Chapter 17.05 — RESIDENTIAL ZONES

Article I

R-1 Zone, Single-Family Residential Zone

In an R-1 zone, no building shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, or structurally altered, nor shall any building or land be used except as is herein after specifically provided and allowed by this article; except, that all residential development in new subdivisions of five or more lots and any single-family dwelling on a substandard size lot or parcel shall be subject to provisions of Section 17.02.205, governing precise development plans.

In an R-1 zone, the following uses are permitted:

• A. One single-family dwelling, except as provided in Section 17.02.230 (Plot plans), of a permanent character placed in a permanent location.

• B. Accessory buildings and structures pursuant to the requirements of Section 17.04.205.

• C. The renting of not more than two rooms without kitchens to not more than four roomers, or the providing of table board to not more than four boarders, or both, but not to exceed four roomers and boarders in any combination thereof, for a period greater than 30 consecutive calendar days.

• D. Parking as specified by Chapter 17.03, Article II and Section 17.01.300.

• E. Signs as specified by Chapter 17.03, Article III.

• F. Such animals as are permitted under the provisions of Section 17.04.200, and other regulatory provisions of this code, subject to the conditions provided in such sections.

• G. One trailer used as the residence of the owner and his or her family during construction by such owner of a permanent residence upon the premises, but only while a building permit for the construction of such residence is in full force and effect and in no event for longer than one six-month period.

• H. One temporary real estate tract office.

• I. The following, subject to the issuance, existence and validity of a conditional use permit as provided for in Section 17.02.210, and full compliance with each and every condition thereof:

  1. Schools;

  2. Publicly owned parks and playgrounds;

  3. Public utilities and public service uses or structures;

  4. Churches;

  5. Such other uses as are set forth in Chapter 17.04, Article XVIII, upon the conditions therein provided;

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City of Norwalk, CA

ZONING

§ 17.05.010

§ 17.05.010

6. Building utilization of side and rear yards for specifically designed properties and developments where permanent control of both sides of an existing or proposed lot line is provided;

7. Occasional commercial events as determined by the Planning Commission and set forth in the permit at privately owned properties designated as historically significant, subject to the requirements of subsection N of this section.

8. Group homes, as defined in Section 17.01.060, with seven or more residents.

• J. Home occupations, when conducted in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.02.150, and when a permit therefor, containing any conditions deemed necessary to insure compliance with the requirements of this title, and with its purposes and intents, has been issued by the Planning Division; provided, however, that any occupation may be excluded from certain or all districts, or portions thereof, if determined by the Planning Commission to be incompatible with neighboring residential uses.

• K. Yard sales and community yard sales, pursuant to the requirements of Section 17.02.201.

• L. An accessory dwelling unit pursuant to the requirements of Section 17.04.210.

• M. Occasional commercial events at privately owned properties designated as historically significant subject to compliance with all of the following requirements:

  1. The subject property must be listed on the National Register of Historical Places or the State Registry of Historical Sites and must be privately owned.

  2. The conditional use permit shall be reviewed at the end of the first year. The Planning Commission may revoke the permit at any time if it finds that the conduct of the commercial events violates any conditions of approval or the performance standards of this chapter.

  3. Parking requirements for the residential and commercial uses shall be met on-site in the rear or side yards. Parking spaces will not be permitted in the front yards or street side of a corner lot. Other parking arrangements utilizing shuttle service or reciprocal parking agreements are encouraged.

  4. Exterior lighting, where used, shall be visually screened and shall not spill over onto adjacent properties or the public right-of-way.

  5. The hours of operation shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Event set-up may commence at 6:00 a.m. but no activity shall occur past 10:00 p.m.

  6. The commercial uses shall be a minimum traffic generator and uses that generate significant volumes of service deliveries will be prohibited.

  7. The noise levels generated by the operation of such activities shall not exceed 45 dBA on adjoining properties zoned or used for residential purposes.

  8. Litter and trash receptacles shall be located at convenient locations and emptied frequently.

  9. Signage shall be compatible with the existing structure in material and form. Such signage shall be removed during the period between the occasional commercial

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City of Norwalk, CA § 17.05.010

NORWALK CODE

§ 17.05.030

events. Signage shall be restricted to identification and instructional signs; no advertising or signage for other uses shall be permitted. All signage requires a sign permit and must meet sign regulations per Chapter 17.03, Article III of the Norwalk Municipal Code.

10. All modifications to the architectural integrity and character of the subject property must conform to the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

11. Prior to each commercial event, the applicant shall submit to the department a site plan for approval showing parking, anticipated traffic generation, lighting, event setup areas and such other information as the Director deems appropriate.

12. Occasional commercial events shall not be for more than three consecutive days. Extensions may be granted by the Director upon written request.

13. Should increased law enforcement be required in the opinion of the Public Safety Coordinator for any commercial event it shall be provided by the applicant at the applicant's expense.

14. Any use which engages in the provision of alcoholic beverages, including beer and/or wine, for on premises consumption shall comply with the appropriate State Alcoholic Beverage Control licensing requirements. No off-premises consumption is allowed. The use of alcoholic beverages shall be incidental to the commercial event.

15. A business license shall be required for the commercial events.

• N. Employee housing.

• O. Supportive housing.

• P. Transitional housing.

Q. Group homes, as defined in Section 17.01.060, with six or fewer residents. (Prior code § 27-5.1; Ord. 1452 § 1; Ord. 1540 §§ 2, 7, 2003; Ord. 09-1617 § 2; Ord. 09-1618 § 3; Ord. 14-1657 § 2; Ord. 18-1701 §§ 5, 7, 8; Ord. 21-1722 § 2; Ord. 23-1746, 12/5/2023; Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025; Ord. 25-1764, 12/16/2025; Ord. 25-1764, 12/16/2025)

• A. No primary building or structure in an R-1 zone shall exceed two stories or 30 feet in height, whichever is the lesser, except that non-dwelling structures which require greater height for functional purposes, such as structures for the housing of tanks, ventilating fans, church spires or similar features may exceed such height, as provided by Section 17.03.230.

• B. The maximum allowable top plate height shall be 14 feet for the first story and 24 feet for the second story.

(Prior code § 27-5.2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2; Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

• A. Every lot and every parcel in an R-1 zone shall have a front yard of not less than 20% of the lot depth, but such front yard need not exceed 20 feet for the first story. The second

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City of Norwalk, CA

ZONING

§ 17.05.030

§ 17.05.050

story shall be setback an additional five feet from the first story.

• B. Front yards shall be landscaped as required by Section 17.03.010 (Prior code § 27-5.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2; Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

Every lot and every parcel in an R-1 zone shall have side yards as follows:

• A. Interior lots or parcels and corner lots or parcels shall have a side yard on each side of the lot or parcel of not less than five feet in width for the first story and 10 feet in width for the second story.

• B. Reversed corner lots or parcels shall have the following side yards:

  1. On the interior side of a reversed corner lot or parcel, the side lot line of which adjoins another lot or parcel, there shall be a side yard of not less than five feet in width for the first story and 10 feet for the second story.

  2. On the street side of a reversed corner lot or parcel, there shall be a first story side yard with a width of not less than 50% of the front yard required on the lot abutting the rear of such reversed corner lot or parcel, and no detached building on such reversed corner lot or parcel shall project closer to the street line than the rear line of the required front yard of the lot abutting the rear of such reversed corner lot or parcel. The second story shall be setback an additional five feet from the first story.

• C. Side yards abutting streets shall be landscaped as required by Section 17.03.010. (Prior code § 27-5.4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2; Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

• A. Every lot and every parcel in an R-1 zone shall have a rear yard with a depth not less than 20% of the depth of such parcel or lot, provided that such rear yard depth need not exceed 20 feet.

• B. An accessory building or structure constructed in the required rear yard, provided that an open space, equal in area to 50% of the area of the required rear yard or 500 square feet, whichever is less, and meeting the requirements herein specified, is maintained in the rear one-half of the lot (measured along the side property lines), and in any portion of the lot more than 50 feet distant from the front lot line. Such open space shall:

  1. Be contiguous, i.e., not separated;

  2. Have no linear dimension at any point of less than 10 feet; and

  3. Be located on the same lot.

Swimming pools, outdoor recreational ramps, patios, pergolas, and similar type structures not enclosed on more than two sides with permanent construction and materials may be located within the open space area.

• C. Building utilization of required rear yards is permitted, if approved by conditional use permit, for specifically designed properties and developments where permanent control of both sides of an existing or proposed lot line is provided.

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City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 17.05.050

§ 17.05.070

(Prior code § 27-5.5; Ord. 09-1618 § 4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2; Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

The minimum distance between all buildings and structures shall be five feet measured from eave-to-eave.

(Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

The maximum allowable lot coverage shall not exceed 40% of the lot size. (Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

The maximum allowable floor area ratio shall not exceed 40% of the lot size. (Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

The following area requirements shall apply to every lot and every parcel in an R-1 zone:

• A. The required minimum area of a lot or parcel in an R-1 zone shall be 5,000 square feet; provided, however, that greater required minimum areas may be established for any lots or parcels by the adoption of official plans. In this zone all lots less than 5,000 square feet in area shall be considered substandard.

• B. The required minimum area of a lot or parcel in an R-1-(4500) - 5000 zone shall be 4,500 square feet. The R-1- (4500) - 5000 zone classification may be established for any lot or parcel by the adoption of official plans. In this zone all lots less than 4,500 square feet in area shall be considered substandard.

• C. No development shall be permitted on any lot which does not meet the requirements of subsection A or B of this section unless one or both of the following are applicable:

  1. Such lot was legally created and is held and recorded under separate and different ownership from all abutting lots at all times on and after June 12, 1991.

2. Such lot is the result of a combination and reparcelization of two or more substandard lots in which case the minimum lot area shall be 3,700 square feet.

(Prior code § 27-5.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Except as otherwise provided in this article, every lot and every parcel created after July 22, 1959, and in the R-1 zone, shall have and maintain a width of not less than 50 feet. In this zone, lots less than 50 feet in width shall be considered substandard.

• A. A minimum width greater than 50 feet may be established for any lot or parcel by the adoption of official plans requiring greater width.

1. Editor's Note: Section 2 of Ordinance 1367R, not codified herein, provides for additional provisions for substandard lots.

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City of Norwalk, CA

ZONING

§ 17.05.070

§ 17.05.090

• B. In R-1 (4500) - 5000 zone the minimum lot width is 40 feet. Lots having a width of less than 40 feet shall be considered substandard.

• C. No development shall be permitted on any lot that does not meet the requirements of this chapter unless:

  1. Such lot was legally created and is held and recorded under separate and different ownership from all abutting lots at all times on and after June 12, 1991; or

  2. Such lot is the result of a combination of two or more substandard lots in which case the minimum lot width shall be 37 feet.

(Prior code § 27-5.7; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

• A. Single-family dwellings shall be subject to the following standards:

  1. Every single-family dwelling shall have an eave projection of at least one and onehalf feet on all sides of the building(s).

  2. Second stories shall not overhang from the first story from the front, side, and street side of the single-family dwelling.

  3. Every single-family dwelling shall have a roof constructed of wood, shakes, shingle, asphalt composition, crushed rock or other similar roofing material. Reflective, glossy, polished and/or roll-formed type metal roofing is prohibited unless modified by the procedure below.

  4. Additions to single-family dwellings shall be architecturally consistent and have a roof pitch that matches the existing single-family dwelling.

  5. Two-story buildings shall be provided with windows that are recessed a minimum of two inches.

  6. Every single-family dwelling shall have an exterior wall covering of brick, wood, stucco, metal, concrete or similar material. Reflective, vinyl, glossy, polished and/or roll-formed type metal siding is prohibited unless modified by the procedure below.

  7. Every single-family dwelling shall not be less than 20 feet in width and shall have a floor area of not less than 800 square feet, exclusive of garages, porches and patios.

  8. All exterior walls shall have a continuous concrete foundation and comply with all standards of the building code; any exposed foundation shall be architecturally compatible to the exterior design.

  9. Offset of the building facade, or the front of the building, shall be provided.

  10. Every single-family dwelling shall have laundry facilities that are internally accessible to the dwelling it serves.

  11. To provide for the normal functions of family living, floor plans shall be designed to include adequate size and arrangement of rooms, sufficient cupboard space, closet space and storage space, and also include the following:

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City of Norwalk, CA

NORWALK CODE

§ 17.05.090

§ 17.05.090

• a. At least one bathroom shall have access directly from a hallway and not from another room.

• b. A bedroom shall not have its only means of access through another bedroom or solely from the outside.

• c. Secondary access to the outside shall be provided from the kitchen or from the kitchen via a utility area that does not require passage through the living room or a bedroom.

• B. The Director may, without public hearing, approve a modification to the above standards if any of the following findings can be made:

  1. That such modification will enhance architectural compatibility between the proposed structure and existing structures in the surrounding area; or

  2. That a proposed alteration or addition to an existing residence will be a continuation of the existing architectural style; or

  3. That such modification is needed for safety reasons, or to comply with other applicable codes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.

Such determination may be by means of elevations, photographs, renderings and/or site plans, as the Director deems necessary.

• C. The decision of the Director shall be final, unless appealed to the Planning Commission.

• D. Surrender of Registration. Prior to final approval and the connection of utilities for a mobilehome, the fee required by the State Department of Housing and Community Development shall be paid to the Building Department and any vehicle license plate, certificate of ownership, and certificate of registration issued by a State agency shall be surrendered to the Building Department or Planning Division. Where the mobilehome is new and never has been registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, a written, notarized statement to that effect, from the dealer selling the mobile home, shall be submitted.

(Prior code § 27-5.9; Ord. 21-1722 § 2; Ord. 25-1762, 12/2/2025)

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City of Norwalk, CA