Los Angeles Municipal Code Part 2A Introduction

Div. 2A.1. Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 Sec. 2A.1.1. Relationship to Zone String . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 Sec. 2A.1.2. How to Use Article 2. (Form) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 Sec. 2A.1.3. Form District Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7 Sec. 2A.1.4. Form District Naming Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

Div. 2A.2. General Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-12
Sec. 2A.2.1. Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Sec. 2A.2.2. Form Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13

Article 2. Form | 2-3 Article Publication Update | July 23, 2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Div. 2A.1. ORIENTATION

A zone string is composed of the following districts:

[ FORM- FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ]

Form District

The Form District is a separate and independent component of each zone.

Sec. 2A.1.1. (Relationship to Zone String) | 2-4 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A. Identify the Applicable Form District

The first component in a zone string is the Form District applied to a property.

B. Determine Applicable Form District Standards

1. Form Districts standards are outlined in Part 2B. (Form Districts). Each Form District page identifies the standards specific to that Form District.

2. Each standard on a Form District page in Part 2B. (Form Districts) provides a reference to Part 2C. (Form Rules) where the standard is explained in detail. Text in italics below a heading provides a definition of that heading.

Sec. 2A.1.2. (How to Use Article 2. (Form)) | 2-5 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Form District Example:
Zone String
[ LM2-MU2-5] [RG1-FA]

Find Your Applied
Form District Part 2B. (Form Districts)

For Illustrative Purposes Only

A. Lot Parameters B. Bulk and Mass

Alley

Alley

Primary Primary
Form RuleStreet Specification Street
Category for Standard

Form 1.A LOTLot SIZEarea (min) Div.2,5002C.1.sf 1. FARFloor& HEIGHTarea ratio (FAR) Div. 2C.4.
Standard
B Lot width (min) 25' Base (max) 1.5
2. COVERAGE Div. 2C.2. Bonus (max) 3.0
Label on C Building coverage (max) 90% Height in stories
Graphic Building setbacks A Base (max) 3
D Primary street (min) 0' B Bonus (max) 6
Side street (min) 0' 2. BUILDING MASS Div. 2C.5.
No Label E Side (min) 0' C Building width (max) 100'
on Graphic Rear (min) 0' Building break (min) 15'
F Alley (min) 0' 3. UPPER-STORY BULK Div. 2C.6.
Special: All (min) 0' LinkNot applicableto
3. AMENITY Div. 2C.3. Rules
G Lot amenity space (min) 25%
Residential amenity space (min) None Standard
Not Applicable

Find Your Rules
Part 2C. (Form Rules) Form Rule
Category
For Illustrative Purposes Only

DIV. 2C.5. BUILDING MASS Form SEC. 2C.5.1. BUILDING WIDTH Standard Building width is defined as the horizontal dimension of any building or collection of abutting buildings on a lot.

A. Intent

The intent of the standards of this Section (Building Width) is to promote fine-grained patterns of development and prevent long buildings that are significantly out of context with traditional patterns by breaking wide buildings into multiple, clearly distinguished building widths, and to encourage larger projects to provide open space for pedestrians and recreation.

B. Applicability

Building width standards apply to new construction or an exterior modification of any frontage lot line-facing buildings or structures. When the building width standards apply, the standards only

apply to those portions of a building or structure located above the ground floor elevation.

C. Standards

1. No applicable building or collection of abutting buildings located on the same lot shall be

wider than the maximum building width specified by the applied Form District (Part 2B.).

2. In order to establish buildings on the same lot as separate buildings for the purpose of

measuring maximum building width, a building break shall be provided between the buildings.

2. In order to establish buildings on the same lot as separate buildings for the purpose of measuring maximum building width, a building break shall be provided between the buildings. 3. Buildings that are located on separate lots, share no interior circulation, and are structurally independent, are considered separate buildings for the purpose of measuring building width. 4. A building on a corner lot within the build-to zone area of overlap is allowed to exceed the maximum building width by up to 40 feet along both primary street lot lines and side street lot lines.

Sec. 2A.1.2. (How to Use Article 2. (Form)) | 2-6 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A. General

Diagrams and illustrations within this Article (Form) are provided to assist users in understanding
the intent and requirements of the text. In the event a conflict occurs between the text of this
Article (Form) and any illustration or graphic, the text prevails.

B. Lot Parameter Diagrams

Lot Boundary

Buildable Area
Primary Building Coverage
Street
Lot Amenity Space

Building Setbacks

1. Lot Boundary

This line represents the perimeter of the subject lot, serving as a reference for both lot area
and lot width.

2. Buildable Area

This shape represents the area on a lot where buildings are allowed, reduced by required
building setbacks, or the lot boundary when no setback is required.

3. Building Setbacks

The area between a lot boundary and the minimum required setback, represented with a
dotted white line and bounded by the buildable area.

4. Building Coverage

This shape represents the total building coverage allowed in proportion to the lot area, but
does not reflect any requirement as to the location or configuration of any buildings or
structures.

5. Lot Amenity Space

This shape represents the total lot amenity space required in proportion to the lot area, but
does not reflect any requirement as to the location or configuration of any amenity space.

Sec. 2A.1.3. (Form District Diagrams) | 2-7 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

C. Bulk and Mass Diagrams

1. General

a. Bulk and mass diagrams represent the volume where a building is allowed to be located by
showing the maximum height allowed for the entire buildable area. The volume does not
represent the massing of an allowed building. Other standards, such as maximum building
coverage and floor area ratio (FAR), may limit the ability for a building to fill the full volume.

b. Form Districts (Part 2B.) that include a maximum height standard and those that do not
include a height limit are represented differently in the bulk and mass diagram.

2. Districts with a Maximum Height Standard

Alley

Maximum Bonus Height

Maximum Base Height

Primary
Street Minimum Height
(not shown)

a. Maximum Bonus Height

Maximum bonus height represents the maximum number of stories allowed beyond the
number of stories allowed by the maximum base height in stories.

b. Maximum Base Height

Maximum base height represents the number of stories allowed without providing public
benefits in trade for additional height according to Article 9. (Public Benefit Systems).

c. Minimum Height

Minimum height represents the lowest number of stories required.

Sec. 2A.1.3. (Form District Diagrams) | 2-8 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

3. Districts with no Maximum Height Standard

Alley

Maximum Bonus Height

Maximum Base Height

Primary
Street Minimum Height
(not shown)

a. Unlimited Height

This volume represents the building height allowed, in addition to the likely height of the
building based on maximum Base FAR.

b. Likely Height Based on Bonus FAR

This volume represents the likely building height based on the maximum allowed bonus
FAR, in addition to the likely height of the building based on maximum base FAR.

c. Likely Height Based on Base FAR

This volume represents the likely building height based on the maximum allowed base FAR, in addition to the minimum required height of the building.

d. Minimum Height

This volume represents the minimum number of stories required.

Sec. 2A.1.3. (Form District Diagrams) | 2-9 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

There are three different types of naming conventions for Form Districts (Part 2B.). Each Form District name is composed of a variety of components that are specific to that district.

A. Rural & Estate Form Districts

[Reserved]

B. House Form Districts

[Reserved]

C. All Other Form Districts

All other Form District names are composed of three components:

1. FAR Category

The first component of each Form District name is a floor area ratio (FAR) category. FAR categories group all districts within a range of maximum allowed FAR. FAR categories are organized as follows:

a. Very Low-Rise (>0.65-1.5 FAR)

b. Low-Rise (>1.5-4.0 FAR)

c. Mid-Rise (>4.0-6.0 FAR)

d. Moderate-Rise (>6.0-8.5 FAR)

e. High-Rise (>8.5-13.0 FAR)

2. Building Width Category

The second component of each Form District name is a building width category. Building width categories group all districts within a range of maximum allowed building width. Each building width category is organized as follows:

a. Narrow (25 feet - 75 feet)

b. Medium (100 feet - 210 feet)

c. Broad (280 feet - 490 feet)

d. Full (no building width maximum)

3. Variation Number

The last component of each Form District is a variation number. All Form Districts are numbered in the order they fall within this Article (Form).

Sec. 2A.1.4. (Form District Naming Convention) | 2-10 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

4. Example Form District

Potential Form District categories are shown below to illustrate the naming convention that
would be applied to new Form Districts that may be added to this Article (Form) through future
code amendments.

VARIATION #
Low-Rise Medium 2 (LM2)

FAR BUILDING WIDTH

NARROW MEDIUM BROAD FULL
25’-75’ 100’-210’ 280’-490’ N/A

VERY LOW

Potential Form District Category Form District Category

Sec. 2A.1.4. (Form District Naming Convention) | 2-11 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.2. (General Rules) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Div. 2A.2. GENERAL RULES

This Article (Form) regulates the placement, scale, and intensity of buildings and structures on a lot in order to ensure building forms are compatible with their context and promote projects that support community goals.

Sec. 2A.2.1. (Form) | 2-12 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 2A.2. (General Rules) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A. General

All projects filed after the effective date of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A) shall comply with the

Form District standards in this Article (Form), as further specified in the applicability statement of each Section in Part 2C. (Form Rules). Form District standards only apply to the project activities listed in each Section's applicability statement in Part 2C. (Form Rules). For vested rights, see Sec. 1.4.5. (Vested Rights), and for continuance of existing development, see Sec. 1.4.6. (Continuance of Existing Development).

B. Applicable Components of Lots, Buildings, & Structures

Unless otherwise provided, Form District (Part 2B.) standards apply to all portions of a lot and all buildings and structures on a lot.

C. Nonconformities

Article 12. (Nonconformities) may provide relief from the requirements of this Article (Form) for existing lots, site improvements, buildings, structures, and uses that conformed to the zoning regulations, at the time they were established, but do not conform to current district standards or use permissions. All project activities shall conform with Form District (Part 2B.) standards unless otherwise specified by Div. 12.2. (Form Exceptions).

Sec. 2A.2.2. (Form Applicability) | 2-13 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Contents Zoning Code Chapter 1A