Palmdale Municipal Code Ch. 17.48 Development Regulations

§ 17.48.010. Development standards – Commercial/office zones.¶

Table 17.48.010-1 (Development Standards – Commercial/Office Zones) prescribes the development standards for the commercial and office zones. Additional regulations are also denoted in the right-hand column. Section numbers in this column refer to other Sections of this Title.

Table 17.48.010-1. Development Standards – Commercial/Office Zones Commercial/Office Zones

Standards	NC	RC	VC	MEDFX	EDFX	OFX	Additional Regulations	Additional Regulations
Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards	Lot and Density Standards
Minimum Lot Size (sf)	10,000	40,000	40,000	40,000	20,000	20,000
Minimum Lot Width (ft)	60	100	100	100	100	100
Minimum Lot Depth (ft)	100	200	200	200	100	100
Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location	Building Form and Location
Minimum Residential Density (units/acre)	–	–	–	10	10	–
Maximum Residential Density (units/acre)	–	Up to 30 1	–	30	30	–
Maximum Floor Area Ratio	0.5	1.0	1.5; 2.0 for hotels/lodging	2.0	2.0	1.0
Maximum Height (ft)/Stories – Primary Structure	35/2 stories	55/4 stories; 85/7 stories for lodging uses	65/5 stories; 85/7 stories for lodging uses	85/7 stories	65/5 stories	50/4 stories	•	Projects must comply with both stories and overall height maximums. See PMC § 17.17.030 (Measuring heights).
Maximum Height (ft)/Stories – Primary Structure	35/2 stories	55/4 stories; 85/7 stories for lodging uses	65/5 stories; 85/7 stories for lodging uses	85/7 stories	65/5 stories	50/4 stories	•	Architectural features may project above the maximum height by five feet. Architectural features include rooftop stair access and elevator shafts, mechanical equipment, or other rooftop amenities, as approved by the Director.
Maximum Height (ft) – Accessory Structures	25	25	25	25	25	25
Maximum Height Adjacent to Residential Zones	Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors.	Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors.	Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors.	Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors.	Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors.	Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors.	See Figure 17.38.060-1 (Transitions to Lower Density Building Types)	See Figure 17.38.060-1 (Transitions to Lower Density Building Types)
Distance between Structures (sf)	Minimum required by building and fire code.	Minimum required by building and fire code.	Minimum required by building and fire code.	Minimum required by building and fire code.	Minimum required by building and fire code.	Minimum required by building and fire code.
Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)	Setbacks – Minimums (ft)
Front	5	10	10	10	10	10	•	Minimum front setback shall be landscaped excluding driveways.
Front	5	10	10	10	10	10	•	No parking allowed in minimum setback area.
Street Side	5	10	10	10	10	10	•	No parking allowed in minimum setback area.
Interior Side	0; 10 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a single-family residential zone	10; 20 abutting a residential zone
Rear	10; 20 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a residential zone	10; 25 abutting a single-family residential zone	10; 20 abutting a residential zone
Alley (when present)	5	5	5	5	5	5
Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards	Open Space Standards
Minimum Open Space	3% of gross floor area	5% of lot (must be publicly accessible)	5% of lot (must be publicly accessible)	Residential Component: 200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units Nonresidential: 3% of gross floor area	Residential Component: 200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units Nonresidential: 5% of lot area (must be publicly accessible); if the open space is over 1,000 square feet, up to 50 percent may be counted towards the required residential common open space.	3% of gross floor area	Common open space includes roof decks and other shared common open areas. Minimum open space dimension is 20 feet in either direction. Setback areas are not considered usable open space unless they are at least 20 feet wide. See PMC § 17.49.060(M) (Common Open Space Design).	Common open space includes roof decks and other shared common open areas. Minimum open space dimension is 20 feet in either direction. Setback areas are not considered usable open space unless they are at least 20 feet wide. See PMC § 17.49.060(M) (Common Open Space Design).
Minimum Landscaping (% of lot)	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%	10%	Includes required setbacks. 25% must be live plant material. See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements).	Includes required setbacks. 25% must be live plant material. See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements).
Other Standards	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).	See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.49 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards [1] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).

Notes:
1. Only permitted on Antelope Valley Mall site and property south of Palmdale Boulevard between SR-14 and Division Street with a comprehensive development plan.

(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023; Ord. 1613 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023; Ord. 1641 § 4 (Exh. A), 2024)

[1]

Editor's Note: Said City of Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed Use Design Standards are included as an attachment to this title.

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§ 17.48.010. Development standards – Commercial/office zones.¶

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