Note:
"Alley" (Ramona between Laguna and Legion declared to
be an alley), approved in Minutes of 6/12/71.
"Construction," Alteration, Repairs to Buildings defined
as approved by Res. No. 422.
"Coverage," Lot—Main bldg. as approved by Res. No.
2129.
"Entertaining," Definition as approved by Res. No. 2215
and Res. No. 2136.
"Fences," lawn—hedges, etc. construed as fence as
approved by Res. No. 171.
"Height" as approved by P.C. Res. 70-71.
"Home Occupations" as approved by Res. No. 2978.
"Lot," definition as approved by Res. No. 2326.
"Lots" and Building Sites as approved by Res. No. 2160.
"Nonconforming Uses," Definition of Lodging Houses as
approved by Res. 2327.
"Room Rental," Boarding and Lodging Houses as approved
by Res. No. 2280.
For the purpose of carrying out the intent of this title, words,
phrases and terms shall be deemed to have the meaning ascribed to
them and shall be interpreted to contain the standards and include
the parts, elements and features set forth in this chapter. When not
inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include
the future, words in the singular include the plural and words in
the plural include the singular. "Shall" is mandatory. "May" is permissive.
(Ord. 209, 1940)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "A":
means contiguous to;
means the place, means or way by which vehicles shall have
safe, adequate and usable ingress and egress to a property and/or
use as required by this title;
means access, as defined above; located so as to provide
access to a building site across a lot line which is not contiguous
to a street or alley at the point of crossing;
means a separate building, the use of which is subordinate
and incidental to that of the main building, structure or use on the
same lot. In all zones, accessory buildings, exclusive of those being
used for required parking facilities, shall be allowed, provided:
The on-site parking as required by this title has been provided,
The accessory building does not encroach into the required setbacks
as specified for the zone,
The lot area exceeds four thousand square feet,
The floor area of the accessory building is no more than five
percent of the lot area,
The volume of the accessory building (expressed in cubic feet)
does not exceed twelve times the floor area.
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All accessory buildings shall be such that the elevation of
the highest point of the roof is not greater than twenty feet above
the lowermost floor level;
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means a use incidental, related, appropriate and clearly
subordinate to the main use of the lot or building, which accessory
use does not alter the principal use of the subject lot or adversely
affect other properties in the zone;
means near, close or contiguous to;
means a person who works full- or part-time (24 hours or
more per week) in the service of a commercial agricultural operation;
means any living quarters or accommodations of any type specifically
for agricultural employees and which comply with Cal. Health &
Safety Code Sections 17008 and 17021.6 and other applicable provisions
of the Employee Housing Act;
means a public or private vehicular way which affords a secondary
means of access to abutting property and which is not more than twenty
feet nor less than ten feet in width;
means the process of incorporation of land within the city
of Laguna Beach;
means a dwelling unit;
means a multiple-family dwelling;
means a place of business in which objects of fine art, such
as painting and sculpture, are displayed and offered for sale;
means a workshop for one or more artists or writers;
means an institution housing patients or inmates for whom
restraint is required;
means all servicing of motor vehicles except the following:
sale of motor fuels, tires, tubes and lubricants: lubricating vehicles,
minor tube and tire repairs, battery recharging, hand auto washing
and hand polishing;
means the washing of cars using an assembly line method in
which vehicles are moved through a series of sprays and brushes or
any washing process in which steam is employed;
means the elevation at the midpoint of a given line.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 548, 1965; Ord. 846 § 1, 1975; Ord. 1115 §§
1, 2, 1986; Ord. 1144 § 1,
1987; Ord. 1216 § 3, 1991; Ord. 1332 § 3, 1997; Ord. 1680 § 1, 2022)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "B":
means any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper or similar material
used for advertising purposes attached to, appended on or from any
structure, staff, pole, line, framing or vehicle. Flags referred to
herein, when the flag is of a nation or of the state of California
and is displayed as such in an appropriate manner, shall be excepted
from these regulations:
means any building designed or used for housing horses;
—(See Chapter 25.22, Bed and Breakfast Inns);
means any habitable room with a closet whose principal purpose
is for sleeping and which is not a bathroom, kitchen, dining room,
den or living room;
means the lots fronting one side of a street and located
between the two nearest intersecting or intercepting streets or nearest
intersecting or intercepting street and mean high tide line or end
of street in the case of a dead end street;
means the board of adjustment of the city of Laguna Beach;
(See Rooming house);
mean a roofed passageway, open on at least two sides where
the roof is structurally integrated with the structure to which it
is attached. A breezeway shall be considered to be a part of the building
to which it is attached;
means an open space or landscaped area, the purpose of which
is to prevent the direct abutting of incompatible uses or structures;
means the area of any given lot that is not part of a required
front, side or rear yard, as set forth in the property development
standards of the applicable zone for said lot;
means any structure built for the support, shelter or enclosure
of persons, animals, chattels or property of any kind;
—(See Height, building);
means written authorization from the director of building
and safety of the city of Laguna Beach for the erection of any structure;
means the line appearing on the zoning map delineating the
space between such line and the property line as the required yard
in lieu of the front, side or rear yard otherwise described for the
zone;
means a parcel or contiguous parcels of land which was established
in compliance with the building site requirements of this code.
No building permit and no certificate of use and occupancy
shall be issued for a building or use of land until the director of
community development has verified that the parcel of land upon which
such building or use of land is to be established is a building site
which may be used for the uses permitted in the zone in which it is
located. Two or more lots whose common lot line is crossed by a structure
or a setback requirements from an adjoining structure shall be deemed
to be one building site until such time as the structure is removed
and the line is unencumbered. To qualify as a building site, the parcel
must be under one ownership and must meet the requirements of either
subsection (A) or section (B) below:
Any parcel of land that was established as a building site by
either the recordation of a tract map, a parcel map, a record of survey
recorded pursuant to a city-approved division of land, or a certificate
of compliance, or by a deed of conveyance or contract of sale or in
any other legal manner recorded prior to July 19, 1958 (or effective
date of annexation to the city if such occurred thereafter), and which
complied with all of the requirements of the zoning regulations in
effect at the time of recordation in the office of the county recorder
of Orange County or Los Angeles County, and:
Contains the minimum area and dimensions required by this title
for the zone in which the parcel is located. However, parcels under
one ownership on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this
section which constituted legal building sites under the terms of
this title, as amended, but which do not comply with the minimum area
and dimension standards of the zone are deemed to be building sites
provided they meet all other requirements in this definition. Such
sites may not be further reduced in area; and
Furnishes, in addition to the space occupied or to be occupied
by buildings and structures, sufficient area to provide the yards
and open spaces required by this title for the zone in which the parcel
is located; and
Abuts for a minimum frontage of ten feet measured longitudinally
in relationship to the paved street section and has the right to the
use of a street improved to the subdivision street design standards
of the city, or of a usable vehicular right-of-way of record, or of
a street that does not meet the minimum standards but has been approved
by means of a variance, or of a street of less than standard width
as specifically approved for access by the city.
A building site may be created by the recordation of a tract
map or parcel map after approval has been secured from the city planning
commission. The creation of any building site shall conform to the
following minimum requirements:
Each building site shall be shown on the recorded document as
a numbered lot or parcel; and
Each building site shall be of sufficient area, width and depth
to comply with the minimum requirements of the zoning district in
which the site is located; and
Each building site shall abut a public or private street, having a right of access for vehicles and pedestrians, and enjoy practical and physical access to such street, for its continuous frontage along the front lot line. Such access road shall be constructed and maintained at a minimum unobstructed width (as described in subsection (A)(3) above) to a length as necessary to connect with existing roads of equal or greater width, shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be provided with a surface such as asphaltic concrete, Portland cement concrete, or similar approved materials, so as to provide all-weather driving.
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A parcel of land that does not meet the foregoing requirements is not a building site unless otherwise validated in accordance with Section 25.56.020 of this code;
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means a commercial activity characterized by administrative
and/or clerical operations with a low volume of customer contact on
the premises and with no transfer or merchandise on the premises.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 586, 1967; Ord. 1063 § 1, 1984; Ord. 1216 §
3, 1991; Ord. 1332 § 3, 1997; Ord. 1346 § 2, 1998; Ord. 1354 § 3, 1999; Ord. 1416 § 4, 2002)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "C":
means an accessory building containing a dwelling for caretakers
or servants for the land or main building(s). Caretaker's residence
shall include servants quarters. No caretaker's residence shall be
rented, let or otherwise hired out;
means a permanent roofed structure with not more than two
enclosed sides, used for automobile shelter;
means a written permit issued by the director of building
and safety indicating that the building or structure complies with
the provisions of the building code of the city of Laguna Beach;
means a church or other building devoted to philanthropic
or nonprofit social welfare activities;
means the regular care of children who are not related to
the family within a single family residence. Such operations shall
conform to one of the following:
A properly licensed boarding home for children, twenty-four
hour permanent basis, for no more than six children including the
children of the operators,
A properly licensed family day care home providing care, protection
and supervision to six or fewer children, including children who reside
at the home, for periods of less than twenty-four hours per day while
the parents or guardians are away. (See Family day care home, large,
and Nursery school.)
means a permanently located building commonly used for religious
worship. Such building shall be fully enclosed with walls (including
windows and doors), having a roof of other than canvas or fabric,
and shall conform to applicable legal requirements affecting design
and construction;
means the city of Laguna Beach;
means the city clerk of the city of Laguna Beach;
means the city engineer of the city of Laguna Beach;
(See Private recreational club);
means the strip of land located between the line of mean
sea level of the Pacific Ocean and elevation plus twenty feet above
mean sea level;
means a building or portion thereof devoted to the sale and
serving of alcoholic beverages to be consumed on the premises;
means the growing of crops for food or fiber, other horticultural
uses, grazing, or small animal farms, all with the intent to sell
the products for profit. Commercial agriculture does not include crops
or agriculture grown for personal consumption or equestrian uses;
means those uses other than residential, religious or public
educational uses, permitted to the C-1, C-2, C-5, CH-M and C-N zones;
means the C-1, C-2, C-5, CH-M and C-N zones;
means the planning commission of the city of Laguna Beach;
means review by the decision making authority for the purpose
of providing the applicant with the authority's preliminary reaction
to the general design concept of a proposed project. Such review does
not include a formal decision or guarantee of future approval on the
application by the decision making authority;
means a structure designed and built for a use permitted
in the zone and complying with the property development standards
of the zone in which such structure is located;
means a use permitted under the terms of this title in the
zone in which such use is carried on;
means those goods and services such as food, drugs and sundries,
sold at retail, which are essential for day to day living needs;
means the provisions for and maintenance of adequate space
for safe visibility to protect vehicular and pedestrian traffic at
all intersections of streets, alleys and/or private driveways, as
provided in the zones. Such space will be kept free of buildings,
structures and landscaping which would constitute a visual obstruction;
(See Lot, corner);
means any fenced area devoted to the containing of horses;
means a recreation activity carried on by an association
of persons organized for nonprofit recreation and occupying a site
containing not less than ten acres of land. "Country club" does not
include activities organized primarily to render a service which is
customarily carried on as a business;
means the city council of the city of Laguna Beach;
means a city-approved concrete or asphalt structure along
the edge of the street pavement and raised above the pavement.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 294, 1948; Ord. 832 § 1, 1975; Ord. 1088 §
2, 1985; Ord. 1159 § 1 (B),
1988; Ord. 1416 § 5, 2002; Ord. 1680 § 2, 2022)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "D":
means a street offered to and accepted by the city of Laguna
Beach;
means the department of public works of the city of Laguna
Beach;
means access, as defined above, located at a point along
a lot line at which such lot line is contiguous to a street (or alley)
and the building site. If a building site is contiguous to more than
one street (or alley), access shall be taken from the street that
qualifies the parcel as a building site;
means an accessway to an off-street parking space or facility,
which accessway is at least ten feet in width and paved to a minimum
width of ten feet;
means a deadend street, either public or private, which is
designed to serve not more than four adjoining minimum building site
areas as defined in the zoning regulations. A common access driveway
shall be located within a recorded legal easement or right-of-way
that extends access privileges to the abutting properties;
means an on-site privately owned and maintained accessway
constructed for the purpose of serving a single building site in accordance
with the zoning regulations. Such building site shall have frontage
on a street;
means a building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively
for residential occupancy, including one family and multiple family
dwellings;
means a building designed or used for occupancy by three
or more families, living independently of each other;
means a building designed or used for occupancy by one family;
means a building designed or used for occupancy by three
families, living independently of each other;
means a building designed or used for occupancy by two families,
living independently of each other;
means a room or suite of rooms within a structure and with
a single kitchen, other than a hotel unit with a kitchen, designed
or used for the residential use and occupancy of a family.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 1039 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1144 § 2, 1987; Ord.
1216 § 3, 1991; Ord. 1332 § 3, 1997; Ord. 1528 §
2, 2010)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "E":
means an interest in land created by grant, agreement, or
other lawful means which confers a right upon owners, including a
public agency, to some profit, benefit, dominion or lawful use of
or over the estate of another; it is distinct from ownership of the
soil. Example: an easement for road purposes. An easement by itself
may or may not provide adequate access as required by these regulations;
means music, singing or performances, the purpose of which
is to provide diversion for a person or persons, clients or patrons.
The playing of background music (by a radio or record player) in a
quiet manner and so as not to capture the attention of an audience,
is not entertainment; neither is a television receiver played in a
quiet manner entertainment;
means an establishment devoted to: (1) providing medical,
nursing or custodial care for individuals over a prolonged period,
such as during the course of a chronic disease or the rehabilitation
phase after an acute illness or injury; and/or (2) provides or coordinates
oversight and services to meet the residents' individualized scheduled
needs and assistance with activities of daily living, based on the
residents' assessments and service plans and their unscheduled needs
as they arise. An extended care facility includes an intermediate
care facility, a skilled nursing facility, a convalescent home, a
nursing home, a rest home, a recovery center and an assisted living
facility.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 1216 § 3, 1991; Ord. 1550 § 1, 2011; Ord.
1575 § 1, 2013)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "F":
means the general outermost surface of any main exterior
wall of a building, but the term does not include the cornice, bay
window, balcony, porch or other feature which extends beyond the general
outermost surface of such exterior wall or beyond the property line;
means a structure, approved by the director of building and
safety and for which a building permit has been issued, which is designed
and used solely for protection from thermonuclear attack. Fallout
shelters shall be occupied only during an actual or imminent attack
or during a practice test authorized and conducted by proper authority;
means one or more persons living together as a single housekeeping
unit within a dwelling unit, including employee housing providing
accommodations for six or fewer employees;
means a home which provides family day care for seven to
twelve children inclusive, including children who reside at the home,
for periods of less than twenty-four hours per day (see child care
and nursery school);
means a barrier of any material or combination of materials
placed in a manner so as to enclose or screen areas of land. "Fence"
includes hedges, chain link and wire mesh;
means an artificial incline of earth created by earth filling;
means that inspection of a building or structure made by
the director of building and safety upon the completion of all construction
and finishing, and when in the opinion of the builder the structure
is ready for use and/or occupancy;
means painting, drawing or sculpture created for its own
sake and without regard for utility;
See Grade, finish;
means the sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several
floors of a building, excluding areas used for garage purposes, elevators
shafts and such other basement, cellar or attic areas as are devoted
exclusively to uses accessory to the operation of the building. Horizontal
dimensions shall be measured from the face of the building and shall
include enclosed porches, stairways and exit balconies;
means the gross floor area (as defined herein) of a separate
unattached structure when initially constructed.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 1045 § 1, 1983; Ord. 1088 §§ 3, 4, 1985; Ord. 1151 § 1, 1988; Ord.
1334 § 2, 1997; Ord. 1418 §§ 2, 3, 2002; Ord. 1515 § 5, 2009; Ord. 1528 §
1, 2010; Ord. 1680 § 3, 2022)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "G":
means an accessory building or part of a main building designed
for the shelter and storage of a motor vehicle or vehicles and enclosed
on three or more sides;
means the general plan of the city of Laguna Beach;
means a course of at least ten acres devoted to the game
of golf and does not include miniature golf or driving ranges;
means the gradient or rate of incline of the land expressed
as a percent of vertical to horizontal distances;
means the natural or artificial slope of the land as it is
to be maintained upon completion of the structure;
means the established slope of the land prior to individual
lot grading by artificial means. Grades resulting from city-approved
grading operations for land subdivision shall be considered to be
natural grades;
means the consumption of growing vegetation by domestic animals;
means a one story accessory building which is devoted to
horticulture;
means the lowest point of elevation of the existing surface
of the ground, within the area between the building and a line five
feet from the building;
means living quarters, however not a dwelling unit, within
an accessory building;
means a portion of a main building consisting of living quarters,
however not a dwelling unit, so arranged that there is no more than
one egress to the outdoors or to a public way, and so that there is
no interior access to the common living areas of any dwelling unit
occupying the main building.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 1334 § 3, 1997)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "H:"
means a business enterprise conducted entirely within enclosed
buildings, and consisting of the creation, production or manufacture
of objects of art, handicraft, novelties and similar articles, provided,
however, that, in the creation, production and manufacturing activities,
hand labor must predominate; no power other than electric power shall
be used, and such activities shall not be objectionable by reason
of vibration or the emission of odor, dust, smoke, gas or noise. In
a pottery or ceramic enterprise only electric or gas kilns operated
periodically may be employed.
A handicraft shop enterprise will meet the following limitations
as to size and scope of operation:
Floor area used for creation, production or manufacturing purposes
shall not exceed eighty percent of the total floor area used for the
entire handicraft shop enterprise, and not less than twenty percent
of the floor area shall be used for sale and display purposes, and
the area for sale and display purposes shall be located in front of
the premises,
Electric horsepower to a total of not exceeding two horsepower
per machine, and not to exceed five machines with a total aggregate
of not to exceed ten horsepower shall be used,
Not more than five persons shall be employed or engaged in the
creation, production or manufacturing activities.
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In any pottery or ceramic enterprise, the periodic kilns shall
have an aggregate inside kiln space of not to exceed thirty cubic
feet;
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means a use conducted entirely within an enclosed building
in which minor repairs of domestic or household equipment is carried
on. The aggregate electric power used within the shop shall not exceed
two horsepower;
means generally dense vegetation so aligned as to form a
physical barrier or fence;
means one or more of the following:
The vertical distance from any point on the finished roof surface
to the finished floor surface of the lowest floor measured directly
below or to the natural or finished grade, whichever is more restrictive
or lower. If the entire lowest floor, measured from the finished floor
surface of the floor above, is located completely below natural or
finished grade, whichever is more restrictive, then the building height
shall be measured to the top of the finished floor of the next level
directly above that subterranean level;
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For purposes of measuring the height above the front lot line,
an applicant may have the option of measuring by one of the following
two options:
The vertical distance from the curb, street centerline or property
line to the highest point of the roof, whichever is the applicable
measurement as required under the specific chapters of this title.
The elevation of the curb shall be taken on top of the curb at a point
created by the intersection of the curb and a line perpendicular to
and intersecting the midpoint of the front lot line. In the event,
there is no curb, height shall be measured from the centerline of
the street to the top of the roof. The elevation of the centerline
of the street shall be taken at a point created by the intersection
of the centerline and a line perpendicular to and intersecting the
midpoint of the front lot line; or
At every point along the curb or street center line.
For purposes of measuring the height above the rear lot line,
the elevation of the rear lot line shall be taken at every point along
the rear property line.
Exception: Provided they do not exceed a maximum height limit set forth in Chapter 25.51, and provided further that no structure in excess of the specified building height shall be used for additional living or floor space, the following items may be permitted to a height in excess of that permitted within a zone when approved by the design review board pursuant to the procedures and findings of Chapter 25.05 as applicable: structures for the sole purposes of housing elevators, stairways, tanks, ventilating fans or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building, skylights, spires, flagpoles, broadcasting and receiving antennae and chimneys.
For development proposed on the seaward side of Pacific Coast
Highway, where topography allows, no structures shall be constructed
above the finish elevation of Pacific Coast Highway at the right-of-way
line.
means a primary thoroughfare as delineated on the general
plan;
means any use customarily conducted entirely within a dwelling
and carried on by the inhabitants thereof, which use is clearly incidental
to the use of the structure for dwelling purposes and which does not
change the character thereof or does not adversely affect the uses
permitted in the zone of which it is a part. Home occupation may be
engaged in when permitted by this title provided the category of home
occupation has been approved by the commission as valid and conforming
with the criteria and conditions stated below. Any individual home
occupation must conform to the following:
No employment of help other than the members of the resident
family,
No use of material or mechanical equipment not recognized as
being part of normal household or hobby uses nor recognized as material
or equipment used in the creation of fine art,
There shall be no newspaper or other advertising carried on,
which identifies the address of the residence as a place of business,
The use shall not generate pedestrian or vehicular traffic beyond
that normal to residences in the area,
It shall not involve the use of commercial vehicles for delivery
or pickup of materials or equipment to or from the premises,
No unsightly storage of materials and/or supplies, indoor or
outdoor for purposes other than those permitted in the zone in which
it is located,
It shall not involve the use of signs or structures other than
those permitted in the zone of which it is a part,
No more than one room in the dwelling shall be employed for
the home occupation,
In no way shall the appearance of the structure be so altered
or the conduct of the occupation within the structure be such that
the structure may be reasonably recognized as serving a nonresidential
use (either by color, materials, or construction, lighting, signs,
sounds or noises, vibrations, etc.),
There shall be no use of utilities or community facilities beyond
that normal to the use of the property for residential purposes;
means a commercial use conducted within a single-family dwelling,
duplex or triplex located in the applicable zones, provided that the
building or unit is principally the domicile of the shop owner. Commercial
home occupations may be engaged in when permitted by this title, provided
the category of home occupation has been approved by resolution of
the planning commission as valid and conforms with the criteria and
conditions below. Any individual commercial home occupation must conform
to the following:
Only one commercial use shall be applicable per property,
The building must be structurally sound,
Commercial use not to exceed twenty-five percent of the existing
square footage; in multifamily properties, the square footage of the
commercial unit shall be based only upon the unit within which it
exists.
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Exemption: Not more than . . . . of a detached unit on a lot
upon which the resident resides may be used for a home occupation,
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All uses and arrangements shall be subject to the review and
approval of the fire marshal,
All roofing to be noncombustible or fire retardant,
No unprotected openings or nonrated walls less than five feet
from the side and rear property lines except openings adjacent to
a street or alley,
All exterior alterations, modifications or additions to the
exterior of the buildings, including signs, are subject to design
review,
Parking standards for all residential units, plus the commercial
requirement, must be provided on-site,
An identification sign shall be allowed, size limited to twenty-five
percent of that allowed by the zone,
Each commercial use shall have a separate entrance and be separable
from the residential use,
There shall be no outdoor storage;
means the cultivation of crops and shall not include the
care of domestic animals;
means an institution housing and caring for patients who
may not be ambulatory and who require nursing and medical care on
the premises. "Hospital" shall not include an institution housing
persons requiring restraint;
means any building or portion thereof used, arranged or designed
so as to provide six or more rooms or suites of rooms used for transient
lodging purposes on a daily basis.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 337, 1951; Ord. 686, 1972; Ord. 930 § 1, 1978; Ord. 992 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1144 § 3, 1987; Ord. 8711 § 3(1), 1989; Ord.
1223 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1416 § 6, 2002; Ord. 1489 §
11, 2008; Ord. 1524 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1548 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1550 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1575 § 2, 2013)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "I":
means lighted by means of artificial light the intention
of which is to render the object capable of being seen or read;
means a use that is changed to a use which has a greater
parking requirement and/or the enlargement of the floor area of an
existing building.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 586, 1967; Ord. 1039 § 2, 1983; Ord. 1282 §
1, 1994; Ord. 1332 § 3, 1997; Ord. 1652 § 1, 2021; Ord. 1657 § 1, 2021)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "K":
means any lot or premises on which three or more dogs or
other animals, more than three months of age are kept, boarded or
trained;
means a room used or intended or designed to be used for
cooking and/or preparation of food.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 527, 1964)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "L":
means the planting and maintenance of suitable vegetation
in conformity with the requirements of this title;
means a use which serves fewer people or one which tends
to be less obnoxious;
See Illuminated;
means a room or rooms within a structure designed and used
for residential use and occupancy, but does not include a kitchen
or a bathroom with a bathtub and/or shower;
means a private institution whose purpose is fraternal and
nonprofit;
means an area of land under one ownership that has been lawfully
created by means of a subdivision map, parcel map, record of survey
or a metes and bounds description. Such a lot may or may not be a
building site. See also "Parcel" and "Building site";
means the total square area of land measured in a horizontal
plane within the lot lines of a lot;
means a lot located at the intersection of two streets at
an angle of not more than one hundred twenty degrees;
means the horizontal distance between the front and rear
lot lines measured in the mean direction of the side lot lines;
mean the width and depth of a lot;
means a lot which is not a corner or reverse corner lot;
means any line bounding a lot;
means the property line or lines separating a lot from streets in the case of an interior lot and the line separating the narrowest street frontage of a lot from the street in the case of a corner lot or reversed corner lot. A lot may have more than one front lot line. Following a ten-day public comment period prior to which public notice was provided in accordance with Section 25.05.065, an exception from the designation for front lot line may be granted by the design review board. The following criteria shall be considered when making an exception designation:
The front yard designation in the code is inappropriate because
of the pattern of neighborhood development,
The front yard designation in the code is inappropriate because
of the historical orientation of the existing structure(s) on the
site,
The proposed orientation more nearly produces the required setback
dimensions in all yards,
The proposed orientation will provide a more harmonious relationship
between the development on the subject property and the neighboring
properties, and
The granting of an exception from the designation for front
lot line will consider the effect of creating nonconforming structure(s),
and mitigate to the greatest extent possible the nonconforming aspect
of the structure(s), in the exception is granted;
means a lot line not abutting a street which line is opposite
and most distant from the front lot line. In the case of an irregular,
triangular or gore shaped lot, the rear lot line shall be a line within
the lot, ten feet long, parallel to and at a maximum distance from
the front lot line. A lot which is bounded on all sides by streets
may have no rear lot line;
means any lot line which is not a front lot line or a rear
lot line;
means a corner lot, the side line of which is substantially
a continuation of the front lot lines of the lot or lots to its rear,
whether across an alley or not;
means a lot having frontage on two parallel or approximately
parallel streets;
means the horizontal distance between the side lot lines
measured at right angles to the line representing the lot depth at
a point on said line midway between the front and rear lot lines.
In the case of a lot with a long narrow appendage abutting the street,
the horizontal distance shall be measured at a point midway between
the rear lot line and the beginning of the main body of the lot.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 454, 1960; Ord. 584, 1967; Ord. 721, 1972; Ord. 724, 1972; Ord. 969 § 1, 1979; Ord. 1216 § 3, 1991; Ord. 1223 §
1, 1991; Ord. 1550 § 3, 2011; Ord. 1555 § 10, 2011; Ord. 1575 § 3, 2013; Ord. 1577 § 10, 2013)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "M":
means a building designed, used or intended to be used for
the principal uses permitted under the terms of this title;
means the line separating the front or rear yard from that
portion of the lot where a main building as herein defined may be
constructed;
means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported
by the building and projecting over public property or a street plan
line;
means a building in which a group of physicians, dentists
or physicians and dentists and allied professionals and assistants
are associated for the purpose of carrying on their profession;
is that line which bounds a sign so as to be tangent to all
exterior curves and to be without reentrant angles;
See Hotel;
See Dwelling, multiple family;
means a nonprofit, noncommercial establishment operated as
a repository for a collection of natural, scientific or literary curiosities
or objects of interest or works of fine art. Operation shall not include
the regular sale or distribution of the objects collected;
means a business wherein musical equipment is sold and/or
music school services are rendered and wherein the playing of musical
instruments or reproduction equipment is employed as a part of the
sales or service rendered. The playing of such music shall be limited
to the daylight hours.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 633, 1969; Ord. 641, 1970)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "N":
See Grade, natural;
means a parcel of land which lawfully existed as a lot on
the effective date of the ordinance codified herein, or which is created
by variance after the effective date of the ordinance codified herein,
but which in either case does not conform to the lot area and the
lot dimension standards for the zone in which it is located;
means a building or portion thereof or other structure which
lawfully existed on the effective date of the ordinance codified herein,
and which, because of its design, cannot reasonably be used for a
conforming use, or a building or portion thereof or other structure
which does not comply with one or more of the property development
standards of the zone in which it is located;
means a use of a building or land which use was carried on
on the effective date of the ordinance codified herein and which does
not conform to the uses permitted in the zone in which it is located;
means without artificial light, the purpose of which would
be to render the object visible;
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 586, 1967; Ord. 1088 § 5, 1985; Ord. 1332 §
3, 1997)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "P":
means an area of land under one ownership. A parcel of land
may or may not be a lot or building site;
means a parcel or a portion of a parcel of land surrounded
by lines of record on a tract map, on a record of survey, or on a
recorded deed. Such parcel may or may not be a building site;
means an open area, other than a street, used for the parking
of automotive vehicles and restricted from general public use;
means an area other than a private parking area or street
used for the parking of vehicles and available for public or quasi-public
use, either free or for remuneration. Public parking areas shall include
parking lots for retail customers, patrons, clients or employees;
means space, exclusive of driveways, ramps, columns, loading
areas, office or work areas within a building or open parking area
for the parking of one automobile. A parking space shall be accessible
and usable for the parking of a standard passenger motor vehicle,
without the necessity of moving another vehicle for its ingress or
egress. For commercial uses, a parking space may be so located as
to require the movement of another vehicle or vehicles for its ingress
and egress, but when so located will be designated an attendant parking
space, and will re-quire a qualified car-moving attendant to be on
the premises and available to move cars whenever the commercial use
is in operation;
See Tandem parking space;
means any business which provides or delivers retail services
on the premises;
means any neighborhood shopping center, or the central business
district for either of which there is a site plan approved by the
planning commission;
means a type of subdivision development characterized by comprehensive, detailed planning for a project as a whole which usually involves the clustering of dwelling units either as single-family detached or attached units; where the density does not exceed that permitted in the zone; and where the standards of development outlined in Chapter 21.14 (concerning planned residential developments) are complied with. This type of development may compensate for the limitations caused by environmental constraints by providing density yield advantages through the clustering of dwelling units, and also provide for the opportunity to preserve open space and other natural features, minimize environmental degradation and avoid natural hazards;
means the planning commission of the city of Laguna Beach;
means the planning director of the city of Laguna Beach;
means the office of the planning director;
means the number of people residing on the land expressed
as a relationship of the number of square feet of net lot area per
family;
means a line separating a parcel of land from another parcel
or from the street or alley;
means an outdoor area or an area within a hotel, multiple
family dwelling or a roominghouse, which is not for the sole use of
the occupants of any suite of rooms or any single room;
means an organization and operation authorized to provide
to the community, water, gas, electric power, telephone or public
transportation.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 652, 1970; Ord. 942 § 1, 1978; Ord. 1216 §
3, 1991; Ord. 1282 § 1, 1994; Ord. 1303 § 3, 1995; Ord. 1332 § 3, 1997)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "R":
means a recreation facility owned by a public agency and
available for the use of the general public. Special events subject
to temporary use permit procedure;
means uncovered recreation spaces;
means a recreation facility not open to or intended for the
use of the general public, except memberships. Special events subject
to temporary use permit procedure;
means a recreation facility not under public ownership but
available for the use of the general public. Special events subject
to temporary use permit procedure;
means any facility licensed or unlicensed, in which seven
or more individuals with a disability reside who are not living together
as a single housekeeping unit. An individual with a disability is
a person who has a physical or mental impairment that limits or substantially
limits one or more major life activities, anyone who is regarded as
having such impairment or anyone who has a record of such impairment,
not including current, illegal use of a controlled substance.
means a facility licensed by the state of California that
provides care, services or treatment in a community residential setting
for six or fewer adults and/or children with a disability and that
is required by state law to be treated as a single housekeeping unit.
An individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or
mental impairment that limits or substantially limits one or more
major life activities, anyone who is regarded as having such impairment
or anyone who has a record of such impairment, not including current
illegal use of a controlled substance. Small licensed residential
care facilities shall be subject to all land use and property development
regulations applicable to single housekeeping units.
means any building that is not licensed by the state of California
and is not required by law to be licensed by the state, in which six
or fewer individuals with a disability reside who are not living together
as a single housekeeping unit. An individual with a disability is
a person who has a physical or mental impairment that limits or substantially
limits one or more major life activities, anyone who is regarded as
having such impairment or anyone who has a record of such impairment,
not including current, illegal use of a controlled substance.
means dwelling units that accommodate specific demographic
or occupational groups which call for specific housing types. Such
groups include the elderly (age sixty-five and above), the disabled,
female headed households, large families, farmworkers, homeless persons
or families (including transitional and supportive housing), and extremely
low, very low, low and moderate-income persons, as defined in the
city's housing element.
means a use for permanent or quasi-permanent dwelling purpose
in a single family dwelling, two family dwelling or multiple family
dwelling and all of the incidental uses thereto;
means the R-1, R/HP, R-2 and R-3 zones;
means a business which prepares food primarily intended for
consumption in vehicles which may or may not be parked on the premises
and where the business transaction is performed from the vehicle.
Such restaurant may or may not provide seating;
means a business devoted to the serving of prepared food
to patrons where the food is consumed on the premises and the customer's
order and are served while seated at tables;
means a business which primarily prepares food cooked on
the premises intended for off-site consumption but which may also
provide seating;
See Extended care facility;
means the right of use or to cross over the property of another;
means a room enclosure or a portion of a room enclosure within
a dwelling unit, room rental or hotel. Bathrooms, hallways, closets
and service porches are not rooms;
means an area within a building, which area is entirely enclosed
by walls from floor to ceiling.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 630, 1969; Ord. 632, 1969; Ord. 913 § 1, 1977; Ord. 1151 § 2, 1988; Ord. 1216 § 3, 1991; Ord. 1282 § 1, 1994; Ord.
1550 § 4, 2011; Ord. 1575 § 4, 2013)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "S":
means a nongovernmental institution of learning which offers
instruction in the several branches of learning and study required
to be taught in the public schools by the Education Code of the state
of California;
means the secretary of the planning commission of the city;
means a business which sells gasoline and/or services motor
vehicles, including sale of lubricants, lubricating vehicles, tube
and tire repairs, battery charging, and hand auto washing and polishing
and excluding all other servicing;
means any bulkhead, retaining wall, seawall, revetment, fence,
berm or other structure separating land and water areas primarily
designed to prevent erosion or other damage due to wave action, including
any structure or partition to retain or prevent sliding of the land,
or any device for the purpose of protecting the upland against damage
from wave action;
means a pedestrian walkway within a dedicated street right-of-way
which is improved to city standards;
are those that are in their natural condition and which serve
a distinct functional, scenic or ecological purpose. As applied, ecological
purposes include those related to wildlife habitats, particularly
feeding, watering and breeding areas; and biotic habitat areas. Scenic
purposes include those related to view corridors, density relief or
general aesthetic appeal. Functional purposes include those related
to hydrologic considerations;
are those that have been altered from their natural condition,
but which continue to serve a distinct functional, scenic or ecological
purpose as defined under "significant natural watercourses." Significant
modified watercourses include those that have been channelized, piped,
culverted or otherwise improved or diverted. Significant modified
watercourses are typified by the continuing presence of a topographic
swale or depression and the ability to conduct overflow runoff. Significant
modified watercourses that are restored may qualify for redesignation
as natural watercourses;
See Dwelling, single-family;
means the functional equivalent of a traditional family,
whose members are an interactive group of persons jointly occupying
a single dwelling unit, including the joint use of and responsibility
for common areas, and sharing household activities and responsibilities,
such as meals, chores, household maintenance and expenses; and where,
if the dwelling unit is rented, all adult (eighteen years or older)
residents have chosen to jointly occupy the entire premises of the
dwelling unit, under a single written lease with joint use and responsibility
for the premises, and the makeup of the household occupying the unit
is determined by the residents of the dwelling unit rather than the
landlord or property manager;
means that property which provides a location for and justifies
the area of a sign;
means a natural or artificial incline;
means the average of the two corner elevations at the front
property line and the average of the two corner elevations at the
rear property line, with the lower average elevation subtracted from
the higher average elevation, divided by the average depth of the
lot;
means a hydro-massage pool or tub intended for recreational
bathing or therapeutic use designed for immersion of users, usually
having a filter, heater and motor-driven blower and containing water
over eighteen inches deep. This definition includes, but is not limited
to, hot tubs and spas which are self-contained or non self-contained;
and "horse stable" mean a structure for the housing of horses;
means that portion of a building included between the upper
surface of any floor and the upper surface of the next floor above,
except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building
included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling
or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a usable
or unused under-floor space is more than six feet above the adjacent
ground elevation (as defined herein) for more than fifty percent of
the total perimeter or is more than twelve feet above the adjacent
ground elevation at any point, such usable or unused under-floor space
shall be considered as a story;
means a public or private thoroughfare which affords a primary
means of access to abutting property. Street includes, in addition
to the paved travel way, all land within the street right-of-way;
means any street which is surfaced with asphaltic or other
concrete;
means a line delineating the proposed right-of-way for a
planned street, and appearing in a precise street plan adopted by
the city;
means anything constructed or built, any edifice or building
of any kind or any piece of work artificially built up or composed
of parts joined together in some defined manner, which requires location
on the ground or is attached to something having a location on the
ground, except outdoor areas such as patios, paved areas, walks, tennis
courts and other similar recreation areas;
means a group of two or more rooms which can be joined together
for single occupancy;
means any permanent structure intended for swimming or recreational
bathing that contains water over eighteen inches deep. This definition
includes, but is not limited to, permanent in-ground, aboveground
and on-ground swimming pools, and permanent fixed-in-place wading
pools.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 586, 1967; Ord. 1093 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1109 §§
1, 3, 1986; Ord. 1142 § 2,
1987; Ord. 1159 § 1 (A), 1988; Ord. 1187 § 3 (1), 1989; Ord. 1332 § 3, 1997; Ord. 1334 § 4, 1997; Ord.
1400 §§ 3—5, 2002; Ord. 1528 § 3, 2010)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "T":
means a parking space so located that it is necessary to
move one or more other automobiles in order that the automobile occupying
the tandem space may gain access to or from the space;
means the primary and secondary thoroughfares as shown on
the general plan for the city;
See Dwelling, three-family;
means lands over which the ordinary ocean tides ebb and flow,
exclusive of any lands landward from the line of mean high tide;
is one comprised of two or more time-share units;
is a room or a suite of rooms, with a kitchen, devoted to
time-share use;
means one in which the purchaser receives the right in perpetuity,
for life or for a term of years, to the recurrent exclusive use or
occupancy of a lot, parcel, unit or segment of real property, annually
or on some other periodic basis for a period of time that has been
or will be allocated from the use or occupancy periods into which
the plan has been divided. A time-share plan may be coupled with an
estate in the real property or it may entail a license or contract
and/or membership right of occupancy not coupled with an estate in
the real property;
means that point or line of initial break where the terrain
changes to an upward direction;
means that point or line of initial break where the terrain
changes to a downward direction;
means a temporary sales office not to exceed four hundred
square feet of gross floor area within a building and located on the
site where homes and/or lots in a tract are being sold;
See Dwelling, two-family.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 867 § 1, 1976; Ord. 988 § 1, 1980; Ord. 1010 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1016 §
3, 1982)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "U":
means that portion of any street, as such term is defined
in this title, which is not less than sixteen feet in width and is,
as of the effective date of the ordinance codified herein or as of
the effective date of annexation to the city if such occurred thereafter,
improved to the following standard: Provided with sixteen feet of
width of asphaltic cement, concrete surfacing or a similar approved
material along its entire length from its intersection with a fully
improved street or other usable vehicular right-of-way of record.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 546, 1965; Ord. 1216 § 3, 1991)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "V":
means the variance board of the city of Laguna Beach.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 527, 1964)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "W":
means any structure or device forming a physical barrier
which is so constructed that fifty percent or more of the vertical
surface is closed and prevents the passage of light, air and vision
through the surface in a horizontal plane.
means any permanent structure that contains three hundred gallons or more of water and contains water over eighteen inches deep, and has non-submersible circulatory mechanical pumps or equipment. (If a water feature has submersible pumps, it is not subject to design review per Section 25.05.040(B)(1).)
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 1400 § 6, 2002)
The following are definitions for words beginning with "Y" and
"Z":
means any open space other than a court on the same lot with
a building or a dwelling group, which space is generally open from
ground to sky, except for the projections and/or accessory buildings
permitted by this title. No required yard or other open space around
an existing building, or which is hereafter provided around any building
for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this title, may
be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building;
nor may any yard or other 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;
means a space extending the full width of the lot, between
the front lot line or the street plan line and a line parallel thereto
at a distance equal to the depth of the required front yard for the
zone in which the lot is located;
means a space extending the full width of the lot between
the rear lot line and a line parallel thereto at a distance equal
to the depth of the required rear yard for the zone in which the lot
is located;
means a space extending from the front yard to the rear yard,
between the side lot line or the street plan line and a line parallel
thereto at a distance equal to the depth of the required side yard
for the zone in which the lot is located;
means a land area shown on the official districting (zoning)
map of the city of Laguna Beach to which uniform regulations apply;
means the line separating one or more zones as shown on the
official districting (zoning) map;
means a written permit issued by the director of building
and planning or his deputy pertaining to a parcel of land or portion
thereof or to a structure or portion thereof, authorizing a use permitted
under the terms of this title.
(Ord. 209, 1940; Ord. 527, 1964)
