Culver City Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Culver City's land-use rules are codified in the Culver City Zoning Code, Title 17 of the Culver City Municipal Code (the local "zoning" code). The Title describes the purpose and authority of the zoning program and how the Code implements the General Plan. Title 17 establishes district rules, citywide development standards, overlay zones and procedures for discretionary review, variances, specific plans, and density bonuses. See the Title and purpose provisions in § 17.100.005 and applicability rules in § 17.100.020 for the Code’s scope and authority.

How Culver City's code is organized

• Title name and purpose — the ordinance is expressly titled the Culver City Zoning Code (Title 17) and states its purpose and relationship to the General Plan in § 17.100.005 and § 17.100.015.
• Chapters you will use most often:
  • Establishment of districts and the Zoning Map — § 17.200.010 (Table 2‑1 lists the districts) and § 17.200.015 (Zoning Map adopted).
  • Residential district rules — Chapter 17.210 (R1/R2/RLD/RMD/RHD) and tables for development standards like Table 2‑4 and Table 2‑8.
  • Mixed‑use districts — Chapter 17.220 (the MU family; MU‑DT, MU‑MD, MU‑HD, MU‑I, etc.).
  • Special purpose zones and uses — Chapter 17.250.
  • Overlay zones — Chapter 17.260 (see the -RH, -CV, -RZ overlays) and overlay applicability rules in § 17.260.010.
  • Site planning & development standards (setbacks, heights, projections, screening) — Article 3, especially § 17.300.020 (setbacks and exceptions) and related tables.
  • Parking and access rules — Chapter 17.320 (design, layout, driveway standards). See the parking chapter for on‑site and driveway specifics.
  • Signs — Chapter 17.330 (permits, applicability and structural code interactions).
  • Use standards, ADUs, accessory structures — Chapter 17.400 (includes § 17.400.095 for Accessory Dwelling Units and other specific uses).
  • Administrative procedures, site plan review and design findings — Chapter 17.540 (Site Plan Review) and post‑approval rules in § 17.540.030.
  • Variances, administrative modifications and reasonable accommodations — Chapter 17.550 and the summary table of administrative modifications (Table 5‑2) in § 17.550.010.
  • Density bonus and local bonus program — Chapter 17.580 (local density bonus rules, tier system, waivers/concessions, and application requirements).

(Use the Culver City zoning and land use menus to jump to these topics on this site.)

Zoning district families (citywide)

Culver City groups its zones into the following families (official labels, with the Code chapter references):

• Residential: R1 (Single‑Family), R2 (Two‑Family), RLD (Low Density Multi), RMD (Medium Density Multi), RHD (High Density Multi) — established in Table 2‑1 and regulated in Chapter 17.210.
• Mixed‑Use: MU‑N, MU‑1, MU‑2, MU‑DT, MU‑MD, MU‑HD, MU‑I — listed in Table 2‑1 and governed through Chapter 17.220 and mixed‑use tables (e.g., Table 2‑8).
• Special purpose/supplemental districts: S (Studio), E (Cemetery), I (Institutional), OS (Open Space), T (Transportation), PD (Planned Development) — in Table 2‑1 / Chapter 17.250.
• Overlay zones (suffix overlays added to base zone symbols): -RZ (Residential Zero‑Setback), -RP (Redevelopment Project Area), -CV (Civic Center Overlay), -RH (Residential Hillsides Overlay) — established in Chapter 17.260; the overlay chapter explains how an overlay modifies the underlying zone and controls in a perceived conflict.

When reading a parcel’s zoning, the official map will show the primary zone symbol plus any overlay suffix (for example, CG‑EW in the Code’s example), and the overlay rules control where they conflict with the base zone (§ 17.260.010).

Citywide development standards — where the rules live and the key numbers

• Where to find the standards: base numeric standards (setbacks, heights, lot area, density, lot coverage, required open space) are in each district chapter (for example the R‑family tables in Chapter 17.210, and mixed‑use tables such as Table 2‑8), while general measurement rules, projections, and exceptions live in Article 3 (e.g., § 17.300.020 for setback rules and measurement).
• Setbacks and projections: required front, side, and rear setbacks and the rules that allow projections into setbacks are in § 17.300.020 (with figures and Table 3‑1 for permitted projections). The Code also provides specific exceptions and rules for corner lots, flag lots, and alley conditions.
• Height, FAR and density: each zone table states maximum height and residential density; mixed and special circumstances (such as Transit‑Oriented Housing standards) use specialized tables. For example, the Transit‑Oriented Housing rules (Table 4‑6) set maximums by distance from a TOD stop (within 200 ft: 85 ft, 140 du/ac, 4.0 FAR; at 1/4 mile: 65 ft, 100 du/ac, 3.0 FAR; at 1/2 mile: 55 ft, 80 du/ac, 2.5 FAR) — these TOD limits and measurement rules appear in the Transit‑Oriented section, § 17.400.116 and the Table 4‑6 references.
• Lot coverage, open space and usable area: district tables (e.g., Table 2‑4 for RLD/RMD/RHD and Table 2‑5 for townhouses) and supplemental standards (e.g., § 17.210.030) set lot coverage, open space minima and rooftop deck setbacks/requirements.
• Parking and driveways: the Code controls parking counts, layout, and driveway access in Chapter 17.320 (including § 17.320.035 and design/layout guidance). See the parking menu for practical checks, and consult § 17.320.035 for driveway width, front‑setback parking allowances and permeable paving rules.
• Landscaping, screening & utilities: Chapter 17.310 contains landscape requirements (referenced in multiple district tables and rooftop/open space standards), and screening of utilities and service areas is covered in Article 3 (e.g., screening and walls requirements in § 17.300.035).
• Signs: signage is a separate chapter (17.330) with its own permit rules and an explicit cross‑reference to building code structural requirements.

(For fast access to dimensional rules, consult Culver City Development Standards on this site.)

Design rules, discretionary review, variances and appeals

• Design/discretionary review: the City’s Site Plan Review and Administrative Site Plan Review procedures and required findings are in Chapter 17.540; findings for approval (including compatibility with objective development standards and public facilities) are spelled out in § 17.540.020 and post‑approval procedures in § 17.540.030. Design guidance and objective design standards are applied through that site plan review process.
• Administrative modifications and variances: the Director may grant limited administrative modifications per Table 5‑2 (up to specified percentages) under § 17.550.010, while full variances require the Board or Commission findings in Chapter 17.550; reasonable accommodations for disability are also provided in that chapter.
• Interpretations and appeals: the Director issues formal interpretations under § 17.120.015; those interpretations and many permit decisions are appealable under the appeal procedures referenced in the Code (appeals route and Board/Commission roles are cross‑referenced in the applicable procedure sections).

(See the City’s design review and variances and exceptions pages for process summaries.)

Specific plans & overlays — area‑based rules that supersede base standards

• Specific Plans: Culver City adopts Specific Plans via Chapter 17.570 (procedures, findings and consistency with the General Plan). After adoption, projects in a Specific Plan area must be found consistent with that Specific Plan and the Council may impose plan‑area fees; the adoption and amendment process is established in § 17.570.025.
• Overlay districts: The Overlay Chapter (17.260) defines overlays, their purpose and how they append to the base zone (e.g., zone symbol + suffix). The chapter explicitly states that overlay provisions apply in addition to the base zone and will control in the event of conflict (§ 17.260.010). See the -RH (Residential Hillsides Overlay) for an example of area‑specific standards (detailed setbacks, FAR by slope, and a separate table of standards) in § 17.260.040 and its Table 2‑10.
• Civic Center and other overlays: the -CV Civic Center Overlay requires preliminary plan review and directs the Director’s review standards within that overlay (§ 17.260 material, and specific -CV rules such as submission and Director approval).

(For a quick list of overlays, consult Culver City Overlay Districts.)

Building permits & review — the typical path

• Pre‑application & completeness: Title 17 says the City issues building and grading permits only where the proposed use complies with the Zoning Code and subdivisions are consistent with Chapter 15.10 — see § 17.100.020.C. Major discretionary projects often require a complete entitlement application package and any supplemental plans (for density bonus projects, see the required Affordable Housing Plan in § 17.580.050).
• Ministerial vs discretionary: routine building permits that comply with ministerial zoning standards proceed through building‑permit review once zoning clearance is confirmed. Projects requiring Site Plan Review, Conditional Use Permits or Variances follow the discretionary path in Chapters 17.540, 17.550, and related application processing chapters. Findings required for Site Plan Review are in § 17.540.020.
• Post‑approval conditions, time limits and appeals: post‑approval procedures, time limits and extension rules are found in § 17.540.030 and Chapters 17.595 and 17.640 as cross‑referenced in the Code; appeals routes are specified in the procedural chapters and in the Director interpretation rules.

(Practical note: interpretive requests and Director rulings are formalized in § 17.120.015 and may be appealed.)

State housing law in Culver City — ADUs, SB 9, density bonus, rent/tenant rules

Culver City’s local rules explicitly integrate and defer to state housing laws where required; the Code references state statutes throughout the housing/density bonus and transit‑oriented provisions.

• ADUs and accessory units: the local ADU standards are located at § 17.400.095 (Residential Uses – Accessory Dwelling Units) and related accessory structure sections. The Code cross‑references state ADU law — local ADU provisions must be consistent with state ADU preemptions (the City’s ADU rules live in Chapter 17.400 and are explicitly cross‑referenced where relevant). See the local ADU section § 17.400.095 for detail and the State ADU rules summarized in the state handbook (for statewide limits on setbacks, parking, and size).
  • Practical implication: the Code references state law limits and local ADU standards but will not impose measures that conflict with the state’s ADU preemptions (see local cross‑references and the state summary in the City’s ADU provisions).
• Density bonus and local bonuses: Culver City implements the State Density Bonus Law and also provides a local tiered density bonus program in Chapter 17.580 (Tier bonuses, Community Benefit Bonuses, local concessions, and waiver rules). The Code states that state law controls where inconsistent; local tiers (Tier 1–4) add local incentives for transit proximity and affordability, with application and AHP requirements in § 17.580.050 and waiver/concession procedures in § 17.580.040.
• SB 9 / lot splits and ministerial housing laws: the Code references state definitions and implements transit‑oriented housing provisions consistent with state statutes (for example, § 17.400.116 references the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act and Cal. Gov’t Code § 65912.155–162). Where the City’s Code references state statutes, the state provisions prevail where they conflict.
• Rent‑control / demolition / replacement rules and affordable unit protections: specific replacement and deed‑restriction requirements for affordable units and replacement rules are addressed within the density/transit sections and the City’s affordable housing plan requirements (§ 17.580.050) and cross‑reference state standards for replacement and covenant durations.

(For quick reading on how ADU rules interact with local rules, consult Culver City ADUs and the State ADU summary California ADU law. Also keep the California Building Standards Code in mind for permit and construction standards.)

Practical orientation — how to use the Code for a project in Culver City

1. Confirm the parcel’s base zone and any overlay on the official Zoning Map (Table 2‑1; § 17.200.010).
2. Read the base zone table for permitted uses and required permits (e.g., Table 2‑2 for residential uses under § 17.210.015).
3. Check Article 3 (especially § 17.300.020 for setbacks, Figure 3‑1 for measurement, and allowed projections) and the applicable district table (e.g., Table 2‑4 or Table 2‑8) for numeric limits.
4. If your project is near transit or seeking density incentives, consult the Transit‑Oriented section (Table 4‑6 and § 17.400.116) and the density bonus chapter 17.580 for application requirements and tiered local incentives.
5. For design review, read the findings and public‑notice requirements in § 17.540.020 and § 17.540.030 and prepare to show consistency with objective standards.
6. If you need small numerical adjustments, identify whether an Administrative Modification under Table 5‑2 is allowed (§ 17.550.010); larger departures require a Variance under Chapter 17.550.

(See Culver City Development Standards, Culver City Design Review, and Culver City Variances and Exceptions for quick‑start checklists.)

Source References

• Culver City Zoning Code — Title 17, Culver City Municipal Code; Title and Purpose provisions: § 17.100.005, § 17.100.015, § 17.100.020.
• District establishment and Zoning Map: § 17.200.010 (Table 2‑1 zoning districts; Chapter references).
• Residential districts and supplemental standards (R1/R2/RLD/RMD/RHD): Chapter 17.210, including § 17.210.010 and § 17.210.030.
• Overlays (purpose & applicability) and examples (-RZ, -RH, -CV): Chapter 17.260 and § 17.260.010, § 17.260.040 (RH).
• Setbacks and measurement rules: § 17.300.020 (Setback Regulations and Exceptions).
• Parking and driveway standards: Chapter 17.320 and § 17.320.035 (Parking design and layout).
• Signs: Chapter 17.330 (sign permit requirements and applicability).
• ADUs and accessory residential structures: § 17.400.095 and related accessory structure rules.
• Transit‑oriented housing rules and Table 4‑6 (heights/density/FAR by distance): § 17.400.116 and Table 4‑6.
• Site Plan Review and findings: § 17.540.020 and post‑approval § 17.540.030.
• Variances/Administrative Modifications: Chapter 17.550 and Table 5‑2 (Administrative Modifications) in § 17.550.010.
• Density bonus program and application requirements (local tiers, waivers, AHP): Chapter 17.580, including § 17.580.015, § 17.580.020, § 17.580.025, and § 17.580.050.
• Director interpretations: § 17.120.015 (requests for interpretation; appeals).
• State ADU and statewide guidance cited by the Code: 2025 ADU summary (state law limits and interactions with local ADU rules).