Long Beach Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Long Beach’s land-use law is codified in the City’s Zoning Regulations found in Title 21 of the Long Beach Municipal Code (the “Zoning Regulations”), which sets the citywide rules, district map and the procedures that govern where uses are allowed and how buildings are developed. The Zoning Regulations define the district system and the map that divides the city into residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, park, planned-development and overlay zones and prescribe the administrative review paths (ministerial and discretionary) for development approvals. See the Zoning Regulations’ definition of the ordinance and the establishment of districts in § 21.15.3410 and § 21.30.010 .

How Long Beach's code is organized

• The city’s zoning text and map together are the Zoning Regulations (the ordinance) and are organized by chapters for district groups and procedures: general provisions and definitions, district chapters (e.g., Residential Ch. 21.31; Commercial Ch. 21.32; Industrial Ch. 21.33; Institutional Ch. 21.34; Park Ch. 21.35), special districts (Planned Development Ch. 21.37), and procedure chapters (Chapter 21.25 and Chapter 21.21 for hearings/process). See the ordinance definition at § 21.15.3410 and the district-chapter layout in § 21.30.010 and Table 30‑1 .
• The code points readers to subject-specific chapters for common technical standards: off‑street parking is handled in Chapter 21.41 (referenced from district chapters) and landscaping in Chapter 21.42; fences are in Chapter 21.43 and on‑site signs in Chapter 21.44. See references to those chapters in district standards such as § 21.33.190 and § 21.33.200 .
• Administrative authority and interpretations rest with the Zoning Administrator (defined in § 21.15.3380) and the code authorizes minor modifications and written interpretations by the Zoning Administrator or referral to the Planning Commission (see § 21.10.045 and § 21.10.047) .

(If you want the code menu quickly: the city keeps the zoning map on file at the Department of Planning and Building and the use district map is incorporated into the ordinance—see § 21.30.030 .)

Zoning district families

Long Beach groups districts into chapter-based “families.” Representative highlights (use the chapter citations below to read permitted uses and tables):

• Residential districts (Ch. 21.31) — includes single‑family small‑lot R‑1‑S, single‑family medium R‑1‑M, duplex/multi‑family, and specialized planned-unit and residential planned development types; see Chapter 21.31 (Table 31‑1 and related text) and the PUD provisions § 21.31.300–§ 21.31.360 .
• Planned Unit Developments (PUD / Residential PUD) — the PUD is an established residential district form with its own procedures and required concurrent Site Plan Review and rezoning; creation and modification rules are in § 21.31.300–§ 21.31.325 and procedures at § 21.31.320 .
• Commercial districts (Ch. 21.32) — district types include CO-Office Commercial, CH-Highway Commercial, Community Automobile-Oriented (CCA), Community Pedestrian-Oriented (CCP) and special community/comparative categories; see § 21.32.010–§ 21.32.020 for the district list and purposes .
• Industrial districts (Ch. 21.33) — industrial use rules and accessory-office limits, rooftop screening and parking cross‑references are in Chapter 21.33 (see § 21.33.170–§ 21.33.190) .
• Institutional (I) district (Ch. 21.34) — sites over certain sizes require long‑range development plans and site plan review; see § 21.34.010–§ 21.34.020 .
• Planned Development (PD) districts (Ch. 21.37) — a separate PD framework exists for mixed‑use or special‑policy areas; PD districts are listed (e.g., PD‑2 Belmont Pier, PD‑6 Downtown Shoreline, PD‑30 Downtown Long Beach, etc.) and carry ordinance‑specific standards; see § 21.37.110–§ 21.37.150 and the PD list at § 21.37.120 .
• Specific Plans (SP) — the code recognizes specific plans (SP‑1 Midtown, SP‑2 Southeast Area, SP‑3 Globemaster Corridor are cross‑referenced from PDs) and treats each SP as a regulatory overlay with council‑adopted standards (see § 21.37.200–§ 21.37.230) .
• Overlay districts — the code includes stand‑alone overlay chapters such as the Horse Overlay (H) (Chapter 21.38) that add rules on top of the underlying zone; see § 21.38.010 .

(When scanning the code for district names, consult Table 30‑1 and the district chapters: § 21.30.010 and the district tables in Chapters 21.31–21.35 .)

Citywide development standards

Long Beach organizes its technical standards in a mix of district tables and cross‑referenced, subject‑specific chapters.

• Where general site standards live: district chapters contain lot size, setback, height and coverage tables; when district text refers to a technical standard, the chapter points to a specialist chapter (for example, parking rules are handled in Chapter 21.41 and landscaping in Chapter 21.42) — see a district cross‑reference at § 21.33.190 and § 21.33.200 . Link to the city’s central page for development standards here: Long Beach Development Standards.
• Typical standards called out in the code: building height and story limits and numeric lot/coverage requirements are set in each district’s table (see Residential PUD example table and notes in Chapter 21.31, especially § 21.31.360 and the PUD standards table) . Where a PD or SP is silent, the Zoning Administrator applies the closest applicable standard (see § 21.37.150 and § 21.37.230) .
• Off‑street parking and loading: parking quantities and design are regulated in Chapter 21.41; individual district chapters require compliance by cross‑reference (see § 21.33.190, § 21.31.280, and similar cross‑references) — consult the city’s parking guidance: Long Beach Parking .
• Design, screening and landscaping: rooftop equipment screening and related design requirements are located in the district chapters (e.g., rooftop screening standards in § 21.33.180), while the city’s design review and required landscaping references point to Chapters 21.42 and the site plan/site design procedure chapters. See § 21.33.180 and the cross‑references at § 21.33.200 for landscaping and § 21.33.190 for parking . Link to the city’s design‑review landing: Long Beach Design Review.
• Signs, fences and screening are handled in Chapters 21.43–21.44 (district chapters consistently refer to those chapters for accessory site elements; e.g., fences—see § 21.33.210) . Link to signage: Long Beach Signage.
• Landscaping and screening rules are applied via Chapter 21.42 and cross‑references in district text (see § 21.31.285 and related sections) — see Long Beach Landscaping and Screening .

Specific plans & overlays

• Specific plans (SPs) are formal, council‑adopted regulatory documents recognized by the Zoning Regulations; the code lists SPs and requires they carry their own development standards; where an SP is silent the Zoning Administrator chooses the closest applicable standard (see § 21.37.200–§ 21.37.230) .
• The PD/Specific Plan rollup: many older PD areas were superseded by SPs (for example, PD‑29 is superseded by SP‑1 Midtown Specific Plan; PD‑13 references SP‑3 Globemaster Corridor Specific Plan) — see the PD list and cross‑references at § 21.37.120 and the PD-to‑SP notes in the code .
• Overlay districts (e.g., the Horse Overlay (H)) add supplemental rules while deferring to the underlying zone for other standards; see the overlay purpose and permitted uses in § 21.38.010 and Table 38‑1 . For a consolidated index of overlays see Long Beach Overlay Districts and the city’s historic overlay resources: Long Beach Historic Preservation.

Building permits & review

• Two tracks: ministerial (building permits that are consistent with zoning and building codes) and discretionary (planning entitlements such as conditional use permits, variances, site plan review, rezoning, specific plans). The code defines “Planning Entitlement” and describes which residential and nonresidential projects need planning approval in § 21.25 divisions and in the district chapters; see the planning‑entitlement definition and residential development rules at § 21.37.?? and in the planning‑procedures divisions (Planning Entitlement text appears in the code’s definitions) .
• Site Plan Review and approval bodies: many districts require Site Plan Review through Division V of Chapter 21.25 and the Site Plan Review Committee, Planning Commission and City Council hear different permit levels; the PUD creation and modification process is an example: PUD rezoning requires Planning Commission recommendation and City Council action (see § 21.31.320) . Site Plan Review is explicitly required in many district chapters (for example, § 21.32.030 for commercial districts) .
• Administrative discretion & minor modifications: the Zoning Administrator can interpret the ordinance and grant minor modifications outside the Coastal Zone when practical difficulties arise (see § 21.10.045 and § 21.10.047) .
• Coastal and other special permits: where projects are in the Coastal Zone or submerged lands the local coastal development permit and Division IX of Chapter 21.25 applies — see the scope/exclusions and coastal references in § 21.10.030 .
• Building‑code / plan‑check: structural and life‑safety construction is reviewed under the California Building Standards (Title 24); local permitting proceeds after planning entitlements and must comply with the building code — consult the city’s building permit counter and the statewide code: California Building Standards Code.

State housing law in Long Beach

Long Beach’s local code references and integrates state housing rules in particular ways; below are code references and where the local code explicitly addresses state‑level incentives and restrictions.

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): The code explicitly restricts ADUs in some contexts — for example Accessory Dwelling Units are prohibited in a PUD per § 21.31.360(B). For the city’s ADU permit practice and how state ADU law applies, see the city ADU page and the statewide ADU rules: Long Beach ADUs and California ADU law .
• Density bonus / inclusionary housing: Long Beach has an inclusionary housing chapter (Chapter 21.67) with on‑site requirements for projects of ten or more units and explicitly allows developers to request a density bonus, waivers or parking modifications under State density‑bonus law (Government Code § 65915) and the City’s Chapter 21.63. See § 21.67.050 and § 21.67.060 for the inclusionary requirement and the density bonus cross‑reference .
• SB 9 / lot splits and ministerial duplex conversions: the city code text in the materials retrieved does not show an explicit SB 9 implementing ordinance or numbered local section for SB 9 housing ministerial approvals in the retrieved excerpts. Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the Planning Department or look for a dedicated SB 9/ministerial housing chapter in the online municipal code or planning counter. If you need, consult statewide guidance: California housing laws.
• Rent control and eviction limitations: the returned Zoning Code excerpts and the inclusionary housing chapter address affordable unit requirements but do not show a local rent‑control ordinance text in the retrieved zoning materials. Not found in retrieved materials — confirm with the City Attorney or municipal code index.

Practical orientation / developer checklist (high level)

• Confirm the property’s base zoning on the City Zoning Map (Zoning Map on file at the Department of Planning and Building; see § 21.30.030) and identify any PD, SP, or overlay designations that will control the project .
• Read the applicable district chapter for permitted uses and the district table for numerical standards (setbacks, lot area, height, lot coverage) — district chapters are in Chapters 21.31–21.35 as applicable; if the site is in a PD or SP use that document first (see § 21.37.150 and § 21.37.230) .
• Check whether the project triggers Site Plan Review, Conditional Use Permit, or other discretionary entitlements (many districts require Site Plan Review—see § 21.32.030) and prepare to follow the Division V and Division VII procedures in Chapter 21.25 and hearing‑body processes in Chapter 21.21 .
• Anticipate the technical chapters: parking (Chapter 21.41), landscaping (Chapter 21.42), fences (Chapter 21.43), and signs (Chapter 21.44) for plan check and conditions — these are repeatedly cross‑referenced in the district chapters (see § 21.33.190 and § 21.33.200) .
• Expect the Zoning Administrator to be the first point for interpretations and minor modifications (see § 21.10.045 and § 21.10.047) and the Planning Commission/City Council if you are seeking rezoning, a PD, or a PUD (see § 21.31.320) .

Information Gaps (what was not found in the retrieved materials)

• The retrieved excerpts do not include a standalone, citywide ADU ordinance with state‑law crosswalk language (although ADUs are referenced in specific contexts like PUDs). Confirm the city’s up‑to‑date ADU procedures and ministerial checklists at the Planning counter or the ADU page: Long Beach ADUs .
• The retrieved materials do not contain an explicit local SB 9 implementing section or specific ministerial SB 9 checklist. Verify current SB 9 implementation with Planning staff or the municipal code index. Not found in retrieved materials.
• The zoning excerpts do not show a local rent‑control/just‑cause eviction chapter; verify separately with the City Clerk or municipal code index.

Source References

• Long Beach Municipal Code — Zoning Regulations (definitions and Zoning Regulations definition) — § 21.15.3410 .
• District establishment, map and Table 30‑1 — § 21.30.010, § 21.30.030 (zoning map) and Table 30‑1 .
• General scope and interpretation, minor modifications — § 21.10.030, § 21.10.040, § 21.10.045, § 21.10.047 .
• Residential districts, PUD rules and PUD procedures — Chapter 21.31; § 21.31.300–§ 21.31.325, § 21.31.360 (ADU prohibition in PUD) .
• Commercial districts and site plan review requirement — Chapter 21.32, § 21.32.020, § 21.32.030 .
• Industrial district standards including rooftop screening and parking cross‑refs — Chapter 21.33, § 21.33.170–§ 21.33.190 .
• Planned Development (PD) districts and specific plans (SPs) — Chapter 21.37, § 21.37.110–§ 21.37.160, § 21.37.200–§ 21.37.230, PD list at § 21.37.120 .
• Inclusionary housing and density bonus reference — Chapter 21.67, § 21.67.050 and § 21.67.060 (density bonus cross‑reference and standards) .
• Site plan review approval bodies, PUD and rezoning procedures — § 21.31.320 (PUD procedures) and various Chapter 21.25 division cross‑references .