Chapter 16.12 — DESIGN STANDARDS

Access to a design unit or to any lesser unit thereof, if more than one parcel map or final map is to be filed on a design unit, shall be by means of an improved public street or highway. (Prior code § 39-100)

• A. If the circulation element of the general plan shows a highway so located that any portion thereof lies within a design unit, that portion of the highway which is within the design unit shall be included in the design of the division unless the advisory agency determines that there is a reasonable probability that the general plan will be amended to remove or relocate the highway so that it is no longer within the design unit.

• B. If the advisory agency determines that the present acceptance and construction of a highway or portion thereof is not warranted, the highway or portion thereof shall be included in the design of the division of land as a future street.

• C. Alignment. If a center line has been established for a highway, the alignment of the highway shall conform to the established center line. If no center line has been established, the alignment shall conform to the following requirements:

  1. The alignment shall be substantially as shown on the circulation element of the general plan.

  2. The center line curve radius of a major highway shall be not less than 1,500 feet.

  3. The center line curve radius of a secondary highway shall be not less than 1,000 feet.

  4. Highways shall intersect with streets and other highways as nearly at a right angle as is practical.

• D. Grade. No highway shall have a grade of more than six percent nor less than four-tenths of one percent.

• E. Width. Major highways shall have a width of 100 feet and secondary highways shall have a width of 80 feet, unless a different width is indicated on the circulation element of the general plan.

(Prior code §§ 39-101—39-104)

• A. Alignment. The alignment of streets shall be such as to provide at least 35 feet of frontage for each lot in the design unit not having frontage on a highway and, where necessary, to provide for the future development of adjacent properties. Lots which abut a major or secondary highway, to which access rights are to be relinquished, shall be provided with frontage on a service road or other local street.

  1. Center line jogs of 150 feet or less shall be avoided wherever practicable.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4983 on 2026-07-07

City of Paramount, CA

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 16.12.030

§ 16.12.070

2. On any street no center line curve radius of less than 200 feet shall be provided. A center line having an arc length of less than 100 feet shall not be permitted unless the center line radius is greater than 3,000 feet.

3. Streets shall intersect with other streets and highways as nearly at a right angle as practicable.

B. Grade. No street shall have a grade of less than four-tenths of one percent. (Prior code §§ 39-105, 39-106)

Streets and alleys shall have right-of-way and roadway widths as shown in the following cross sections:

• A. Residential entrance streets from general plan highways, collector streets, streets adjacent to schools and multiple residential use streets;

• B. Interior local streets for one-family or two-family residences;

• C. Service road serving as a collector street or for multiple residences;

• D. Service road serving one-family and two-family residences;

• E. Industrial and commercial streets as an entrance or collector;

• F. Industrial and commercial as a cul-de-sac or loop;

• G. Alley.

(Prior code § 39-107)

The advisory agency may require that future streets and alleys be provided for the future division of lots shown on the tentative map and for the development of adjoining property. (Prior code § 39-108)

The advisory agency may require that an alley be provided at the rear of lots which are intended for multiple residential (not including two-family use), commercial or industrial use. (Prior code § 39-109)

• A. Wherever any highway within a division of land intersects a railroad right-of-way, and such highway is shown as a major or secondary highway upon the circulation element of the general plan and provision is made in such plan of highways for the location of a separation of grades at such intersection, the street layout of the division of land shall be such as to conform to the plan of such separation.

• B. Each lot abutting upon a proposed cut or fill necessary for the approach to such grade separation shall be given suitable access elsewhere.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4983 on 2026-07-07

City of Paramount, CA

SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND

§ 16.12.070

§ 16.12.110

• C. Wherever it is proposed to divide property abutting an approach to an existing or proposed bridge, the division shall be arranged so that any lot abutting such approach has suitable access elsewhere and the street layout adequately provides for such approach.

• (Prior code § 39-110)

An adequate turning area, conforming to the specifications of the Superintendent of Streets, shall be provided at the end of cul-de-sac streets and dead-end alleys. (Prior code § 39-111)

• A. Intersections of road right-of-way lines, where one or both streets are local residential, shall be rounded with a curve having a radius of 13 feet, unless otherwise determined by the Superintendent of Streets.

• B. Intersections of road right-of-way lines, where both streets are highways or one of the streets serves a commercial or industrial development shall be rounded with a curve having a radius of 27 feet, unless otherwise determined by the Superintendent of Streets.

• (Prior code § 39-112)

Where two alleys intersect, a cutoff of not less than 10 feet at the intersection of right-of-way lines shall be provided. (Prior code § 39-113)

• A. Each lot in a division of land shall have an area of not less than the required area for the zone in which the lot is located. Each lot shall have an average width of not less than the required width. Strips of land intended for use as vehicular access shall not be included in calculating average width or required area. The required area and the required width shall be the same as those terms are defined in Title 17 of this Code. Where Title 17 does not establish a required width in a particular zone, the required area shall be 5,000 square feet and the required width shall be 50 feet.

• B. If a lot is in more than one zone, then the area and width thereof shall be not less than the area and width requirements, respectively, in that zone in which any part of the lot is located which has the largest area requirement and in that zone in which any part of the lot is located which has the greatest width requirement.

• C. This section does not apply to any lot which the subdivider offers to deed or dedicate to the public.

• D. Where public sewers are not available and private sewage disposal is to be used, every lot or parcel or building site shall be of sufficient size to provide for satisfactory sewage disposal for the land use intended.

• E. In all cases where practical, the sidelines of lots shall be at an approximate right angle to the street upon which such lots front.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4983 on 2026-07-07

City of Paramount, CA § 16.12.110

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 16.12.130

• F. Wherever practical, divisions of property abutting rights-of-way for freeways, highways, railroads, transmission lines and flood control channels shall be designed so as to create lots which back up to such rights-of-way.

(Prior code § 39-120)

The advisory agency may approve a tentative map contingent upon the enactment of an amendment to Title 17 of this Code reducing required area or required width, or both, provided that it finds that there is a reasonable probability that the amendment reducing required width or required area, or both, will become effective within 18 months of the date action is taken on the tentative map. Approval of the tentative map shall not become effective unless and until an ordinance, reducing required area or width, or both, has been enacted by the City Council and has become effective, so that each lot shown on the tentative map complies with the area and width requirement of the zone in which it is situated. (Prior code § 39-121)

No lot shall be divided by a City boundary line. Each such boundary line shall be made a lot line. (Prior code § 39-122)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PA4983 on 2026-07-07

City of Paramount, CA § 16.16.010

SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND

§ 16.16.040