Los Angeles County Department of Regionalll Planning

Zoning Ordinance Summary - Industrial Zones

This is a SUMMARY ONLY of the Los Angeles County Zoning Ordinance (unincorporated area). The information herein is NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE.

One other thing to also keep in mind --USES MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, LOCAL PLANS, AND/OR COMMUNITY STANDARDS DISTRICTS. THESE MAY LIMIT THE TYPE AND INTENSITY OF USE.

For more complete information, see Title 22 (Planning and Zoning) of the Los Angeles County Code, or stop by the office of the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, Room 1360 Hall of Records, 320 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Phone: (213) 974-6411.


Guidelines for Designing an Industrial Project

Before you begin, check with the staff of the Department of Regional Planning to confirm the following:

  • Is the proposed use consistent with the General Plan?
  • What is the zoning and does it allow the proposed use?
  • Are there any proposed street or alley widenings?
  • Is the project subject to special standards district requirements?

Setbacks

Structures:

  • Building…………………………………………………………………..0’
  • Outdoor storage fences over 10’ high………………………..3’

Detached parking may encroach into setbacks if at least 75’ from front property line.

Parking:

  • Adjacent to street…………………………………………………….5’
  • Adjacent to A or R zone, for first 50’…………………………20’
  • Other……………………………………………………………………..0’

Height

  • M zones………………………………………………13 times buildable area

Parking

Requirements

  • Industrial………………………………………………………..1 space per 500 sq. ft.
  • Warehouse (must be 80% of structure)…………….1 space per 1,000 sq. ft.
  • Offices (within industrial building)……………………..1 space per 400 sq. ft.

Parking Design

  • Standard spaces (90)………………………………………8 1/2’ x 18’
    • Aisle………………………………………………26’
  • Compact spaces (90)(Maximum 40%)………………..8’ x 15’
    • Aisle (must be all compact)………………..23’
  • Handicap…………………………………………………………1 per 25 spaces
    • 9’ x 18’ with 5’ loading zone adjacent

5’ landscaped setback on perimeter parking adjacent to streets with 30” - 42” masonry wall on inside of planter.

No backing directly into street or alley is allowed.

Landscaping

  • Area equal to 2% of parking area (may be part of requirement parking perimeter)
  • Adjacent to fences for outdoor storage……….1 sq. ft. each linear foot

Walls

  • Adjacent to residential or agricultural……………6’ masonry wall.
  • Between parking and street……………………….30” - 42” masonry wall.
  • For outdoor storage…………………………………..8’ - 15’ solid fence or wall.

Zone B-1: Buffer Strip

Permitted Uses:

  • Recreation, landscaping, parking lots (22.32.330)

Minimum Required Area:

  • No minimum required area. But see 21.24.240 of L.A. County Code– Subdivisions

Maximum Height Limit:

  • Not applicable

Minimum Required Parking:

  • Not applicable

Building Setback:

  • Not applicable

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • Not applicable

Zone B-2: Corner Buffer

Permitted Uses:

  • Uses permitted in zone B-1 and, in some situations, zone C-3 (22.32.370)

Minimum Required Area:

  • No minimum required area. But see 21.24.240 of L.A. County Code– Subdivisions

Maximum Height Limit:

  • 13 times buildable area for zone C-3 uses (22.52.050)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • See applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52

Building Setback:

  • No building setback required

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • 90% of net area of lot for C-3 uses. 10% of net area must be landscaped (22.32.370)

Zone D-2: Desert-Mountain

Permitted Uses:

  • Uses permitted in zones A-2 or M-1, except as limited by general or local plan (22.32.090)

Minimum Required Area:

  • Varies, depending on use (22.32.090)

Maximum Height Limit:

  • Varies, depending on use (22.32.090)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • See applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52

Building Setback:

  • Same as in Zones A-2 or M-1, depending on use (22.32.090)

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • Same as in zones A-2 or M-1, depending on use (22.32.090)

Zone M-1 1/2: Restricted Heavy Manufacturing

Permitted Uses:

  • All uses except residential, some institutions, and schools are prohibited. Some heavy industries are prohibited (22.32.100)

Minimum Required Area:

  • No minimum required area. But see 21.24.240 of L.A. County Code- Subdivisions

Maximum Height Limit:

  • 13 times buildable area (22.52.050)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • Industrial uses require 1 space for each company vehicle plus 1 space for each 2 persons employed on the largest shift, or 1 space for each 500 sq. ft. of floor area, whichever is greater
  • 1 space for each 1000 sq. ft. of warehouse if 80% or more of building is used for warehouse (22.52.1140)
  • For other uses, see applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52

Building Setback:

  • No building setback required

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • No lot coverage limitation

Zone M-1: Light Manufacturing

Permitted Uses:

  • Uses permitted in zones A-1 and C-M. Residential uses and schools are prohibited (22.32.040)

Minimum Required Area:

  • No minimum required area. But see 21.24.240 of L.A. County Code- Subdivisions

Maximum Height Limit:

  • 13 times buildable area, except as otherwise provided in community standards district (22.52.050)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • Industrial uses require 1 space for each company vehicle plus 1 space for each 2 persons employed on the largest shift, or 1 space for each 500 sq. ft. of floor area, whichever is greater
  • 1 space for each 1000 sq. ft. of warehouse if 80% or more of building is used for warehouse (22.52.1140)
  • For other uses, see applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52

Building Setback:

  • No building setback required

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • For C-M and permitted A-1 uses, see 22.32.040
  • Other uses, no requirement

Zone M-2 1/2: Aircraft Heavy Manufacturing

Permitted Uses:

  • Storage, maintenance, manufacturing and testing of aircraft and aircraft parts. M-4 uses with CUP (22.32.260)

Minimum Required Area:

  • No minimum required area. But see 21.24.240 of L.A. County Code – Subdivisions

Maximum Height Limit:

  • 13 times buildable area (22.52.050)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • Industrial uses require 1 space for each company vehicle plus 1 space for each 2 persons employed on the largest shift, or 1 space for each 500 sq. ft. of floor area, whichever is greater
  • 1 space for each 1000 sq. ft. of warehouse if 80% or more of building is used for warehouse (22.52.1140)
  • For other uses, see applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52

Building Setback:

  • No building setback required

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • No lot coverage limitation

Zone M-3: Unclassified

Permitted Uses:

  • All uses, some of which require a CUP (22.32.220)

Minimum Required Area:

  • 5000 sq. ft (22.52.100)

Maximum Height Limit:

  • 13 times buildable area (22.52.050)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • See applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52

Building Setback:

  • No building setback required

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • No lot coverage limitation

Zone MPD: Manufacturing Planned Development

Permitted Uses:

  • Any zone SR-D use and non-residential uses permitted in zone R-A (22.32.150)
  • With CUP, uses permitted in zone M-1 1/2 (22.32.150)

Minimum Required Area:

  • Varies, depending on use (22.32.150)
  • 5 acres (22.32.150)

Maximum Height Limit:

  • Varies, depending on use (22.32.150)
  • 1 times buildable area (22.32.150)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • See applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52
  • As established by CUP (22.32.150)

Building Setback:

  • Same as zones R-A and SR-D, depending on use (22.32.150)
  • No building setback required

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • Same as zones R-A and SR-D, depending on use (22.32.150)
  • 60% of gross area of lot or parcel (22.32.150)

Zone(s) M-2: Heavy Manufacturing AND M-4: Unlimited Manufacturing

Permitted Uses:

  • All uses except some heavy industries need a CUP. Residential uses and schools are prohibited (22.32.160)

Minimum Required Area:

  • No minimum required area. But see 21.24.240 of L.A. County Code– Subdivisions

Maximum Height Limit:

  • 13 times buildable area (22.52.050)

Minimum Required Parking:

  • Industrial uses require 1 space for each company vehicle plus 1 space for each 2 persons employed on the largest shift, or 1 space for each 500 sq. ft. of floor area, whichever is largest
  • 1 space for each 1000 sq. ft. of warehouse (22.52.1140)
  • For other uses, see applicable use–Part 11, Chapter 22.52

Building Setback:

  • No building setback required

Maximum Lot Coverage:

  • No lot coverage limitation

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Department of Regional Planning
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
T: (213) 974-6411 . F: (213) 626-0434
TDD: (213) 617-2292