Section 17.43. — Pasadena Municipal Code

Figure SFOSP-8: Building Height

Figure SFOSP-9: Height Averaging

Setbacks.

Street Setbacks. Buildings shall comply with the street setbacks set in Figure SFOSP-10. Setback ranges establish a minimum and maximum for the specified percentage of linear frontage.

Street setbacks are measured from the sidewalk line; see Figure SFOSP-3.

Minimum setbacks shall apply to all stories of a building; setbacks less than the minimum are prohibited. Maximum setbacks shall apply only to the ground floor.

Where ground floor residential units are elevated between 4 and 6 feet above sidewalk elevation, a minimum setback of 8 feet shall be required.

Exceptions allowed per Section 17.40.160 (Table 4-1) and the following:

(1)

Arcades and recessed ground floors up to 15 feet in depth, as well as parking entrances per Section 17.35.090.B, are allowed when a second story meets the specified setback; see Figure SFOSP-8.

(2)

The specified frontage percentage may be reduced for the provision of Publicly Accessible Open Space facing the street through the Design Review process.

Features allowed within the street setback include: landscaping and planters, hardscape (e.g. stoops, patios), shade structures per Section 17.35.070.D, arcades and galleries per Section 17.35.070.E, walls and fences per Section 17.35.070.F, seating and furniture, outdoor dining, and other open space amenities per review authority approval.

Figure SFOSP-10: Street Setbacks

Interior Setbacks. Buildings shall be set back a minimum of 15 feet from an interior property line that is adjacent to a PS, RM or RS zoning district. No setback is required when adjacent to other districts or alleys.

Interior setbacks are those abutting other parcels along non-street side and rear property lines and are measured from the shared property line.

Exceptions allowed per Section 17.40.160 (Table 4-1).

Stepbacks.

Interior Stepbacks. Adjacent to RM/RS zoning, districts, buildings shall not be located within the encroachment plane sloping upward and inward at a 45-degree angle measured from the vertical, commencing 25 feet above the existing grade along the shared property line; see Figure SFOSP-11.

Exceptions allowed per Section 17.40.160 (Table 4-2.1).

Figure SFOSP-11: Interior Stepbacks Adjacent to RM/RS Zoning Districts

Historic Adjacency.

Landmark Properties. Projects on parcels with a designated historic resource shall be subject to review for consistency with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards.

Transition Massing. Projects sharing a property line with a designated historic resource are subject to the following modified standards, illustrated in Figure SFOSP-12.

Street Setbacks. The minimum street setback shall be an average of the minimum setback set in Figure SFOSP-10 and that of the resource for a minimum of 20 feet from the shared property line. If located between two resources, the street setback shall be an average of the setbacks of the two resources.

Interior Setbacks. The minimum interior setback shall be equal to that of the historic resource or 15 feet, whichever is less. No setback is required where the resource is built to the shared property line.

Streetwall Height: A maximum streetwall height shall not exceed the height of the historic resource for a minimum of 20 feet from the shared property line. A stepback with a minimum depth of 10 feet is required above this height, measured from the modified minimum street setback.

Interior Stepbacks. Projects shall not be located within an encroachment plane sloping upward and inward at a 30-degree angle measured from the vertical, commencing 15 feet above the existing grade at the property line; see Figure SFOSP-12. This plane is not applicable if the resource is built to the shared property line.

Figure SFOSP-12: Historic Adjacency

Modulation

Façade Length. Each street-facing façade shall not exceed 150 feet in length unless there is a minimum break of 10 percent of the building length or 20 feet, whichever is greater. This break shall be at least 10 feet deep, open to the sky; see Figure SFOSP-13.

Façade Area. Each street-facing façade exceeding 50 feet in length shall modulate a minimum of 25 percent of the area above the first story. This modulation shall be a minimum of 2 feet and a maximum of 12 feet in depth from the primary façade plane; see Figure ECSP-16. Buildings with a total of 2 stories or less are exempt.

The primary façade plane is defined as the vertical plane with the greatest surface area above the ground floor.

Planes that are separated by a break of at least 20 feet in width and 10 feet in depth shall be considered separate façades for the purposes of this standard.

Modulation is not required to be continuous or open to the sky, and may be recessed or projected, but not past the sidewalk line.

Required stepbacks (Section 17.35.060.E), façade breaks (Section 17.35.060.G.1), and projected balconies (Section 17.35.070.G.1) shall not count toward the modulation requirement; balconies that are recessed a minimum of 2 feet shall qualify.

Figure SFOSP-13: Façade Length

Figure SFOSP-14: Façade Area

Alternative Compliance.

Eligibility. Modulation standards may be reduced or otherwise modified through the Design Review process if:

(1)

A minimum of 90 percent of the provided parking is fully or partially subterranean;

(2)

A minimum of one publicly accessible open space is provided at the ground level, visible and accessible from the sidewalk;

(3)

No other concessions, waivers, or incentives have been requested, including those associated with Section 17.43 (Density Bonus), unless the project is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification; and

(4)

The review authority makes all of the following findings.

Required Findings

(1)

The building design provides modulation on each street-facing façade in a manner consistent with the project's architectural style and/or immediate context, including adjacent historic resources.

(2)

The building design does not cause an adverse impact on the quality of the ground floor and public realm.

(3)

The ground level open space is of adequate size and integrated with the building in a functional way that ensures the space will be actively utilized.

(4)

The modification will not be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

(5)

The building design is consistent with the objectives and policies of the General Plan and SFOSP, as well as all other standards of the SFOSP.

(Ord. No. 7446, § 5, 5-12-2025; Ord. No. 7419, § 4, 2-26-2024; Ord. No. 7405, § 2, 10-17-2022)