Los Angeles County · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Los Angeles County?
In Los Angeles County, a church or other place of worship is needs a permit in 22 (A-1, A-2, R-R, R-A, R-1 and 17 more, 4 with a condition) and not allowed in 2 (Los Angeles County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: A-1, A-2, R-R, R-A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and 14 more
- Not allowed: O-S and W
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Los Angeles County Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
Los Angeles County's code calls this use “Churches, temples, or other places used exclusively for religious worship, including accessory educational and social activities”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| A-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.16.030 |
| A-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.16.030 |
| R-R | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.16.030 |
| R-A | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.18.030 |
| R-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.18.030 |
| R-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.18.030 |
| R-3 | Needs a ministerial site plan review — see note Note 1: Use shall not authorize such accessory activities unless specifically classified in this zone. | § 22.18.030 |
| R-4 | Needs a ministerial site plan review — see note Note 1: Use shall not authorize such accessory activities unless specifically classified in this zone. | § 22.18.030 |
| R-5 | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 1: Use shall not authorize such accessory activities unless specifically classified in this zone. | § 22.18.030 |
| C-H | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.20.030 |
| C-1 | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.20.030 |
| C-2 | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.20.030 |
| C-3 | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.20.030 |
| C-M | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.20.030 |
| C-MJ | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.20.030 |
| C-R | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: The use shall comply with the standards in Section 22.20.080 (Development Standards for Zone C-R). | § 22.20.030 |
| M-1 | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.22.030 |
| M-1.5 | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.22.030 |
| M-2 | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.22.030 |
| M-2.5 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 22.22.030 |
| C-RU | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.24.030 |
| MXD-RU | Needs a ministerial site plan review | § 22.24.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- No size split. 'Convents and monasteries' is a separate residential row.
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: M-3: S5 says premises 'may be used for any use' except the listed exceptions, so no per-use row exists; not comparable, no cells given; B-1 and B-2: S6 is a short list of allowed items (parking, landscaping, grading etc.) with none of the 16 uses; no cells given; Zone W has no cell for several uses because the row is '-' (given as no); Zones O-S/R-R/W belong to the Resort/Open space group in S1; Overlay and special districts in S8 to S70 (Santa Monica Mountains LIP, Coastal specific plans, Billboard, Parking, Equestrian, Green Zone, TOD specific plan) are not base zones and were not used. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Los Angeles County
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the A-1 zone in Los Angeles County?
Only with a conditional use permit. Los Angeles County's use table lists it that way in A-1 (§ 22.16.030).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the O-S zone in Los Angeles County?
No. Los Angeles County's use table does not allow it in O-S (§ 22.16.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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