Skip to content

Part 7c — ALTERNATE TYPOLOGY RULES›Article 12 — NONCONFORMITIES

§ 12.3

Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A · 2026-08 edition · updated 2026-09-09 · Los Angeles

Sec. 12.3.1. BUILD-TO EXCEPTIONS

  • A. On a lot with an existing building where the lot is nonconforming as to the maximum build-to depth or minimum build-to width requirements, any new construction shall meet the minimum build-to width between the minimum and maximum build-to depth in one or more of the ways described below.

    1. New Construction on an Interior Lot

All new construction shall occupy the build-to zone until the build-to width has been met, except that buildings may be developed in phases - each new building is not required to meet the entire required build-to width for the lot. Until all build-to width standards have been met, new buildings shall occupy the build-to width for 100 percent of their building width and may not be deeper than they are wide.

Existing Building
New Building
StreetBuild-to Zone Build-to Width (%)
Street
ZoneBuild-to
Build-to Width (%) Build-to Width (%)
Street Street
ZoneBuild-to ZoneBuild-to

| 12-13

Sec. 12.3.1. (Build-To Exceptions) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

Nonconformities | Article 12 Div. 12.3. (Frontage Exceptions)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

2. New Construction on a Corner Lot

All new construction shall occupy the build-to depth until the build-to width for both streets has been met, except that buildings may be developed in phases - each new building is not required to meet the entire required build-to width for the lot. the initial new building shall begin at the corner and be located within the build-to depth on both streets. Additional new buildings may be placed anywhere within the build-to zone.

Existing Building
New Building
Build-to Build-to
Build-to Zone Build-to Zone
Zone Zone
Primary StreetBuild-to Width (%) Build-toWidth (%) Side Street Primary StreetBuild-to Width (%) Build-toWidth (%) Side Street
Build-to
Build-to Build-to Zone
Build-to Zone Zone
Zone
Build-to W
Primary Street idth (%) Build-to Side Street
Primary StreetBuild-to Width (%) Build-to Side Street Width (%)
Width (%)

| 12-14

Sec. 12.3.1. (Build-To Exceptions) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

Nonconformities | Article 12 Div. 12.3. (Frontage Exceptions)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

3. Additions on an Interior Lot

  • a. Any addition to the street-facing facade of a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width shall occupy the build-to depth, except that the addition does not have to meet the entire required build-to width for the lot.

  • b. Additions of any size that extend a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width between the existing building and the rear lot line are allowed.

  • c. Additions that extend a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width between the existing building and the side lot line are allowed, except that they shall have a foor area less than 20 percent of the existing ground story.

  • d. Additions on top of a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width are allowed, except that they shall not increase the existing building footprint by more than 50 square feet and shall not exceed the height limit for the applied zone.

Existing Building
New Addition
Build-to Width (%) Build-to Width (%)
Street Street
ZoneBuild-to ZoneBuild-to
Build-to Width (%)
Street Build-to Width (%)
ZoneBuild-to Street
ZoneBuild-to

| 12-15

Sec. 12.3.1. (Build-To Exceptions) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

Nonconformities | Article 12 Div. 12.3. (Frontage Exceptions)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

4. Additions on a Corner Lot

  • a. Any addition to the primary street-facing facade of a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width shall be located within the build-to depth on the primary street, except that the addition does not have to meet the minimum build-to width for the entire lot.

  • b. Additions of any size that extend a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width between the existing building and the rear lot line (but not any wider than the existing building) and are located behind the build-to depth, are allowed, except that:

    • i. A planting area shall be provided as required in Sec. 4C.6.4.C.2. (Planting Areas) , at least six feet wide, abutting the side street lot line, and installed across the entire length of the side street frontage where no building occupies the build-to zone. Breaks for pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular access are allowed.

    • ii. the planting area with large species trees, shall be provided as required in Sec. 4C.6.4.C.3.a. (Trees) , planted at a rate of one tree per 30 feet along the entire length of the planting area. trees should be planted offset from street trees to maximize space for canopy growth.

Existing Building
New Addition
Additions that extend a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or s that extend a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or nonconforming as to build-to depth or as to build-to depth or build-to depth or -to depth or to depth or or build-to
between the existing building and the side lot line are allowed, except that the building and the side lot line are allowed, except that the and the side lot line are allowed, except that the side lot line are allowed, except that the are allowed, except that the foor
shall be no greater than 20 percent of the existing ground story. ground story. .
Existing Building
New Addition
Build-to
Build-to Zone
Zone
Build-to W
Primary Street idth (%) Build-toWidth (%) Side Street
Build-to
Build-to Zone
Zone
Primary StreetBuild-to Width (%) Build-toWidth (%) Side Street

  • c. Additions that extend a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or s that extend a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or nonconforming as to build-to depth or as to build-to depth or build-to depth or -to depth or to depth or or build-to width between the existing building and the side lot line are allowed, except that the building and the side lot line are allowed, except that the and the side lot line are allowed, except that the side lot line are allowed, except that the are allowed, except that the foor area shall be no greater than 20 percent of the existing ground story. ground story. .

| 12-16

Sec. 12.3.1. (Build-To Exceptions) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

Nonconformities | Article 12 Div. 12.3. (Frontage Exceptions)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

  • d. Additions on top of a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width are allowed, except that they shall not increase the existing building footprint by more than 50 square feet.

  • B. Additions to any street-facing facade of a building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width are allowed behind the build-to depth, except that they shall not exceed 10 percent of the ground story area of the existing building.

  • C. On lots with an existing building that is nonconforming as to build-to depth or build-to width, except where the existing building is a residential building where new construction of additional dwelling units that are detached from the existing building are located in a rear yard, the build-to depth and build-to width requirements do not apply.

| 12-17

Sec. 12.3.1. (Build-To Exceptions) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

Nonconformities | Article 12 Div. 12.3. (Frontage Exceptions)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Sec. 12.3.2. CHARACTER FRONTAGE EXCEPTIONS

[reserved]

| 12-18

Sec. 12.3.2. (Character Frontage Exceptions) Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

Nonconformities | Article 12 Div. 12.4. (Development Standards Exceptions)

City of Los Angeles Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Div. 12.4. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS EXCEPTIONS

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Export this section
▸Contents — Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A
Los Angeles Zoning Code — LAMC Chapter 1A
  1. Article 1 — INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
  2. Article 2 — FORM
  3. Part 2B — (Form Districts)
  4. Part 3B — (Frontage Districts) (Frontage Districts)
  5. Part 3C — (General Frontage Rules)
  6. Part 3B — (Frontage Districts)
  7. Part 3D — (Character Frontage Rules) (Character Frontage Rules)
  8. Part 3C — GENERAL FRONTAGE RULES
  9. Part 3D — CHARACTER FRONTAGE RULES
  10. Part 4B — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS DISTRICTS
  11. Part 4c — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS RULES
  12. Part 5B — (Use Districts)
  13. Part 6B — (Density Districts) (Density Districts)
  14. Part 6C — (Density Rules)
  15. ▸Part 7c — ALTERNATE TYPOLOGY RULES
    Overview
    1. Article 8 — SUPPLEMENTAL & SPECIAL ZONING
    2. Article 9 — PUBLIC BENEFIT SYSTEMS
    3. Article 10 — STREETS & PARKS
    4. Article 11 — DIVISION OF LAND
    5. ▸Article 12 — NONCONFORMITIES
      Overview
      1. § 12.1
      2. § 12.2
      3. § 12.3
      4. § 12.4
      5. § 12.5
      6. § 12.7
      7. § 12.8
    6. Article 13 — ADMINISTRATION
  16. Part 13B — PROCESSES & PROCEDURES

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.