San Fernando Municipal Code Div. 12 Live/Work Development

This section provides location, development, and performance standards for live/work developments in compliance with the development standards within the underlying zone district.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

(a) The provisions in this section shall regulate the conversion and new construction of live/work uses, where allowed by the applicable zoning districts.

(b) Except as specifically provided in this section, live/work projects shall be in compliance with the development standards within the underlying zone district.

(c) Where an owner-participation agreement, disposition and development agreement, or development agreement with the city applies to a land parcel, and the provisions of such agreement differ from the live/work development standards, the provisions of the agreement shall prevail.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

(a) Permitted uses/occupations. The following uses/occupations are permitted in live/work units:

(1) Accountant;

(2) Architect;

(3) Artist and artisan;

(4) Attorney;

(5) Computer software- and multimedia-related professional;

(6) Engineer;

(7) Fashion, graphic, interior and other designer;

(8) Insurance, real estate and travel agent;

(9) Photographer;

(10) Psychologist/psychiatrist;

(11) Other similar uses/occupations, as determined by the director, may be permitted, provided that the allowed uses/occupations are permitted by the underlying zone.

(b) Occupancy and employees.

(1) At least one of the full-time employees of the live/work unit must be a full-time resident of the live/work unit and shall possess a valid business license certificate.

(2) Only one residential component per live/work unit shall be allowed.

(3) The residential component shall not be rented separately from the working space.

(4) No more than one employee, other than the resident(s) of the live/work unit, shall be permitted on site at any given time in units that are less than or equal to 1,499 square feet.

(5) No more than two employees, other than the resident(s) of the live/work unit, shall be permitted on site at any given time in units that are greater than or equal to 1,500 square feet.

(c) Business activity. None of the uses permitted shall be operated in an objectionable manner, due to fumes, odor, dust, smoke, gas, noise, or vibrations that are or may be detrimental to properties and occupants in the neighborhood and/or to any other uses and occupants on the same property.

(d) Special and/or temporary events. Special and/or temporary events in live/work units shall be required to follow the permit process for special and/or temporary events contained in division 5 of article V, Temporary Use Permit and Special Event Permit.

(e) Covenant. A city-approved covenant shall be executed by the owner of each live/work unit and shall include statements that the occupant(s) understand(s) and accept(s) he/she is living in a live/work unit and must operate a business from said unit. The covenant shall also set forth the required use conditions as described in this section.

(1) The residential component shall be contiguous with, and integral to, the working space, with direct access between the two areas, and not as a separate stand-alone dwelling unit.

(2) Only one residential component per live/work unit shall be allowed. The residential component space and the business component space shall only be used as one contiguous habitable space and, if rented, shall only be rented together as one tenant space.

(3) Any lease between the owner and a tenant, or between a tenant and a subtenant, shall refer to the fact that the live/work unit is subject to the above-referenced covenant.

(4) A resident in any live/work unit shall operate a business from the unit and shall possess a San Fernando Business License Certificate in good standing for business activities conducted within the unit.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

(a) Unit size and dimension. The minimum square footage of a live/work unit shall be 700 square feet.

(b) Floor plans. A live/work unit may include a single level floor plan or a multiple-level floor plan.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)