Local zoning · Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach — Zoning

Zoning under the Redondo Beach local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Redondo Beach’s zoning rules are codified in the Municipal Code's zoning chapters (collectively the "Zoning Ordinance") and are organized to pair a written rule set with an official map that locates each zone on parcels. The ordinance divides the city into residential, commercial, mixed‑use, industrial, and public zones and adds overlay zones (for example the (H) historic overlay and the (AHO) affordable housing overlay) that layer extra rules over a base zone. The ordinance defines land‑use permissions, development standards (height, FAR, setbacks), and interpretation rules for map boundaries; applicants must consult both the zoning text and the Official Zoning Map on file with the City. § 10‑2.101 and § 10‑2.201

Each district subsection below names the local district designation in bold, gives the stated purpose, typical permitted uses, key dimensional rules (where the code lists them), and where the rules apply. Where a precise numeric standard is not present in the retrieved text for a given district, the entry says "Not found in retrieved materials" and points you to the controlling code reference.

Note on maps and boundaries: the Code treats the Zoning Map as a controlling component of the Ordinance and supplies rules for interpreting approximate map lines (e.g., boundaries following lot lines, rights‑of‑way, or requiring Planning Commission interpretation). Consult § 10‑2.101(b) and § 10‑2.202 for map interpretation rules. § 10‑2.101; § 10‑2.202

R-1 (Single‑Family Residential Zone)

  • Purpose: Preserve single‑family neighborhoods and ensure light, air, privacy, compatible design. § 10‑5.500
  • Typical permitted uses: Primary single‑family dwellings, limited accessory uses and supportive/transitional/employee housing where consistent with the zone’s standards. See the R‑1 land use schedule. § 10‑5.501
  • Key dimensional standards: The code places development standards and a land‑use schedule in the R‑1 division; for precise lot area, setbacks and height limits consult the R‑1 development standards table in § 10‑5.501 (picture table in the code). § 10‑5.501
  • Where it applies: Citywide single‑family neighborhoods identified on the Official Zoning Map. § 10‑2.101

R-1A (Single‑Family Residential Zone)

  • Purpose and uses: Same intent as R‑1 (see § 10‑2.500/§ 10‑2.501) with local variations in permitted lot types; consult the R‑1A land‑use schedule. § 10‑2.500; § 10‑2.501

R-2 (Low‑Density Multiple‑Family Residential)

  • Purpose: Allow low‑density multifamily development consistent with General Plan. § 10‑2.300
  • Typical uses: Small multifamily, duplexes and accessory uses per land‑use schedule. § 10‑2.501 (land‑use schedules)
  • Standards: See the R‑2 land use and development tables in Article 2. Not found in retrieved materials: single numeric setbacks and FAR for R‑2 in the snippets provided. Verify with the code tables in § 10‑5.5xx. § 10‑5.*

R-3 / R-3A (Low‑Density Multiple‑Family)

  • Purpose & uses: Multi‑family housing at low density; specific rules for R‑3A are stated. § 10‑5.102; § 10‑5.515
  • Key numeric standards for R‑3A: maximum height 30 ft, maximum 2 stories, lot‑area per unit and maximum density 17.5 du/net acre (lots <5,000 sf → 1 unit; ≥5,000 sf → 1 unit per 2,490 sf). § 10‑5.515

RMD (Medium‑Density Multiple‑Family)

  • Purpose: Medium‑density multifamily consistent with the General Plan. § 10‑2.300
  • Uses and standards: See Article 2 land‑use schedule and development standards for RMD; specific numeric entries not present in retrieved snippets. Verify with § 10‑5.5xx. Not found in retrieved materials. § 10‑5.*

RH‑1, RH‑2, RH‑3 (High‑Density Multiple‑Family)

  • Purpose: Higher density multi‑family housing; uses and standards listed in Article 2. § 10‑2.300
  • Standards: Not found in retrieved materials – consult the RH-specific development standards in Article 2. § 10‑5.*

R‑MHP (Mobile Home Park)

  • Purpose and uses: Mobile home park regulation and compatible uses; see Article 2 land‑use schedule. § 10‑2.300

C‑1, C‑2, C‑3, C‑4, C‑5 (Commercial Zones and Variants)

  • Purpose: Commercial activities, retail, office and service uses appropriate to each subzone (C‑2/C‑3/C‑4/C‑5 have subvariants such as C‑2A, C‑2B, and PD overlays). § 10‑2.300
  • Uses: Land‑use schedules list permitted (“P”) and conditional (“C”) uses for each commercial subzone; see the code’s tables in Article 2. § 10‑5.* (Article 2 land‑use schedules)
  • Standards: Many commercial zones have FAR, height, and story limits defined in their development standards sections; one coastal commercial example (CC‑5) caps FAR at 2.25 and establishes height limits by area (15 ft, 40 ft, 60 ft) and story limits (1, 3, 5) depending on the sub‑area. § 10‑5.816

CC‑1 … CC‑5 (Coastal Commercial Zones)

  • Purpose: Manage development in the Coastal Zone and protect harbor/ocean views where specified (harbor/view protections for CC‑1 and CC‑3 are explicit). § 10‑5.102; § 10‑5.811
  • Example numeric standards: CC‑5 FAR 2.25, and tiered height/story limits by area are in § 10‑5.816. § 10‑5.816
  • Additional coastal rules: New development may be required to preserve specific percentages of view corridors and to use story poles for view impact verification. § 10‑5.811

CR (Commercial / Residential Mixed Zone)

  • Purpose & uses: Allows mixed residential and commercial uses where appropriate; see the mixed‑use sections and land‑use schedules in Article 2. § 10‑2.300; Article 2 land‑use tables

MU‑1, MU‑2, MU‑3 (Mixed‑Use Zones)

  • Purpose: Encourage mixed residential/commercial projects in appropriate areas. The MU‑2 zone is expressly listed in the Coastal zoning divisions. § 10‑2.300; § 10‑5.300

I‑1, I‑2, I‑2A, IC‑1 (Industrial Zones)

  • Purpose: Provide for light and general industrial uses; I‑2A includes special additional regulations. § 10‑5.1010 et seq.
  • Example numeric standards for I‑2A: FAR 1.0, building height 30 ft, maximum 2 stories, and minimum 15 ft front setback. § 10‑5.1016

P (Public / Park / Community Facility Zones — e.g., P‑ROW, P‑CF)

  • Purpose: Sites for public uses and facilities. § 10‑2.300; § 10‑5.1115/1116
  • Example: P‑ROW standards include FAR 0.1, height 15 ft, 20 ft street setback and 5 ft side/rear setbacks. § 10‑5.1115
  • P‑CF community facility: FAR determined by Planning Commission Design Review; height limits 45 ft (or 30 ft within 300 ft of the beach). § 10‑5.1116

Overlay and Special Zones

  • (H) Historic Overlay Zone: Preserves landmarks and allows alternative uses for landmark/district buildings while leaving the underlying zone in effect; overlay shown on the zoning map as the underlying zone symbol followed by (H). § 10‑5.1400; § 10‑5.1410
  • (AHO) Affordable Housing Overlay: Incentivizes housing by allowing housing where otherwise not permitted and raising minimum densities for AHO projects; tiers and rules (Tier 1 and Tier 2) and relationship to the underlying zone are codified in § 10‑2.1434–10‑2.1444. § 10‑2.1434; § 10‑2.1436; § 10‑2.1438

Quick reference table — selected decision‑relevant standards and uses

District / Topic Fast take (typical standard or permitted use) Code Reference
R‑1 Single‑family lots; land‑use schedule and development standards in R‑1 division (see table). § 10‑5.500 – § 10‑5.501
R‑3A Max 30 ft height; max 2 stories; density rules: 17.5 du/acre, special lot area per unit rules. § 10‑5.515
CC‑5 (coastal) FAR 2.25; tiered height limits (15/40/60 ft) and story limits (1/3/5). Coastal view protections may apply. § 10‑5.816; § 10‑5.811
I‑2A Industrial: FAR 1.0, height 30 ft, 2 stories, 15 ft front setback. § 10‑5.1016; § 10‑5.1011
P‑ROW Low intensity public right‑of‑way uses: FAR 0.1, height 15 ft, 20 ft street setback. § 10‑5.1115
Overlay (H) Adds historic preservation standards to the underlying zone; underlying rules remain in effect. § 10‑5.1400 – § 10‑5.1415
Official Zoning Map The Zoning Map is a component of the ordinance and map‑boundary interpretation rules are set out in the text. § 10‑2.101; § 10‑2.202

How the process and rules interact (practical guidance)

  • Always check the Official Zoning Map against the ordinance text: the code treats the map as part of the ordinance and gives rules for ambiguous boundaries (map follows lot/properties, ROWs, or scale on the map; Planning Commission can interpret ambiguous boundaries). § 10‑2.101(b); § 10‑2.202
  • Some numeric standards (setbacks, FAR, height) are given in each zone’s development standards; others are set by design review or decision‑making body (for example P‑CF FAR/ set‑ backs are determined by Planning Commission Design Review). § 10‑5.1116 — consult the zone’s development standards table for the parcel’s zone. For built‑form design and discretionary review rules see the Design Review provisions. See the city’s Redondo Beach Design Review page for process context.
  • Parking minimums and loading requirements are in Article 5 (apply across many zones); verify parking counts against Article 5 rules. See Redondo Beach Parking. § 10‑5.* (Article 5)
  • Overlays modify or add to the underlying zone. For example an (H) overlay preserves historic resources while leaving base‑zone rules active; (AHO) can permit housing where it otherwise would not be allowed and set minimum densities for housing projects that opt into the overlay provisions. § 10‑5.1410; § 10‑2.1434–10‑2.1444
  • Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are addressed by state law and local ADU rules — review the City ADU rules and Redondo Beach ADUs plus state ADU law if you plan an ADU. Not all ADU specifics were captured in the retrieved zoning snippets. See § 10‑2.505 (two‑unit projects/urban lot split rules) for related ministerial two‑unit approval rules. § 10‑2.505

Links you should check early in a project: city development standards, parking, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) for building‑code work once the zoning entitlement is in hand.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy before the City will accept/approve typical development)

  • Confirm the parcel’s base zone on the Official Zoning Map and interpret boundary lines per § 10‑2.202. § 10‑2.202
  • Confirm permitted uses in the zone’s land‑use schedule (Article 2 tables per zone; e.g., § 10‑5.501 for R‑1). § 10‑5.501
  • Verify dimensional standards (height, stories, FAR, setbacks) in the zone’s development standards section (Article 2; see R‑3A example in § 10‑5.515). § 10‑5.515
  • Check overlays that apply (for example (H) or (AHO)) and whether the project elects to use overlay incentives; follow overlay rules for relationship to underlying zone. § 10‑5.1410; § 10‑2.1434
  • Meet off‑street parking and loading requirements in Article 5 and include compliance documentation. § 10‑5.* (Article 5)
  • Determine if project is ministerial (e.g., two‑unit ministerial actions in § 10‑2.505) or requires discretionary permits (Conditional Use Permit, Coastal Development Permit, Design Review, Variance), and assemble the correct application package. § 10‑2.505; Article 12 (procedures)
  • If in the Coastal Zone, confirm Coastal Development Permit requirements (Coastal Land Use Plan implementing ordinance). § 10‑5.100 – § 10‑5.102
  • If required by the Community Development Director, be prepared to record covenants guaranteeing compliance before permits or Certificates of Occupancy are issued. § 10‑2.202(d)

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue Why it matters What to verify
Zone boundary ambiguity Map lines are sometimes approximate (follow lot lines, ROWs, or map scale); misreading the boundary changes permitted uses and standards. Verify the parcel’s designation with Planning staff and request an official interpretation per § 10‑2.202. § 10‑2.202
Overlay interactions (e.g., (H), (AHO)) Overlays can both add protections and permit exceptions/incentives; failure to apply overlay rules can block entitlements. Confirm which overlay(s) apply and whether the project elects overlay incentives; see § 10‑5.1410 and § 10‑2.1434. § 10‑5.1410; § 10‑2.1434
Coastal view and harbor protections in CC zones Some CC zones (CC‑1 and CC‑3) have quantified view‑preservation requirements and story‑pole procedures — noncompliance can halt approval. For waterfront projects, check § 10‑5.811 and CC‑zone rules early and expect story‑pole/view studies. § 10‑5.811
Where standards are discretionary (design review) Some zones leave setbacks/FAR to design review or decision bodies (e.g., P‑CF). That creates uncertainty for initial project sizing. Confirm whether the relevant standards are fixed or subject to Planning Commission/Director review (see § 10‑5.1116 and design review rules). § 10‑5.1116; design review provisions
Nonlisted numeric values in snippets Many zone tables (setbacks, lot coverage) were shown as images in the retrieved file and not text‑extractable. Pull the full code PDF/website or contact Planning to get the zone table for the parcel. If not in the retrieved materials, write "Verify with the jurisdiction." Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the jurisdiction.

Plain‑English summary

Redondo Beach’s zoning divides the city into named base zones (like R‑1, R‑3A, CC‑5, I‑2A) that say what you may build and how big it can be; overlays (for historic or affordable housing policy) layer additional rules or incentives on top of the base zone. Always check the Official Zoning Map, the specific zone’s land‑use schedule and development standards in Article 2, and any overlay rules before designing a project — if a zone’s numeric standard isn’t obvious from the code excerpt, verify with the City. § 10‑2.101; § 10‑5.500; § 10‑2.1434

Source References

  • Redondo Beach Municipal Code, Zoning Ordinance (Title / Chapter references in the Municipal Code): § 10‑2.100 – § 10‑2.102 (title, components, purposes).
  • General rules and map interpretation, § 10‑2.201 – § 10‑2.202 (applicability; map boundary rules; covenants).
  • Zoning district list and Coastal Zone districts (division of zones), § 10‑2.300; § 10‑5.300.
  • Single‑family R‑1 purposes and land‑use schedule: § 10‑5.500 – § 10‑5.501.
  • R‑3A development standards (height, stories, density): § 10‑5.515.
  • Coastal Zone implementing ordinance and coastal purposes: § 10‑5.100 – § 10‑5.102.
  • CC‑5 coastal commercial development standards and CC view protections: § 10‑5.816; § 10‑5.811.
  • P‑ROW and P‑CF development standards: § 10‑5.1115; § 10‑5.1116.
  • Industrial I‑2A rules (uses; FAR; setbacks): § 10‑5.1011; § 10‑5.1016.
  • Historic Overlay (H): § 10‑5.1400 – § 10‑5.1415.
  • Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) and related schedules: § 10‑2.1434 – § 10‑2.1444; land‑use schedule excerpt § 10‑2.1438.
  • Urban two‑unit ministerial project rules (urban lot splits / two‑unit projects): § 10‑2.505.

Primary source: Redondo Beach Municipal Code (Zoning Ordinance), downloaded from the city code host: https://ecode360.com/RE4995

Sources

Retrieved passages

  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (ARTICLE 1) High relevance
  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (section which) High relevance
  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (section which) High relevance
  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (Title 7) High relevance
  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (§ 10-5.1320) High relevance
  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (Section 10-2.2500) High relevance
  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (Chapter 5) High relevance
  • Redondo Beach Zoning Code (§ 10-5.513) High relevance

Cited sections

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an R‑1 lot in Redondo Beach?

On a R‑1 lot you may build single‑family dwellings and associated accessory uses allowed in the R‑1 land‑use schedule; the specific permitted uses and any conditional uses are listed in the R‑1 land‑use table in Article 2. Check § 10‑5.500 – § 10‑5.501 for the R‑1 purposes and the land‑use schedule and verify numeric development standards (setbacks, lot coverage) in the R‑1 development standards table. § 10‑5.500; § 10‑5.501

What are Redondo Beach setback requirements?

Setbacks are set in each zone’s development standards in Article 2; some zones list numeric setbacks (for example I‑2A lists a 15 ft front setback in § 10‑5.1016), while other zones may leave certain setbacks to design review. If you don’t see the numeric setback in the snippet you reviewed, pull the full zone table for the parcel or ask Planning to confirm. § 10‑5.1016; § 10‑5.1116

Do I need design review in Redondo Beach?

Design Review is required where a zone or development procedure mandates it (many discretionary approvals such as Planning Commission or Waterfront/Harbor reviews include design findings). Also, some standards (for example P‑CF setbacks and FAR) are determined by Planning Commission Design Review. Confirm with the zone’s development standards and Article 12 procedures. § 10‑5.1116; design review provisions

Where is the Official Zoning Map kept and how are boundary disputes handled?

The Official Zoning Map is a component of the ordinance and is on file with the City Clerk and the Community Development Director; the code contains rules for interpreting boundaries (map follows property lines, ROWs, or the map scale) and allows the Planning Commission to make written boundary interpretations if uncertainty remains. § 10‑2.101; § 10‑2.202

Are there special harbor/coastal rules for development in the CC zones?

Yes. Coastal commercial zones (the CC series) have coastal‑zone specific rules including FAR/height/story limits (for example CC‑5 FAR 2.25, tiered heights) and explicit harbor/ocean view preservation standards (quantified percentages for some CC areas and story‑pole verification requirements). See § 10‑5.816 and § 10‑5.811 for details. § 10‑5.816; § 10‑5.811

How does an overlay like (H) affect the underlying zone?

The (H) historic overlay adds preservation requirements while leaving the underlying base zone in full force — properties in an H overlay are labeled on the Zoning Map with the underlying zone followed by (H). The overlay allows alternative uses for landmark properties to preserve historic resources. § 10‑5.1400; § 10‑5.1410

Can I do a ministerial two‑unit project or urban lot split in R‑1?

The Code provides a ministerial two‑unit project pathway (urban lot split / two‑unit project) with specific requirements (lot legal subdivision, zone must be R‑1 or R‑1A, site exclusions, recorded deed restrictions/easements). Approval is ministerial by the Community Development Director if all requirements are met. See § 10‑2.505 for the full list of conditions and procedures. § 10‑2.505

Where are parking rules I must meet?

Off‑street parking and loading rules are in Article 5 of the zoning chapter; those standards apply to development in most zones and will affect unit counts and commercial floor‑area planning. Consult Article 5 and the city’s parking guidance. § 10‑5.* (Article 5)

What if the code table I need is an image in the online version and I can’t read it?

Several land‑use and development tables in the Municipal Code are presented as image tables in the retrieved file excerpts. If numeric values aren’t legible, request a text copy from Planning or pull the official code entry on the city’s code host; when uncertain, write "Verify with the jurisdiction." Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction. ---

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