In order to classify, regulate, restrict and segregate the uses of land and buildings, to regulate and restrict the height and bulk of buildings and to regulate the area of yards, courts and other open spaces about buildings, the incorporated territory of the city of Laguna Beach, including any land hereafter annexed to the city, shall be divided into or included within zones as follows in this chapter.
(Ord. 209, 1940)
The residential zones are as follows:
(A) 
R-H: Residential Hillside Zone;
(B) 
R-1: Residential Low Density Zone;
(C) 
R-2: Residential Medium Density Zone;
(D) 
R-3: Residential High Density Zone;
(E) 
Village Community Zone;
(F) 
Three Arch Bay Zone;
(G) 
MH Mobilehome Zone;
(H) 
Lagunita Zone.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 1223 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1411 § 1, 2002)
The mixed-use/commercial zones are as follows:
(A) 
Local Business-Professional Zone;
(B) 
C-1: Local Business Zone;
(C) 
C-N: Commercial-Neighborhood Zone;
(D) 
CH-M: Commercial Hotel-Motel Zone.
(E) 
SLV: South Laguna Village Commercial Zone.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 315, 1949; Ord. 1223 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1712, 3/11/2025)
In addition to the foregoing zones, certain combining regulations are established and provided for application to certain portions of the various zones, as deemed advisable by the city from time to time, in order to provide quality design control for the buildings, signs and structures constructed therein and land use supervision for the use of the property therein, said combining regulations to be designated and known as "design review regulations."
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 304, 1949)
Each of said several zones have been established and boundaries of said zones and each of them are shown upon the "official zone map" of Laguna Beach, as adopted by ordinance.
The "official zone map" is a part of the official general plan of this city, and shall become a part of these regulations. The map and all notations, references and other information shown thereon shall hereafter be as much a part of these regulations as if the matters and information set forth by the map were fully described herein. All land or territory hereafter annexed to the city of Laguna Beach shall be prezoned prior to or concurrent with such annexation. The procedure for prezoning shall be as set forth in Section 25.04.030 of these regulations.
(Ord. 209, 1940)
Where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries of any zone shown on the "official zone map" the following rules shall apply:
(A) 
Where such boundaries are indicated as approximately following street and alley lines or lot lines, such lines shall be construed to be such boundaries;
(B) 
In subdivided property and where a zone boundary divides a lot, the locations of such boundaries unless the same are indicated by dimensions, shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the zone map;
(C) 
In cases where uncertainty exists, the planning commission shall determine the location of boundaries;
(D) 
In the event a dedicated street or alley shown on the "official zone map" is vacated by ordinance, the property formerly in the street or alley shall be included within the zone of adjoining property on either side of the vacated street or alley and in the event the street or alley was a zone boundary between two or more different zones, the new zone boundary shall be the former center line of the vacated street or alley.
(Ord. 209, 1940)
These regulations governing the use of land and buildings, the sizes of yards about buildings, and other matters as hereinafter set forth, are established and declared to be in effect upon all land included within the boundaries of each and every zone shown upon the "official zone map" including any land or territory subsequently annexed to the city.
(Ord. 209, 1940)
Except as hereinafter provided:
(A) 
No building shall be erected or maintained and no existing building shall be moved, altered, added to, enlarged or maintained, nor shall any land, building, trailer or premises be used, designed or intended to be used for any purpose or in any manner other than a use listed in these regulations as permitted in the zone in which such land, building, trailer or premises are located; and no land shall be occupied by any building, trailer or structure or any use unless said land constitutes a building site as herein defined;
(B) 
No building shall be erected or maintained, nor shall any existing building be moved, enlarged, reconstructed, structurally altered or maintained to exceed in height the limit established by these regulations for the zone in which such building is located;
(C) 
No building shall be erected or maintained nor shall any existing building be moved, altered, enlarged, rebuilt or maintained, nor shall any open spaces surrounding any buildings be encroached upon or reduced in any manner except in conformity with the building site requirements and the area and yard regulations established by these regulations for the zone in which such building is located;
(D) 
No required yard or other open space around an existing building or on a lot, or which is hereafter provided around any building or on a lot for the purpose of complying with the provisions of these regulations, shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building or lot; nor shall any yard or required open space on an adjoining lot be considered as providing a yard or open space on a lot whereon a building is to be erected or established;
(E) 
No lot or building site area shall be so reduced, diminished and maintained that the yards, other open spaces or total lot or building site shall be smaller than prescribed by these regulations, nor shall the density of population governed by the required building site area per family unit be increased in any manner, except in conformity with the regulations herein established;
(F) 
No lot or parcel of land held under separate ownership on the effective date of these regulations shall be reduced in any manner below the minimum lot or building site area, size or dimensions required by these regulations.
(Ord. 209, 1940)
A split-zoned parcel is a parcel or subdivided lot with two or more zoning designations or zone areas. All applicable zoning regulations for each particular zone shall be applied separately for each portion of a parcel or subdivided lot which is split-zoned. This includes the front, rear and side yard regulations, regardless of the yard definitions in municipal code Chapter 25.08.050, as well as any applicable lot coverage regulations. Greater setbacks from resources may be imposed as necessary to protect resources consistent with the requirement of the certified Local Coastal Program. Resources may include, but are not limited to, environmentally sensitive habitat areas, wetlands, public views, and public trails and accessways.
(Ord. 1525 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1557 § 1, 2012)