Manhattan Beach — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

The City of Manhattan Beach codifies zoning in the Planning and Zoning Ordinance (Title 10), which divides the city into base districts and overlay districts, sets development and use rules, and keeps a zoning map on file with the City Clerk and Community Development Director. The code emphasizes preserving the city's low-profile residential character while permitting mixed and commercial uses in designated areas (§ 10.01.010; § 10.01.060) . For project-level decisions you will commonly need to check the base district rules, any overlay(s), and site regulations such as setbacks and parking; see the city's standards for parking and development standards.

PART II of the ordinance establishes the base zoning districts; PART III creates overlay districts; PART IV contains supplemental site regulations (setbacks, open space, measurement of height, etc.). Where the code defers interpretation, the Director of Community Development issues an interpretation subject to appeal (§ 10.01.040; § 10.01.070) .

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the actual Manhattan Beach base district designators and the code location for their standards. Where the uploaded materials include specific numeric standards or use controls for a district, those are summarized and tied to the controlling code section. Where the uploaded materials do not include a permitted-use list or numeric standard, the entry notes "Not found in retrieved materials" and points to the chapter that contains the district rules.

Note: the ordinance groups residential, commercial, and industrial districts and applies area-district modifiers (Area Districts I–IV) that change setbacks/height rules; verify the Area District for your lot on the zoning map (§ 10.01.060) .

RS (Single‑Family Residential)

• Purpose: Preserve single‑family neighborhood character; applied citywide in predominately single‑family neighborhoods (§ 10.01.030; Part II base district organization) .
• Typical permitted uses: Single‑family dwellings and accessory structures (specific use lists are in the RS chapter; not all items were present in retrieved snippets). Not found in retrieved materials for a complete list; see the RS chapter in Part II (§ 10.12) .
• Key dimensional/other standards:
  • Minimum street setbacks vary by street classification: 20–50 ft depending on whether a street is local, collector, or arterial (§ 10.60 series; see minimum setbacks table) .
  • Side yard: 5 ft interior side (§ 10.60 series) .
  • Fence/wall heights in required side/rear yards: 6 ft; front yards limited to 42 in (§ 10.60.150) .
• Where it applies: See the zoning map and Area District overlay; rule interpretations by the Director when unclear (§ 10.01.070) .

RM (Medium‑Density Residential)

• Purpose: Medium-density multifamily housing (see Part II). Full permitted‑use table not reproduced in the retrieved snippets — see Chapter for RM specifics (§ 10.01.060; Part II) .
• Key dimensional/standards:
  • Side setbacks: typically 10% of lot width but not less than 3 ft; exceptions for RM/RH zones where multifamily patterns differ (§ 10.60 subparts) .
  • Open space minimums and private usable space percentages (Area District dependent) — e.g., minimum usable open space 15% of buildable floor area for some units, not less than 220 sq ft (§ 10.60 / Open Space rules) .
• Where: RM standards cross‑refer to Area District rules; verify Area District classification on the zoning map (§ 10.01.060) .

RH (High‑Density Residential)

• Purpose: Higher intensity residential/multifamily; also used in mixed‑use contexts where permitted (§ 10.16.030 notes about dwelling units and RH crossover) .
• Typical permitted uses: Multifamily dwellings; some mixed‑use situations may require that the residential component follow RH rules when dwelling units are the sole use (§ 10.16.030 (A)) .
• Key dimensional/standards:
  • Side setbacks and rear setbacks follow RM/RH formulas (side: 10% lot width / min 3 ft; rear: formula RS = 0.3 × (lot depth) − 20, minimum 12 ft in Area Districts I & II) (§ 10.60 and § 10.60.040) .
  • Open space and parking rules apply as in Part IV; multifamily open‑space minima described in § 10.60 series (§ 10.60.???; see Open Space Requirement) .
• Where: See RH chapter in Part II and Area District table § 10.01.060 .

RPD (Residential Planned Development)

• Purpose: Planned residential developments with their own precise plan and standards; minimum site area 40,000 sq ft noted in RPD chapter (§ 10.14.* excerpts) .
• Key standards:
  • Minimum site area: 40,000 sq ft; minimum lot area per dwelling unit: 900 sq ft; maximum height 30 ft (with Planning Commission compatibility review) (§ 10.14.*) .
  • Maximum Floor Area Ratio: 1.5:1 (§ 10.14.*) .
• Where: Applied to planned developments; see RPD chapter for precise development permit criteria (§ 10.14) .

RSC (Residential Senior Citizen)

• Purpose: Large-parcel senior housing; minimum building site area 40,000 sq ft; some standards mirrored from RPD (§ 10.12 / RSC chapter) .
• Key standards: Minimum lot area and specific unit sizing/amenities required; see the RSC chapter for full list (§ 10.12) .

CL, CC, CG, CD, CNE (Commercial districts)

• Purpose: Different levels of commercial intensity — CL (Local Commercial), CC (Community Commercial), CG (General Commercial), CD (Downtown Commercial), CNE (North End Commercial) (§ 10.16.030) .
• Typical permitted uses: Retail, offices, restaurants, and other commercial activities per district schedule. Where residential replaces commercial in CD, commercial height rules may apply to dwelling conversions (§ 10.16.030) .
• Key dimensional standards (summary from the development schedule):
  • Minimum lot area: CL 4,000 sq ft; CC 10,000 sq ft; CG 5,000 sq ft; CD 2,700 sq ft; CNE 2,700 sq ft (§ 10.16.030) .
  • Maximum structure height: typically 30 ft (varies; CD may have special map-based heights) (§ 10.16.030; § 10.16.030(G)) .
  • Maximum Floor Area Factor (FAF): CL 1.0, CC/CG/CD/CNE 1.5 (§ 10.16.030) .
  • Specific corridors have special height limits (see corridor rules below) (§ 10.50/10.60 excerpts) .
• Where applies: Downtown and commercial corridors; overlays (for example D‑8 Sepulveda Corridor) modify allowable uses and standards (§ 10.44.040) .

IP (Industrial Park)

• Purpose: Industrial and flex uses; more generous height allowances but larger lot area minima to buffer residential neighborhoods (§ 10.24 / IP chapter) .
• Key numeric standards:
  • Minimum lot area 40,000 sq ft; minimum lot width 150 ft; front setback 25 ft; side 15 ft; rear 15 ft; maximum height up to 99 ft though average-building height may be limited to 85 ft (§ 10.24/IP district table) .
• Where applies: Light industrial parks and business parks; see IP chapter for performance and screening requirements (§ 10.24) .

OS (Open Space)

• Purpose: Parks and permanently preserved open space; uses limited to recreational/public open space (§ 10.24.010) .
• Key standards: Noted in OS chapter; refer to Chapter 10.24 for permitted activities and site requirements (§ 10.24) .

PS (Public and Semi‑Public), PD (Planned Development)

• Purpose and standards: PS and PD chapters contain the specific permitted public uses and planned‑development procedures; see Chapters in Part II and Part III. Not all numeric tables were present in the retrieved snippets — consult the PS/PD chapters for full lists (§ 10.01.060; Part II) .

Overlay districts (how overlays modify base rules)

• Overlays are shown by adding the overlay designator to the base district on the zoning map (for example -D, -IS) and can be combined with any base district (§ 10.44.020; § 10.36.020) . The D Design Overlay contains eight subdistricts (D1–D8) with subdistrict‑specific rules (e.g., D‑7 Longfellow Drive establishes minimum lot areas and prohibits subdivision; D‑8 Sepulveda Corridor creates flexible CG standards limited to certain uses) (§ 10.44.010–030) . See the city's page on overlay districts for context.

• Design review and overlay requirements: Many overlay actions require design controls and public hearings. If your property sits in a D overlay you must comply with the overlay's additional development regulations and any required design review; see the design review summary and the D‑overlay chapter (§ 10.44.030–040) .

Some decision‑relevant numeric standards (quick reference table)

(For the full, authoritative numeric schedule consult the specific district chapters in Part II and the site regulations in Part IV; many of the numbers above are cited directly from the ordinance excerpts provided) .

How permits and exceptions interact with zoning

• Use permits, variances, site development permits, and minor exceptions are the administrative tools for obtaining deviations or to establish conditionally permitted uses. The Planning Commission hears use permits and variances; the Community Development Director handles many minor exceptions and precise development plans (§ 10.84.020–030) .
• The IS (Interim Study) overlay allows discretionary review in areas under study; a use permit is generally required in an IS overlay (§ 10.36.010–040) .
• Nonconforming uses/structures have limits on enlargement and restoration; restoration after destruction depends on percent damaged (50% test) (§ 10.68.050) .

Checklist

An applicant should at minimum:

• Confirm the property's base district and Area District on the official zoning map and note any overlay (for example -D or -IS) (§ 10.01.060) .
• Review the base district chapter (e.g., CL, RH, IP) for permitted uses, minimum lot size, setbacks, and FAF (§ 10.16.030, district chapters) .
• Check overlay chapter requirements (e.g., D‑subdistricts) for added constraints such as maximum stories, special fence rules, or lot‑area restrictions (§ 10.44.010–040) .
• Calculate height using the ordinance measurement rules (average of four corners and the 20% allowance) (§ 10.60.050) .
• Prepare site plans showing setbacks, parking (consult parking), landscaping (see § 10.60.070), and refuse/ screening per Chapter 10.60 and 10.64 (§ 10.60.070; § 10.60.100) .
• Assemble application materials per § 10.84.030 (application, vicinity map, 500‑ft owner list, plans, and required fee) .
• Confirm whether the proposal requires design review; if so, follow the design review procedures and design overlay rules (§ 10.44 and design review chapters) .
• If proposing an ADU, confirm the city's ADU procedure and applicable local modifications to state ADU law (also consult the city's ADU page and state ADU law) — see the city's ADUs page and state rules California ADU law. If the local code conflicts with state ADU mandates, state law may control; verify with the Community Development Director. Not all ADU‑specific cross‑references were present in the retrieved materials. .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Manhattan Beach uses a structured zoning code (Title 10) with specific base districts like RS, RM, RH, CL, CG, and IP, plus overlays (for example the D design overlays) that add local rules. Key things to check for any project are your base district chapter (use rules and FAF), any overlay rules, height measurement (average-of-four‑corners and the 20% allowance), and the site rules for setbacks, parking, and landscaping (§ 10.01.060, § 10.60.050, Chapter 10.44) .

Source References

• Manhattan Beach Planning & Zoning Ordinance (Title 10), general provisions and district table: § 10.01.010, § 10.01.060
• Design Overlay District (D1–D8): § 10.44.010–040
• Corridor / special height & by‑right procedure: § 10.50.030 and corridor development language (Ord. 23‑0006)
• Measurement of height; 20% allowance and survey requirement: § 10.60.050
• Commercial district development schedule (CL/CC/CG/CD/CNE): § 10.16.030
• IP district development standards: IP table and notes (§ 10.24 / IP district)
• Site regulations (setbacks, open space, landscaping, parking principles): Part IV (Chapter 10.52, 10.60, 10.64)
• Variances, use permits, minor exceptions, application materials: Chapter 10.84 (decision authority and submittal requirements) § 10.84.020–030
• Nonconforming uses and restoration rules: Chapter 10.68 (50% restoration rule) § 10.68.050
• Manhattan Beach overlay and design rules summary (city material): Overlay Districts and Design Review (internal guidance pages)
• For ADU technical and state interplay consult Manhattan Beach's ADUs and the California ADU law guidance (local ADU procedures were not fully present in uploaded materials) .

Retrieved passages

• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 10.44) High relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Title 10) High relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 10.64) High relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Section 10.52.020) High relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 10.36) High relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 10.08.) High relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Section 10.68.030) Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Title 7) Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Section 10.84.120.) High relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (chapter and) Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Section 10.44.040) Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 10.64.) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 300 Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 10.68) Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Section 10.12.030) Medium relevance show source text
• California Building Code Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (Section 9.36.080) Medium relevance show source text
• Manhattan Beach Zoning Code (chapter and) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Manhattan Beach Planning & Zoning Ordinance (Title 10), general provisions and district table: § **10.01.010**, § **10.01.060** (Title 10)
• Design Overlay District (D1–D8): § **10.44.010–040**
• Corridor / special height & by‑right procedure: § **10.50.030** and corridor development language (Ord. 23‑0006)
• Measurement of height; 20% allowance and survey requirement: § **10.60.050**
• Commercial district development schedule (CL/CC/CG/CD/CNE): § **10.16.030**
• IP district development standards: IP table and notes (§ 10.24 / IP district) (§ 10.24)
• Site regulations (setbacks, open space, landscaping, parking principles): Part IV (Chapter **10.52**, **10.60**, **10.64**) fileciteturn2file0
• Variances, use permits, minor exceptions, application materials: Chapter **10.84** (decision authority and submittal requirements) § **10.84.020–030**
• Nonconforming uses and restoration rules: Chapter **10.68** (50% restoration rule) § **10.68.050**
• Manhattan Beach overlay and design rules summary (city material): Overlay Districts and Design Review (internal guidance pages) fileciteturn1file8
• For ADU technical and state interplay consult Manhattan Beach's ADUs and the California ADU law guidance (local ADU procedures were not fully present in uploaded materials) .
• ManhattanBeach_ZoningCode.md

• Official Manhattan Beach code library