Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A Div. 3C.3 Landscap

SEC. 3C.3.1. FRONTAGE PLANTING AREA¶

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

C. Standards

Each frontage yard shall provide a cumulative area at least the size of the planting area required by the applied Frontage District (Part 3B.) .
All required planting areas shall meet Sec. 4C.6.4.C.2. (Planting Area) .
All provided plants shall meet Sec. 4C.6.4. (Plant Design & Installation) .

D. Measurement

Frontage planting area is a percentage calculated as the cumulative planting area located in a frontage yard divided by the total frontage yard area.
For frontage yard designation, see Sec. 14.2.16. (Yards) .
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

Frontage planting area standards may be met through alternative compliance in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.1. (Alternative Compliance) .
Up to a 20 percent reduction to the total required planting area may be granted in accordance with Sec. 13B.5.2. (Adjustment) .
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

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Exceptions & meaning →

SEC. 3C.3.2. FRONTAGE YARD FENCE & WALL¶

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 modification 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) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

D. Measurement

1. Frontage Yard

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

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.

[Figure]

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 (%)) .

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) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

E. Exceptions

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:
- a. 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,
- b. No individual encroaching element may be wider than six feet, measured along the length of the fence or wall,
- c. 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.
Where a required frontage screen or transition screen includes a fence or wall minimum height requirement that exceeds the maximum height allowed in Paragraph 2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall Types) of Subsection C. (Standards) above, the maximum fence and wall height allowed shall instead be the fence and wall height specified by the required applicable screening standards.

F. Relief

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) .
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) .

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Sec. 3C.3.2. (Frontage Yard Fence & Wall) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026

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

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Exceptions & meaning →