Article 5 — USE›Part 5A — INTRODUCTION
Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A Div. 5A.1 Orientation
Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A · 2026-08 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Los Angeles
Cite as: Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A § 5A.1 · Text as of 2026-10-04
Sec. 5A.1.1. RELATIONSHIP TO ZONE STRING¶
A zone string is composed of the following Districts:
[ FORM- FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ]
Use District
the Use District is a separate and independent component of each zone.
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Sec. 5A.1.1. (Relationship to Zone String) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
[ FOrM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USE - DeNSitY ] Div. 5A.1. (Orientation)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
Sec. 5A.1.2. HOW TO USE ARTICLE 5. (USE)¶
A. Identify the Applicable Use District
the fourth component in a zone string identifies the Use District applied to a property.
B. Determine What Uses are Permitted
1. Reference the Use District Table
the Use District table in Part 5B. (Use Districts) identifies the uses permitted in a district, as well as their standards and limitations. the Use District table is organized into four columns. the first column, titled "Use", lists the use, to which a permission level and applicable standards, if any, are assigned in the subsequent table columns to the right. the second column, titled "Permission", lists the permission level applied to the use. the third column, titled "Use Standard" includes any applicable standards regulating the use, and the fourth column, titled "Specification", includes additional specifications establishing the parameters or details for the applicable standards.
2. Reference the Use Permissions
Permission levels are outlined in Div. 5A.3. (Use Permissions) , and a key is also included in the footer of each page of the Use District table for each Use District.
3. Reference the Use Definitions
refer to Part 5D. (Use Definitions) to confirm the definition of any use listed in each Use District. text in italics below a heading provides a definition of that heading.
c. Identify Use District Rules
1. Overview
Use District rules are outlined in Part 5C. (Use Rules) . the use standard column in each Use District page identifies the applicable rules, if any, specific to each use within that Use District. the specification column identifies the details, such as the Zoning code Section, or parameters for the applicable general use standard, supplemental use standard, supplemental use finding, or special use program, if any. General use standards are provided in Sec. 5C.1. (General Use Standards) , supplemental use standards and findings are provided in Sec. 5C.2. (Supplemental Use Standards, Procedures & Findings) , and special use programs are provided in Sec. 5C.3. (Special Use Programs) .
2. Use Category Standards
Some general use standards apply to the majority of uses within a use category. When this is the case, the general use standards are listed in the row immediately below the use category heading. Whenever these use category standards are applicable to a specific use, the use district table will indicate that the general use category standards apply.
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Sec. 5A.1.2. (How to Use Article 5. (Use)) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026
[ FOrM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USE - DeNSitY ] Div. 5A.1. (Orientation)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
3. Use Standard Applicability
if the use standard column reads "Use standard applicability" this means the following general use standards only apply if the specification criteria indented under “Use standard applicability” is met. For example; seeing "Adjoining lot" indented under “Use standard applicability” in the use standard column and "Sensitive use" listed in the specification column, means the general use standards listed below “Use standard applicability” only apply when the subject lot adjoins a lot with a sensitive use.
4. General Use Standards
every general use standard on a Use District page in Part 5B. (Use Districts) corresponds with a Section in Div. 5C.1. (General Use Standards) , where the use standard is explained in detail.
5. Special Use Program
every Special Use Program on a Use District page in Part 5B. (Use Districts) corresponds with a Section in Div. 5C.3. (Special Use Programs) , where the Special Use Program is explained in detail.
6. Supplemental Standards
the Use District table identifies required supplemental standards, if any. the required supplemental standards for a use are established in Div. 5C.2. (Supplemental Use Standards, Procedures, & Findings) .
7. Supplemental Findings
the Use District table identifies required supplemental findings, if any. the required supplemental findings for a use are established in Div. 5C.2. (Supplemental Use Standards, Procedures, & Findings) .
8. Relief From Use Standard
When “relief” is provided within the standard column in the Use District table and indented, the specified relief option is from the standard(s) shown indented directly above the word "relief." Where multiple standards are shown indented, relief is available for each of those standards. When “relief” is provided within the standard column and is not indented, the specified relief option applies to all use standards above it. relief from a general use standard in Div. 5C.1. (General Use Standards) may also be allowed if a relief process is indicated in the relief subsection of the standard.
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Sec. 5A.1.2. (How to Use Article 5. (Use)) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026
[ FOrM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USE - DeNSitY ] Div. 5A.1. (Orientation)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
Use District Example:
Zone String
- [ LLM2-MU2-5 ] [ RG1 FA ]
Part 5B. (Use Districts)
[Figure]
[Figure]
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Sec. 5A.1.2. (How to Use Article 5. (Use)) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026
[ FOrM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USE - DeNSitY ] Div. 5A.1. (Orientation)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
Use District Example:
[Figure]
[Figure]
[Figure]
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Sec. 5A.1.2. (How to Use Article 5. (Use)) Last amended by Ord. 189,007, Eff. 08/20/2026
[ FOrM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USE - DeNSitY ] Div. 5A.1. (Orientation)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
Sec. 5A.1.3. USE DISTRICT NAMING CONVENTION¶
All Use District names are comprised of two components: a use category and a variation number.
A. Use District Category
the first component of each Use District name is a use category. A use category groups all districts with similar characteristics. the use categories are organized as follows:
Open Space (OS)
Agricultural (A)
residential (rG)
residential-Mixed (rX)
commercial-Mixed (cX)
industrial-Mixed (iX)
industrial (i)
Public (P)
B. Variation Number
the last component of each Use District name is a variation number. All Use Districts are numbered in the order they fall within this Article (Use) .
VARIATION
Residential 1 (RG1)
USE DISTRICT CATEGORY
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Sec. 5A.1.3. (Use District Naming Convention) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025
[ FOrM - FrONtAGe - StANDArDS ] [ USE - DeNSitY ] Div. 5A.2. (General Rules)
City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A
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