Los Angeles Municipal Code Part 6A Introduction

Div. 6A.1. Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 Sec. 6A.1.1. Relationship to Zone String . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 Sec. 6A.1.2. How to Use Article 6. (Density) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5 Sec. 6A.1.3. Density District Naming Convention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

Div. 6A.2. General Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Sec. 6A.2.1. Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Sec. 6A.2.2. Density Applicability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Sec. 6A.2.3. Relationship to Use Districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Sec. 6A.2.4. Relationship to Public Benefit Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Sec. 6A.2.5. Relationship to Form Districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-8

Article 6. Density | 6-3 Article Publication Update | July 23, 2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 6A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Div. 6A.1. ORIENTATION

A zone string is composed of the following districts, as established in Sec. 1.5.2. (Zoning Map):

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

Density District

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

Sec. 6A.1.1. (Relationship to Zone String) | 6-4 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 6A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

A. Identify the Applicable Density District

The fifth component in a zone string is the Density District for a property.

B. Determine Applicable Density District Standards

1. Density Districts standards are located in Part 6B. (Density Districts). Each Density District identifies the standards specific to that Density District.

2. Each standard in a Density District in Part 6B. (Density Districts) provides a reference to Part 6C. (Density Rules) where the standard is explained in detail. Text in italics below a heading provides a definition of that heading.

Sec. 6A.1.2. (How to Use Article 6. (Density)) | 6-5 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 6A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Density District Example:
Zone String
[LM2-MU2-5] [RG1-4]

Find Your Applied
Part 6B. (Density Districts) Density District

For Illustrative Purposes Only
DIV. 6B.2. LOT AREA-BASED DENSITY DISTRICTS

In FA, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10,
household dwelling units 12,Density15,and20,efficiency25, 30,District40,dwelling50, 60,unitsand DensityNpermittedDensity Districts,on a lot isthelimitedmaximumaccordingdensityto theof
table below. A lot may containCategoryany combination of householdStandarddwelling units and efficiency dwelling
units.

LOT AREA-BASED DENSITY DISTRICTS
Lot Area per Lot Area per
Dwelling Unit Efficiency Dwelling Unit Density District Household
(min SF) (min SF) Link to Sec. 6C.1.2. Sec. 6C.1.3.
FA Limited by floor area Limited by floor area Rules
2 200 100
3 300 150
4 400 200 Specification
for Standard
6 600 300
8 800 400
10 1000 500
12 1200 600
15 1500 750
20 2000 1000
25 2500 1250
30 3000 1500
40 4000 2000
50 5000 2500
60 6000 3000
N Not Permitted Not Permitted

Find Your
Rules Part 6C. (Density Rules)

For Illustrative Purposes Only

The maximum number of efficiency dwelling units allowed on a lot based on lot area.

A. Intent

The intent of regulating the number of efficiency dwelling units based on lot area is to provide a

method that ensures there is a specified maximum ratio of efficiency dwelling units in relation to the size of a lot.

B. Applicability

Lot area per efficiency dwelling unit applies to any project that includes efficiency dwelling units in

a Lot Area-Based Density District.

C. Standards

The number of efficiency dwelling units on a lot shall not exceed the maximum established by the applied Density District in Div. 6B.2. (Lot Area-Based Density Districts).

D. Measurement

1. The maximum number of efficiency dwelling units is calculated by dividing the lot area by

the lot area per efficiency dwelling unit value outlined in Div. 6B.2. (Lot Area-Based Density Districts), and can be provided in conjunction with household dwelling units where permitted, as calculated in Sec. 6C.1.2. (Lot Area per Household Dwelling Unit).

Districts), and can be provided in conjunction with household dwelling units where permitted, as calculated in Sec. 6C.1.2. (Lot Area per Household Dwelling Unit).

a. Lot area that has been committed to the minimum lot area required per efficiency dwelling
unit cannot be counted toward the minimum lot area required for a household dwelling
unit.

b. Example:

i. A 5,000 square-foot lot with a 10 Density District could have five household dwelling
units, or three household dwelling units plus four efficiency dwelling units, or any
combination that does not exceed the maximum number of dwelling units permitted
by the ratios.

ii. If this same lot had five household dwelling units, it would not be able to add any
efficiency dwelling units, as the 5,000 square feet of the lot would have been

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

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 6A.1. (Orientation) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

There are two categories of Density Districts, lot-limited and lot area-based.

A. Lot-Limited Density Districts

Lot-Limited Density District names include a number, which represents the maximum quantity of

household dwelling units allowed on a lot, followed by the letter "L."

B. Lot Area-Based Density Districts

With the exception of the "FA" and "N" Density Districts, Lot Area-Based Density District names are a number that represents how many hundreds of square feet of lot area are required per household dwelling unit or efficiency dwelling unit. The FA Density District is an abbreviation for "Floor Area," indicating that floor area is the only practical limit to density in this district and that the effective minimum lot area per household dwelling unit or efficiency dwelling unit is zero square feet. The N Density District is an abbreviation for "Not Permitted," indicating that no household dwelling units or efficiency dwelling units are allowed in this Density District.

Sec. 6A.1.3. (Density District Naming Convention) | 6-7 Established by Ord. 188,418, Eff. 01/20/2025, Oper. 01/27/2025

[ FORM - FRONTAGE - STANDARDS ] [ USE - DENSITY ] City of Los Angeles Div. 6A.2. (General Rules) Zoning Code Chapter 1A

Div. 6A.2. GENERAL RULES

This Article (Density) establishes Density Districts (Part 6B.), a mechanism that regulates the number of household dwelling units or efficiency dwelling units permitted on any lot, otherwise known as density. Density Districts allow for a wide variety of zoning approaches to housing.

A. General

All projects filed after the effective date of this Zoning Code (Chapter 1A) shall comply with the density standards in this Article (Density), as further specified in the applicability statement of

each Section in Part 6C. (Density 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. Nonconformities

Article 12. (Nonconformities) may provide relief from the requirements of this Article (Density) for existing lots, site improvements, buildings and 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 Density District (Part 6B.) standards unless otherwise specified by Div. 12.7. (Nonconforming Density).

A. When household dwelling units or efficiency dwelling units are permitted by a Use District in Part 5B. (Use Districts), the Density Districts in this Article (Density) establish limits on the number of allowed household dwelling units or efficiency dwelling units.

B. Some Use Districts in Part 5B. (Use Districts) establish additional requirements for household dwelling units and efficiency dwelling units in addition to those in this Article (Density).

Affordable housing incentive programs, outlined in Article 9. (Public Benefit Systems), offer a variety of methods to obtain additional density in excess of the limits established in this Article (Density) and the applied Density District (Part 6B.) in exchange for different affordability levels and types of affordable housing.

Form Districts (Part 2B.) do not directly limit density, but do establish requirements that may result in physical constraints that could impact the number of household dwelling units or efficiency dwelling units that can be accommodated on a lot.

Div. 6A.2. (General Rules) | 6-8 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