Lomita — Development Standards

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Lomita Municipal Code requires for development standards (setbacks, heights, lot coverage, density, FAR and related rules) under the city zoning ordinance. It is focused on the local zoning chapters (Title 11/“Title 17 Zoning” numbering in the document) and interprets how standards vary by district. For built-project questions (permits, building code compliance) see the state California Building Standards Code. For parking calculations, see the local parking rules. For review processes read the city’s design review and overlay district rules.

How to read this page

Every numeric requirement below is tied to the local ordinance. The bolded district names and numbers are verbatim. Where the ordinance text refers to other articles (for example parking = Article 66), that citation is included so you can cross‑check. All cited code excerpts and tables come from the uploaded Lomita zoning file; each citation shows the controlling § and the file excerpt marker.

Residential zones — key rules by district

• A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3 (Table 11-1.30.B)
  • Purpose / typical character: single-family and low- to high-density residential neighborhoods; standards intended to preserve single‑family scale and to control density in multi-family areas. See the residential development table at § 11-1.30.02 .
  • Density (maximum): A-1: 10.89 du/ac, R-1: 10.89 du/ac, R-2: 19.79 du/ac, R-3: 43.6 du/ac (listed in § 11-1.30.02) .
  • Lot size / width: minimum 5,000 sq ft and 50 ft width in these zones (§ 11-1.30.02) .
  • FAR / Lot coverage: Maximum FAR .60 in A-1 and R-1; lot coverage 80% is specifically called out for R-2 and R-3 in parts of the code (Table 11-1.30.B) — confirm for an individual parcel (§ 11-1.30.02) .
  • Height: principal structures: 27 ft for A-1, R-1, R-2; 35 ft for R-3; accessory structures 16 ft (§ 11-1.30.02) .
  • Minimum setbacks for principal structures: Front 20 ft, Corner / secondary front 10 ft, Side 5 ft, Rear 20 ft (general table; exceptions apply) (§ 11-1.30.02) .
  • General standards (landscaping etc.): at least 50% of the front yard must be irrigated and landscaped per the general residential standards (§ 11-1.30.03) .
  • Modifications: setbacks and other yard modifications are subject to the city’s modification and site plan review rules (see references to § 11-1.70.08 and § 11-1.70.07) as noted in the residential table notes (§ 11-1.30.02) .

Practical guidance: homeowners and small-lot developers should first read § 11-1.30.02 to find the baseline setbacks, FAR and height, then check whether the lot sits in overlays or specific plans that change those limits (see overlays below).

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and JADUs

• Local ADU rules set additional numerical caps that interact with the zone standards. Key constraints in the ADU subsection include:
  • Attached ADU cap: attached ADU limited to 50% of the existing primary dwelling’s floor area (where that rule applies) (§ 11-1.30.06, ADU subsection G in the uploaded text) .
  • FAR: no ADU may cause the lot’s total FAR to exceed 60% where that ADU subsection applies (§ 11-1.30.06 (G)(2)) .
  • Setbacks for ADUs: 4 ft side and rear setbacks and 20 ft front setback are applied in the ADU subsection; existing-same-location structures are exempt (§ 11-1.30.06 (G)(3)) .
  • Lot coverage: the ADU subsection caps total lot coverage so that an ADU cannot push an R-2 or R-3 lot beyond 80% coverage (§ 11-1.30.06 (G)(4)) .
  • Parking: generally one off-street parking space per ADU or bedroom (whichever is less), with statutory exceptions (transit proximity, historic district, ADU within primary or accessory structure, etc.) (§ 11-1.30.06 (G)(6)) .

Practical guidance: ADU applicants must reconcile ADU-specific limits with the underlying zone’s FAR/lot coverage; the strictest applicable cap controls (and state ADU law may preempt some local limits — see California ADU law) (California ADU law).

Commercial zones — DC, NC, CC, RC

• The commercial development standards are summarized in Table 11-1.42.A and the supporting text in § 11-1.42.01 and following; key items include:
  • Floor area ratio (FAR): 1:1 maximum across DC, NC, CC, RC for non‑residential uses (Table 11-1.42.A) (§ 11-1.42.01) .
  • Lot minimums: ranges from 5,000–10,000 sq ft depending on district, with minimum lot width 50–100 ft as listed in Table 11-1.42.A (§ 11-1.42.01) .
  • Height: 35 ft maximum generally in commercial zones (§ 11-1.42.01) .
  • Setbacks: baseline 0 ft front/side/rear is allowed for commercial streetscapes, but a 10 ft minimum rear or side yard is required where the commercial lot adjoins a residential zone (§ 11-1.42.01) .
  • Landscaping: minimum 6% of lot area as landscaped area (Table 11-1.42.A) and other landscaping rules in Article 82/§ 11-1.68.03 referenced in the table (§ 11-1.42.01) .
  • Parking and loading: commercial projects follow Article 66 off-street parking rules; mixed-use parking ratios differ (see mixed-use section) (§ 11-1.42.01) .

Practical guidance: commercial infill frequently seeks reduced setbacks to achieve street-facing retail; when a commercial property borders housing, expect the 10 ft buffer/setback and masonry wall requirements to mitigate impacts (§ 11-1.42.03) .

Mixed‑Use developments and Mixed‑Use Overlay

• Mixed‑use projects are regulated by § 11-1.43.05 and Table 11-1.43.B (mixed‑use development standards).
  • Minimum/maximum residential densities, FAR, and building heights are zone-specific within the mixed‑use table — e.g., residential FAR up to 2.0 in the RC mixed‑use column, and building heights up to 60 ft / 4 stories for the RC mixed‑use column (Table 11-1.43.B) (§ 11-1.43.05) .
  • The mixed‑use overlay can eliminate yards (0' front and street side) for certain streets but imposes side/rear setbacks where abutting residential property (§ 11-1.43.05; mixed-use overlay development standards also in another part of the code) .
  • Affordable housing incentives and concessions (density or parking waivers, height, setback adjustments) are listed in § 11-1.43.08 with the process for requesting concessions under state density bonus law (§ 11-1.43.08) .

Practical guidance: mixed-use submissions usually require a conditional use permit and objective compliance with Table 11-1.43.B; if your project includes affordable units you should review the concessions list early because it affects height, FAR, and parking expectations (§ 11-1.43.01–08) .

24000 Crenshaw Boulevard Specific Plan (special district)

• The Specific Plan applies to the parcel at 24000 Crenshaw Blvd. and establishes its own standards:
  • Density cap 88 units/acre and maximum of 1 unit / 490 sq ft net land area (§ 11-1.27.03) .
  • Building height: 64 ft (slightly different numeric tolerances listed for two property lines) (§ 11-1.27.04) .
  • Setbacks: Front (Crenshaw Blvd.) 16 ft, Rear (east property line) 34 ft, Side (Lomita Blvd.) 10 ft (§ 11-1.27.05) .

Practical guidance: projects on or adjacent to the Specific Plan parcel must follow the Specific Plan standards, which differ materially from base commercial/residential rules — always read § 11-1.27.01–07 for that site-specific set of rules .

Other special zones & standards

• O-S (Open Space): minimum lot area 5,000 sq ft, height limit 35 ft (Sec. 11-1.26.06) .
• Zone P (parking overlay): properties in P follow the standards of the zone to which the suffix is added; parking uses are limited to paving, wheel stops, and low walls per § 11-1.34.03 .
• Walls / screening where commercial abuts residential: 6 ft masonry wall typically required (§ 11-1.42.03) .

Quick reference table — decision-relevant standards

Checklist

• Confirm base zoning for the parcel (A-1, R-1, R-2, R-3, DC, NC, CC, RC, or special plan). Verify via the city zoning map and § 11-1.30.02 / § 11-1.42.01 .
• Check applicable overlays or Specific Plans (e.g., Mixed‑Use overlay, 24000 Crenshaw SP) and their tables (§ 11-1.43.05, § 11-1.27.01–07) .
• Reconcile proposed building height with zone max (e.g., 27 ft, 35 ft, 64 ft) — see the zone’s § above (§ 11-1.30.02 / § 11-1.42.01 / § 11-1.27.04) .
• Check FAR and lot coverage caps; for ADUs use the ADU subsection limits (§ 11-1.30.02, § 11-1.30.06) .
• Run the parking requirement against Article 66 and ADU exceptions (see parking and § 11-1.30.06 (G)(6)) .
• If modifying setbacks, plan for modification/site plan review and check the modification standards § 11-1.70.08 and site plan standards § 11-1.70.07 (see notes in § 11-1.30.02) .
• If abutting residential property prepare for masonry walls / screening and conformance with landscaping rules (§ 11-1.42.03 and Article 82 / § 11-1.68.03) .
• For projects seeking concessions/density bonus, review § 11-1.43.08 and coordinate with planner early .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Lomita’s zoning ordinance sets different height, setback, lot‑size, lot‑coverage and FAR rules depending on the zone: low‑density A‑1/R‑1 properties are limited to about 27 ft and a .60 FAR, medium/high residential allow higher density and coverage, commercial zones typically allow 1:1 FAR and zero front setbacks but require a 10 ft buffer where they touch housing, and special areas (mixed‑use overlay, the 24000 Crenshaw Specific Plan) have their own tables and taller height limits. Always check the exact section for your zone: residential rules are in § 11-1.30.02, commercial in § 11-1.42.01, mixed‑use in § 11-1.43.05, and the Crenshaw plan in § 11-1.27.01–07 .

Source References

• Lomita Municipal Code: Residential Development Standards, Table 11‑1.30.B — § 11-1.30.02. See the uploaded zoning code extract for Table 11‑1.30.B and notes.
• Lomita Municipal Code: General residential standards — § 11-1.30.03 (landscaping/front yard irrigation)
• Lomita Municipal Code: ADU requirements and limits (attached/detached setbacks, FAR cap, parking exceptions) — ADU subsection in § 11-1.30.06 (ADU rules)
• Lomita Municipal Code: Commercial zone development standards, Table 11‑1.42.A — § 11-1.42.01 / Table 11‑1.42.A
• Lomita Municipal Code: Mixed‑use standards and Table 11‑1.43.B — § 11-1.43.05 and affordable incentives § 11-1.43.08
• Lomita Municipal Code: 24000 Crenshaw Boulevard Specific Plan standards — § 11-1.27.01–07 (density, height, setbacks)
• Lomita Municipal Code: Special development standards, walls and buffers where commercial abuts residential — § 11-1.42.03

Retrieved passages

• Lomita Zoning Code (section 11-) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 3 (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Lomita Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Lomita Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• CBC § 3 (Article 27.) High relevance show source text
• Lomita Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Lomita Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Lomita Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Lomita Municipal Code: Residential Development Standards, Table 11‑1.30.B — **§ 11-1.30.02**. See the uploaded zoning code extract for Table 11‑1.30.B and notes. (§ 11-1.30.02)
• Lomita Municipal Code: General residential standards — **§ 11-1.30.03** (landscaping/front yard irrigation) (§ 11-1.30.03)
• Lomita Municipal Code: ADU requirements and limits (attached/detached setbacks, FAR cap, parking exceptions) — ADU subsection in **§ 11-1.30.06** (ADU rules) fileciteturn0file3turn0file16 (§ 11-1.30.06)
• Lomita Municipal Code: Commercial zone development standards, Table 11‑1.42.A — **§ 11-1.42.01** / Table 11‑1.42.A (§ 11-1.42.01)
• Lomita Municipal Code: Mixed‑use standards and Table 11‑1.43.B — **§ 11-1.43.05** and affordable incentives **§ 11-1.43.08** fileciteturn0file5turn0file18 (§ 11-1.43.05)
• Lomita Municipal Code: 24000 Crenshaw Boulevard Specific Plan standards — **§ 11-1.27.01–07** (density, height, setbacks) fileciteturn0file4turn0file1 (§ 11-1.27.01)
• Lomita Municipal Code: Special development standards, walls and buffers where commercial abuts residential — **§ 11-1.42.03** (§ 11-1.42.03)
• Lomita_ZoningCode.md

• Official Lomita code library