity

To measure opacity, see Sec. 14.2.13. (Opacity (%)) .

5. Public Access Easement

For a lot with a public access easement, see Sec. 14.2.17.B.7. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) .

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Sec. 3C.3.2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.3. (Landscaping)

E. Exceptions

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Fences and walls located in a frontage yard may integrate outdoor lighting, entry arbors, and other accessory encroaching elements that exceed the maximum fence/wall height specified by the

applicable frontage yard fence & wall type, provided all of the following are met:

1. The cumulative length of fence or wall that includes encroaching elements is no more than 10

percent of the total fence length located in the frontage yard,

2. No individual encroaching element may be wider than six feet, measured along the length of

the fence or wall,

3. One encroaching element for each 40 feet of fence length may exceed the maximum fence

and wall height by up to 40 inches. All other encroaching elements shall only exceed the

maximum fence and wall height up to 18 inches.

F. Relief

1. A deviation up to 15 percent from any allowed frontage yard fence & wall type dimensional

standard may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .

2. A deviation from any allowed frontage yard fence & wall type standard may be granted as a

variance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance) .

Sec. 3C.3.2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

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[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] Div. 3C.4. (Transparency)