West Hollywood — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of West Hollywood regulates what you can do with land and buildings under its zoning ordinance (commonly titled Title 19 in the posted materials; historically Title 17 references appear in practice). It explains which zoning districts exist, how allowed uses are shown in the land-use tables, what permit level is required, and where to look for the development standards and special overlays that modify allowed uses. The basic rules about allowable uses and permit types are set out in the zoning district tables (e.g., Table 2‑2, Table 2‑5) and the Zoning District Regulations. See the City overview and the formal zoning page for context: West Hollywood zoning & planning overview and West Hollywood Zoning. The Zoning Ordinance itself establishes that the permitted/conditional/admin categories are shown in the tables and tied to specific permit chapters (§ 19.04.040) .

How West Hollywood organizes land-use rules (quick)

• Allowed uses in each district are shown in tables (residential uses in Table 2‑2, commercial/public uses in Table 2‑5) and coded as P (permitted/zone clearance or development permit), AP (administrative permit), MCUP (minor conditional use permit), or CUP (conditional use permit). See § 19.04.040 for the rules that govern how the tables are read and what permit is needed (§ 19.04.040) .
• Zoning districts are listed in the code (residential, commercial/public, overlays) and shown on the Zoning Map; see § 19.04.020 for the full list of district symbols such as R1, R2, R3, R4, CN1, CN2, CC1, CC2, CA, CR, PF, PDCSP, and SSP (§ 19.04.020) .
• Where a parcel spans multiple districts, each portion must meet the standards of its district (with limited exceptions for connected subterranean parking) (§ 19.04.040(C)) .

You will also need to consult related topic pages when preparing an application: West Hollywood Development Standards, West Hollywood Parking, West Hollywood Design Review, West Hollywood Overlay Districts, and West Hollywood ADUs. For construction-level rules, confirm Title 24 (the California Building Standards Code) — the zoning ordinance directs consistency with those standards where permits intersect building work (§ 19.02.040) .

District-by-district breakdown (what matters for land use)

Below are the city’s primary zoning districts with the ordinance’s stated purpose, typical permitted uses (high-level), example dimensional controls where the code provides them or references tables, and where each district typically applies on the Zoning Map. For each, I cite the controlling ordinance provision. This is a synthesis — the full permitted-use tables (Table 2‑2, Table 2‑5) must be consulted for item-by-item determinations.

Note: bolded district symbols and numerical standards are emphasized for fast scanning.

R1 (Residential, Single‑Family or Two‑Unit Low Density)

• Purpose: Maintain single‑family character and low density; separate suffixes (R1‑A, R1‑B, R1‑C) modify density and standards per the Zoning Map (§ 19.06.020) .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes, two‑unit properties, and accessory uses such as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) (ADUs shown as P across residential zones in the tables; see Table 2‑2 and § 19.36.310) (§ 19.06.030; § 19.36.310) .
• Key dimensional standards (examples): minimum lot sizes and setbacks are handled by the subzone suffix and site-specific tables (see Table 2‑7 for the West Hollywood West Neighborhood Overlay example showing minimum lot area: 5,000 sq. ft. and FAR: 0.5) (§ 19.06.030; WHWNOD § 19.14.120) .
• Where applied: residential neighborhoods shown on the Zoning Map; refer to zoning-map suffixes for the R1 subtypes (§ 19.06.020) .

R2 (Residential, Low Density)

• Purpose: Low‑density multifamily alternatives; standards protect neighborhood character (§ 19.06.020) .
• Typical permitted uses: multi‑unit residential (permitted uses listed in Table 2‑2) and ADUs (P) (§ 19.06.030) .
• Key dimensional standards: density and setbacks vary by R2 rules in Table 2‑3/2‑4 references in the residential chapter (§ 19.06.020/§ 19.06.030) .
• Where applied: neighborhood areas designated R2 on the Zoning Map (§ 19.04.020) .

R3 / R3C‑C (Residential, Multi‑Family Medium‑Density; includes mixed R3C‑C)

• Purpose: Provide medium‑density multi‑family housing; certain R3C‑C and similar suffixes permit ground floor live/work or neighborhood-serving commercial as described in § 19.06.090 (§ 19.06.030; § 19.06.090) .
• Typical permitted uses: apartments, condominiums, live/work and limited ground‑floor commercial in R3C‑C variants (commercial uses limited to portions of lot area as specified) (§ 19.06.090) .
• Key dimensional standards: density and setbacks are zone‑suffix specific; see Table 2‑3/2‑4 (residential tables) and Article 19‑3 development standards (§ 19.06.030; § 19.04.040) .
• Where applied: multi‑family neighborhoods and select mixed‑use areas (§ 19.04.020) .

R4 / R4B‑C (Residential, Multi‑Family High‑Density)

• Purpose: Allow high‑density apartments/condos while ensuring compatibility with neighborhood scale; suffixes (R4A/R4B/R4B‑C) control specifics (§ 19.06.030) .
• Typical permitted uses: high‑density multi‑family residential; accessory uses and ADUs where allowed (§ 19.06.030) .
• Key dimensional standards: see the residential tables and site‑specific standards (Table 2‑3, 2‑4) and Article 19‑3 (§ 19.06.030; Article 19‑3 references) .

CN1 / CN2 (Commercial, Neighborhood 1 & 2)

• Purpose: CN1 supports low‑intensity neighborhood commercial and encourages second‑story residential; CN2 allows low‑intensity commercial but prohibits residential in the district (§ 19.10.020(A–B)) .
• Typical permitted uses: neighborhood retail, convenience shops, personal services; CN2 is commercial‑only (§ 19.10.020) .
• Key dimensional/use limits: specifics are in Table 2‑5 (commercial uses/permit level) and in Article 19‑3 for setbacks, etc. Overlays (e.g., -AB Avenue Bonus) can modify standards (§ 19.10.030; § 19.14.110) .
• Where applied: small commercial nodes and corridors per Zoning Map (§ 19.04.020) .

CC1 / CC2 (Commercial, Community 1 & 2)

• Purpose: Provide broader commercial services, entertainment, restaurants, offices, cultural uses; mixed‑use with residential above is encouraged except where the commercial‑only overlay applies (§ 19.10.020(C–D)) .
• Typical permitted uses: retail, restaurants, professional office, entertainment, small manufacturing related to design/creative industries; see Table 2‑5 for permit levels (§ 19.10.020; § 19.10.030) .
• Key dimensional standards: varied by subareas — check Article 19‑3 development standards and district tables; overlays (e.g., -GMU, -PK) can add exceptions (§ 19.14.110; § 19.04.020) .

CA (Commercial, Arterial) and CR (Commercial, Regional Center)

• Purpose: CA: arterial, entry corridors with a broad commercial mix; CR: principal activity/commercial centers serving regional markets (§ 19.10.020(E–F)) .
• Typical permitted uses: full range of commercial activities — shopping, restaurants, cultural/entertainment, hotels; permit level and details in Table 2‑5 (§ 19.10.030) .
• Key dimensional standards: district‑specific FAR, height and setback rules are in district tables and Article 19‑3; consult development standards and any applicable specific plan (e.g., SSP, PDCSP) (§ 19.04.040; PDCSP/SSP references) .

PF (Public Facilities)

• Purpose: Accommodate public/quasi‑public uses (schools, museums, transportation, hospitals) and compatible uses; see § 19.10.020(G) (§ 19.10.020) .
• Typical uses: public buildings, child care centers, libraries, etc.; permit levels in Table 2‑5 (§ 19.10.030) .

Specific Plans & Special Districts: PDCSP, SSP, 8899 Beverly Specific Plan, etc.

• Purpose: Site‑ or corridor‑specific regulation superseding or supplementing general district rules. Examples: Sunset Specific Plan (SSP) controls land uses along Sunset Boulevard; the 8899 Beverly Boulevard Specific Plan contains its own permitted uses and floor area limits (§ 19.16.020; SSP references) .
• Typical permitted uses and site standards are spelled out in each specific‑plan section (see Chapter 19.16 for specific plans) (§ 19.16.020) .

Overlay districts (examples)

• Overlays such as -GMU (Gateway Mixed‑Use Incentive), -WHWNOD (West Hollywood West Neighborhood Overlay District), -AB (Avenue Bonus), -H (Historic), and -PK (Parking Overlay) amend the underlying district’s allowed uses, permit requirements, or development standards (§ 19.14.110; § 19.14.120; § 19.04.020) .
• Example: WHWNOD applies to R1‑B lots in a bounded area and states “Any land use allowed in the primary R1‑B zoning district may be allowed within the WHWNOD” and then adds specific development standards (see Table 2‑7, showing FAR: 0.5, front setback: 10–15 ft. min. depending on subarea) (§ 19.14.120; Table 2‑7) .

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant allowed use / standard snapshots

(For full, itemized permitted and conditional‑use lists consult Table 2‑2 for residential and Table 2‑5 for commercial/public uses — the tables indicate whether a use is P, AP, MCUP, or CUP and cross‑reference specific‑use rules) § 19.06.030; § 19.10.030 .

How permits for uses are assigned (practical)

• The ordinance defines the permit types tied to the tables: P (zone clearance or development permit), AP (administrative permit), MCUP (minor conditional use permit), and CUP (conditional use permit). The rules for this system are in § 19.04.040 and the permit chapters (e.g., Chapters 19.42, 19.44, 19.48, 19.52) (§ 19.04.040) .
• If a use is not listed in the tables, it is not allowed except for narrow exemptions (see § 19.02.020 on exemptions and interpretation rules § 19.03.020(E)) (§ 19.04.040; § 19.03.020) .
• Mixed‑use consolidations across residential and commercial districts have additional minimum‑area, frontage and design rules (e.g., minimum aggregate area: 50,000 sq. ft. for consolidated mixed‑use projects that span districts) (§ 19.36.170) .

You should also budget for complying with parking rules in the code — parking minimums are use‑specific (see West Hollywood Parking and Table 3‑6 for examples such as restaurants: 3.5 spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. and others) (§ 19.28/Table 3‑6) .

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a new use / change of use)

• Confirm the parcel’s zoning symbol and any suffix (e.g., R1‑B, R3C‑C, overlays) on the Zoning Map (§ 19.04.030) .
• Consult the relevant land‑use table (Table 2‑2 residential or Table 2‑5 commercial/public) to determine if the use is P / AP / MCUP / CUP (§ 19.06.030; § 19.10.030) .
• For permitted uses, prepare materials for zone clearance or the applicable development permit per Chapters 19.42 / 19.48 (§ 19.04.040) .
• If the use requires an AP/MCUP/CUP, follow the procedures in Chapters 19.44 / 19.52 and allow time for public noticing and hearings (§ 19.04.040) .
• Check overlay district rules (e.g., -WHWNOD, -GMU, -AB, -H, -PK) for additional restrictions or bonuses (§ 19.14.110; § 19.14.120; § 19.04.020) .
• Demonstrate compliance with dimensional standards (setbacks, heights, FAR, lot coverage) in Article 19‑3 and the district tables; consult West Hollywood Development Standards (§ 19.04.040; Article 19‑3) .
• Prepare parking calculations per West Hollywood Parking and the parking table (Table 3‑6) (§ 19.28; Table 3‑6) .
• If the project triggers design review, follow the West Hollywood Design Review rules and any specific‑plan design guidelines (§ 19.36.170; specific plan sections) .
• Ensure that building permits and construction comply with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — zoning approval does not replace building code compliance (§ 19.02.040) .
• Check for nonconforming‑use rules if an existing use predates current zoning (Chapter 19.72) (§ 19.72.020) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

West Hollywood’s zoning ordinance lists which uses are allowed where through detailed land‑use tables and district rules: look up your parcel’s zoning symbol and any overlay on the Zoning Map, check Table 2‑2 (residential) or Table 2‑5 (commercial/public) to see if your proposed use is P, AP, MCUP, or CUP, then follow the permit procedures and the district’s dimensional rules (setbacks, FAR, parking). If a use isn’t listed or your parcel straddles multiple districts or overlays, verify with the Community Development Department — many requirements are site‑specific (§ 19.04.040; § 19.06.030; § 19.10.030) .

Information Gaps

• The uploaded excerpts reference full Table 2‑2 and Table 2‑5 but the complete itemized entries for every use (the entire tables) were not reproduced in full in the retrieved snippets. For exact per‑use permit levels (P/AP/MCUP/CUP) you must consult the full tables in the official code or the City’s code viewer. Not found in retrieved materials: the full, line‑by‑line contents of Table 2‑5 in one single extracted view (the code points to it) .
• Fine‑grained numerical standards (some district FARs, heights and lot coverage) are referenced to tables and Article 19‑3 but are not all visible in the provided excerpts. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel‑specific numeric limits (e.g., exact height limits by subzone). Not found in retrieved materials: a fully compiled, parcel‑level summary mapping every Zoning Map symbol to its numeric height/FAR/setback in one place.

Source References

• Zoning Districts established — § 19.04.020
• Zoning District Regulations and permit categories — § 19.04.040
• Purposes of Residential Districts — § 19.06.020 and Residential land‑use table rules § 19.06.030 (Table 2‑2)
• R3C‑C and R4B‑C allowances (live/work, neighborhood commercial) — § 19.06.090
• Purposes of Commercial and Public Districts and Table direction — § 19.10.020; Table 2‑5 direction § 19.10.030
• Overlay examples and rules (Gateway Mixed‑Use Incentive, West Hollywood West Neighborhood Overlay) — § 19.14.110; § 19.14.120; Table 2‑7 (WHWNOD development standards)
• Mixed‑use project rules (site area, frontage, ground‑floor use rules) — § 19.36.170
• Nonconforming uses chapter — Chapter 19.72 (e.g., § 19.72.010–020)
• Specific plan example (8899 Beverly Specific Plan permitted uses and FAR references) — § 19.16.020
• Parking ratios reference (Table 3‑6) — see parking table and Chapter 19.28 (examples: restaurants, studios, theaters)
• Zoning and planning overview (city page): West Hollywood zoning & planning overview — first‑line context link.
• Development standards, parking, design review, overlays, ADUs, and Title 24 links used inline: West Hollywood Zoning, West Hollywood Development Standards, West Hollywood Parking, West Hollywood Design Review, West Hollywood Overlay Districts, West Hollywood ADUs, California Building Standards Code.

Retrieved passages

• West Hollywood Zoning Code (Section 19.36.280) High relevance show source text
• West Hollywood Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance show source text
• West Hollywood Zoning Code (§ 19.04.040.) High relevance show source text
• West Hollywood Zoning Code (Article 19-3) High relevance show source text
• West Hollywood Zoning Code (Article 19-6) Medium relevance show source text
• West Hollywood Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• West Hollywood Zoning Code (Article 19-3) Medium relevance show source text
• West Hollywood Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zoning Districts established — **§ 19.04.020** (§ 19.04.020)
• Zoning District Regulations and permit categories — **§ 19.04.040** (§ 19.04.040)
• Purposes of Residential Districts — **§ 19.06.020** and Residential land‑use table rules **§ 19.06.030** (Table 2‑2) (§ 19.06.020)
• R3C‑C and R4B‑C allowances (live/work, neighborhood commercial) — **§ 19.06.090** (§ 19.06.090)
• Purposes of Commercial and Public Districts and Table direction — **§ 19.10.020**; Table 2‑5 direction **§ 19.10.030** (§ 19.10.020)
• Overlay examples and rules (Gateway Mixed‑Use Incentive, West Hollywood West Neighborhood Overlay) — **§ 19.14.110**; **§ 19.14.120**; Table 2‑7 (WHWNOD development standards) (§ 19.14.110)
• Mixed‑use project rules (site area, frontage, ground‑floor use rules) — **§ 19.36.170** (§ 19.36.170)
• Nonconforming uses chapter — **Chapter 19.72 (e.g., § 19.72.010–020)** (Chapter 19.72)
• Specific plan example (8899 Beverly Specific Plan permitted uses and FAR references) — **§ 19.16.020** (§ 19.16.020)
• Parking ratios reference (Table 3‑6) — see parking table and Chapter **19.28** (examples: restaurants, studios, theaters)
• Zoning and planning overview (city page): West Hollywood zoning & planning overview — first‑line context link.
• Development standards, parking, design review, overlays, ADUs, and Title 24 links used inline: West Hollywood Zoning, West Hollywood Development Standards, West Hollywood Parking, West Hollywood Design Review, West Hollywood Overlay Districts, West Hollywood ADUs, California Building Standards Code. (Title 24)
• WestHollywood_ZoningCode.md

• Official West Hollywood code library