"Abutting"
means having a common boundary, except that lots having no
common boundary other than a common corner shall not be considered
abutting.
"Access"
means the place, means, or way by which pedestrians and vehicles
shall have ingress and egress to a property or use.
"Access driveway"
means a driveway that provides access to a parking area from
a public street or alley.
"Accessory building or structure"
means a structure which is incidental or subordinate to the
principal structure on the same site, or the use of which is incidental
or subordinate to the use of the principal structure of the site.
An accessory structure that is attached or joined to a principal structure
shall be deemed a part of the principal structure.
"Accessory dwelling unit" or "ADU"
means an attached or a detached residential dwelling unit
which provides complete independent living facilities for one or more
persons and is located on a lot with a proposed or existing primary
residence. It shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping,
eating, cooking, and sanitation and shall be constructed on the same
parcel as the single-family or multifamily dwelling unit that is the
primary dwelling unit is or will be situated. An accessory dwelling
unit also includes the following: (1) an efficiency unit, as defined
in Section 17958.1 of the
Health and Safety Code; and (2) a manufactured
home, as defined in Section 18007 of the
Health and Safety Code. This
definition shall be interpreted as consistent with and including the
definition of accessory dwelling unit found in
Government Code Section
65852.2.
"Accessory living quarters"
mean living quarters within an accessory building for the
sole use of the family occupying the main building and for use by
temporary guests of the occupant of the main building, such quarters
having no kitchen facilities, kitchenette, cooking facilities, or
cooking appliance(s) (the term cooking appliance does not include
coffee pots or refrigerators) and not rented or otherwise used as
a separate dwelling unit.
"Accessory use"
means a use of a structure or site, or a portion of a structure
or site, which is incidental or subordinate to the principal use conducted
on or occupying the site.
"Acupressure"
means the stimulation or sedation of specific meridian points
and trigger points near the surface of the body by the use of pressure
applied by the acupressurist in order to prevent or modify the perception
of pain or to normalize physiological functions, including pain control,
in the treatment of certain diseases or dysfunctions of the body.
"Adjacent"
means two or more lots separated only by an alley, street,
highway or recorded easement, or two or more objects that lie near
or close to each other.
"Adjoining"
means two or more lots sharing a common boundary line or
two or more objects in contact with each other. Lots, which touch
at corners, shall not be deemed adjoining. "Abut" or "abutting" and
"contiguous" mean the same as adjoining.
"Adult"
means a person who is eighteen years of age or older.
"Adult business"
means any use of property that is subject to the provisions of Chapter
17.94 of this title.
"Aisle"
means an unobstructed path or area directly adjacent to a
parking space that is utilized by vehicles to maneuver in or out of
a parking space or parking area.
"Alley"
means a public way permanently reserved as a secondary means
of access to abutting property.
"Alteration"
means any change, addition, or modification in construction
or occupancy of an existing building or structure.
Alteration, Structural.
"Structural alteration" means any change in the supporting
members of a building such as bearing walls, columns, beams, floor
or roof joists, girders or rafters, or changes in roof pitch or configuration,
or exterior building lines. "Structural alteration" does not include
the application of any exterior siding to an existing building for
the purpose of beautification and modernization, or the installation
of roof covering.
"Antique"
means a bona fide antique or a "work of art," piece of furniture
or decorative object made at a much earlier period than the present
and according to U.S. Customs laws at least one hundred years old.
"Antique store"
means a retail establishment which has at least seventy-five
percent of its floor area devoted to the display for sale of bona
fide antiques.
"Apartment"
means a residential dwelling unit located within a multiple
unit dwelling which is available to rent or lease for an extended
period of time.
Apartment, Bachelor.
"Bachelor apartment" means a dwelling unit within a multiple
unit dwelling that combines sleeping, living, cooking and dining facilities,
into one habitable room.
Apartment, Single.
"Single apartment" means a dwelling unit within a multiple
unit dwelling, containing one room and a bathroom and cooking facilities.
"Architectural design"
means or refers to the proportions, finish, shape, height,
color scheme, style, theme and appropriateness of any structure or
building as well as the type of walls, roof and architectural features
thereon.
"Architectural projection"
means a projection from a wall of a building that is more
than eight inches in width or projection, and is an integral part
of the design of that wall, but which provides no usable interior
space.
"Attic"
means the unfinished level between the ceiling of the top
floor and the roof. Attic shall be an uninhabitable area.
"Automobile body shop"
means any business where motor vehicle body, frame, fender
or chassis repair work is done or performed.
"Automobile car wash"
means the use of land or a building, which is used for the
mechanical washing of automobiles, and the waxing and interior cleaning
of such automobiles.
"Automobile detailing"
means the use of land or a building, which is used for the
hand washing of automobiles, and the waxing and interior cleaning
of such automobiles.
"Automobile impound yard"
means an open area used exclusively for the storage of automobiles,
motor vehicles and recreational vehicles impounded pursuant to order
of a public law enforcement agency or insurance organization licensed
to conduct business in the state, and stored solely for the purposes
of law enforcement investigation, insurance investigation, title clearance
and transfer and/or litigation. This definition does not include the
dismantling or disassembly of vehicles, except pursuant to litigation,
the sale of vehicle parts nor the storage of nonimpounded vehicles
or their parts.
"Automobile service station"
means a place of retail business engaged in supplying gasoline
and oil and other goods essential to the normal operation of motor
vehicles.
"Awning"
means a sun screen cantilevered from the wall of a building.
"Balcony"
means an open area located either recessed or projected out
from the walls of a building and located four feet or more above grade
and open on one or more sides except for a railing or parapet not
more than forty-two inches high. Balcony does not include exterior
corridor.
"Bar, cocktail lounge"
means any premises wherein alcoholic beverages are sold at
retail for consumption on the premises and minors are excluded therefrom
by law.
"Barbed wire"
means twisted strands of fence wire with barbs at regular
intervals.
"Bay window"
means a projection from the wall of a building containing
windows on all walls of the projection. The projection does not provide
for usable floor area (i.e., an unobstructed continuation of the finished
floor line), and shall contain a bench or window seat, which is not
less than sixteen inches above the finished floor. A bay window shall
be cantilevered a minimum of twenty-four inches above the finished
adjacent grade.
"Billboard"
means a sign that identifies or communicates a commercial
or noncommercial message related to an activity conducted, a service
rendered, or a commodity sold at a location other than where the sign
is located.
"Board and care home"
means a residential care facility in which the residents
are ambulatory and do not require skilled nursing care.
"Boardinghouse"
means a residence in which lodging with meals is provided
for people other than members of the resident family, for compensation,
and the occupancy for the people other than members of the resident
family is for not less than thirty days.
"Breezeway"
means a roofed passageway, open at opposite ends, which connects
two otherwise separate buildings.
"Buildable area"
means the portion of a lot, which may be occupied by buildings
or structures in compliance with the requirements of this title.
"Building"
means any structure having a roof supported by columns or
walls and intended for the shelter, housing, or enclosure of any individual,
animal, equipment, goods or materials of any kind.
"Caretaker"
means a person who is on the property for a substantial portion
of each day for security purposes or for the vital care of people,
plants, animals, equipment or other conditions of the site, and who
may not have a possessory interest in the property.
"Carport"
means a permanently roofed structure open on one or more
sides, used or intended to be used for vehicular parking.
"City"
means the city of Lawndale.
Clinic, Medical.
"Medical clinic" means any facility for the care and diagnosis
and treatment of persons in need of medical, dental, or surgical attention,
but who are not provided with board or overnight accommodations on
the premises. "Clinic" does not include a veterinary clinic.
Clinic, Veterinary.
"Veterinary clinic" means a medical facility licensed by
the State Department of Public Health for the treatment of household
pets. The use may include the overnight care of such treated pets.
Club, Private Nonprofit.
"Private nonprofit club" means an association of persons,
whether incorporated or unincorporated, organized for some common
purpose, shall include those associations and organizations of a fraternal
or social character, not operated or maintained for profit and that
qualify for an exemption from a business license. The term "private
club" shall not include casinos, nightclubs, restaurants, other institutions
operated as businesses for profit that requires a city business license
and a special use permit.
"Commission"
means the planning commission of the city of Lawndale.
"Conditional use"
means that owing to some special characteristics attendant
to its operation or installation (for example, potential danger, smoke,
or noise) a use that is permitted in a district subject to approval
by the planning commission, and subject to special requirements, different
from those usual requirements for the district in which the conditional
use may be located. "Conditional use" means special use.
"Condominium"
means an estate in real property consisting of an undivided
interest in common with a portion of a parcel real property together
with a separate interest in space in a building or a particular site
on such real property. The term shall also apply to a unit within
a multiple unit dwelling within which each individual unit is intended
for separate purchase along with an interest in common in the site
on which the multiple dwelling is located.
"Construction"
means any building or structure, or the act of fabricating
or erecting any building or structure.
"Convalescent facility"
means a nursing facility or institution which makes provision
for bed care for chronic or convalescent care for one or more persons
(exclusive of relatives) who by illness or physical infirmity are
unable to properly care for themselves and includes convalescent hospital,
rehabilitation hospital, sanitarium and nursing home but does not
include facilities or institutions providing care of alcoholics, drug
addicts, persons with mental disease or persons with communicable
diseases, including contagious tuberculosis. Surgical and emergency
medical services are not permitted at convalescent facilities.
"Convenience store"
means any retail establishment offering for sale prepackaged
food products, household items, and other goods commonly associated
with the same and having a gross floor area of less than five thousand
square feet.
"Council"
means the city council of the city of Lawndale.
"Cul-de-sac"
means a local street, one end of which is closed and consists
of a circular turn around.
"Cyber café"
means a place of business that provides facilities that access
the Internet and is comprised of more than three leaseable stations.
Decision, Discretionary.
"Discretionary decision" means a decision that requires the
exercise of judgment, deliberation, or decision on the part of the
decision-making authority in the process of approving or disapproving
a particular activity, as distinguished from a situation where the
decision-making authority merely has to determine whether there has
been conformity with applicable statutes, ordinances or regulations.
Decision, Ministerial.
"Ministerial decision" means a decision that is approved
by a decision-making authority based upon a given set of facts in
a prescribed manner in obedience to the mandate of legal authority.
In these cases, the authority must act upon the given facts without
regard to its own judgment or opinion concerning the propriety or
wisdom of the act although the statute, ordinance, or regulation may
require, in some degree, a construction of its language by the decision-making
authority.
"Dedication"
means the donation of real property or airspace to the public
for a specific use or purpose.
"Density"
means the number of dwelling units permitted per net acre
of land.
"Development"
means all structures and other modifications of the natural
landscape above and below the ground, on a particular site.
"Director"
means the community development director of the city of Lawndale
or designated representative.
"Domestic animal"
means an animal which is commonly maintained in residence
with man.
"Driveway approach"
means that portion of the road between the right-of-way line
and the curb, or between the right-of-way line and the pavement if
no curb exists, where motor vehicles enter or leave the highway or
street to access parking facilities.
"Dry cleaners"
mean a building or portion of a building in which clothes
and other fabric type materials are cleansed without the use of mechanical
washing machines or dryers.
Dwelling, Multiple-family.
"Multiple-family dwelling" means a residential building designed
for, or occupied by, two or more dwelling units.
Dwelling, Single-family.
"Single-family dwelling" means an attached or detached building
not to contain more than one kitchen and which, regardless of the
form of ownership, is not designed to accommodate more than one household.
"Dwelling unit"
means one or more rooms designed, occupied, or intended for
occupancy as separate living quarters, with cooking, sleeping and
sanitary facilities provided within the same unit for the exclusive
use of the household.
"Emergency shelter"
means housing with minimal supportive services for homeless
persons that is limited to occupancy of six months or less by a homeless
person. No individual or household may be denied emergency shelter
because of an inability to pay.
"Escort agency"
means a person or business association who furnishes, offers
to furnish, or advertises to furnish escorts as one of its primary
business purposes for a fee, tip or other consideration.
"Existing structure"
for the purposes of defining an allowable space that can
be converted to an accessory dwelling unit means within the footprint
of any structure existing on or after the effective date of this section
that can be made safely habitable under local building codes at the
determination of the building official regardless of any noncompliance
with zoning standards.
"Façade"
means the exterior wall of a building exposed to public view
or that wall viewed by persons not within the building. The primary
façade is the exterior building face which is parallel to the
front property line.
Family Day Care Home—Large.
"Large family day care home" means a home which provides
family day care to seven to fourteen children, inclusive of children
under the age of ten years who reside at the home.
Family Day Care Home—Small.
"Small family day care home" means a home which provides
family day care for up to eight children, inclusive of children under
the age of ten years who reside at the home.
"Fence"
means an artificially constructed barrier of any material
or combination of materials erected to enclose or screen areas of
land.
Floor Area, Gross.
"Gross floor area" means the area of all floors included
within the surrounding exterior walls of a building, or portion thereof.
The area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding
walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of
the roof or floor above and shall also be included within this calculation.
"Floor area ratio" or "FAR"
means the total building square footage on a given lot divided
by the lot area of the same lot. Building square footage includes
all structures on the lot, including garages and accessory structures.
"Full service fitness center"
means a private health, athletic, or recreational club facility
that provides fitness services including, but not limited to, gymnasiums
(except public), weight training facilities, aerobic floors, tennis/racquetball
courts, swimming pools, and similar athletic facilities, with full
service amenities including, but not limited to, showers, lockers,
baths and saunas.
"Game machine"
means any device for the amusement or pastime, including,
but not limited to, a pinball machine, video game, or virtual reality
device of whatever kind or nature, whether electronically activated
or not, which may be activated by a coin or any consideration paid
for its usage.
Garage, Private Parking.
"Private parking garage" means an enclosed building, or portion
thereof, used for the storage of motor vehicles owned or operated
by residents, and for storage and other uses related to normal household
purposes.
Garage, Public Parking.
"Public parking garage" means a building or structure other
than a private garage used for the temporary parking of motor vehicles.
"Granny flat"
means a second residential unit which is attached to or detached
from, a primary residence on a lot zoned for single-family residence,
if the dwelling unit is intended for the sole use of one adult or
two adult persons who are sixty-two years of age or over, and the
area of floor space of the attached dwelling unit does not exceed
thirty percent of the existing living area or the area of the floor
space of the detached dwelling does not exceed one thousand two hundred
square feet.
"Guest house"
means accessory living quarters with kitchen or kitchenette.
"Guest room"
means one habitable room with facilities for sleeping and
sanitation which does not contain a kitchen, kitchenette, cooking
facilities, or cooking appliance(s) (the term cooking appliance does
not include coffee pots or refrigerators) and is designed, intended
to be used, or used as temporary sleeping accommodations for any person.
"Health club"
means a physical exercise, recreation or improvement facility,
including, but not limited to, gymnasiums (except public) and private
clubs (athletic, health or recreational).
"Hedges"
means two or more shrubs or trees planted or grown closely
together for the purpose of, or with the result of, forming a boundary
or barrier.
Height, Building.
"Building height" means the vertical distance as measured
from finished grade to the highest point of the structure or object
being measured. Building height does not include chimneys, antennas
or other appurtenant structures.
"Home occupation"
means an occupation conducted by the occupant of a dwelling
as a secondary use in which there is no display, no stock-in-trade,
no commodity sold on the premises, no person employed other than residents
of the dwelling; and no mechanical equipment used, except for that
necessary for traditional housekeeping and computer purposes.
"Hotel"
means a lodging facility containing six or more guest rooms
offering transient accommodations on a daily rate to the general public,
and which may provide additional services, such as restaurants, meeting
rooms and recreational facilities. The terms shall not include family
day care facility as defined in this chapter.
"Household pets"
mean cats, dogs, canaries, parrots and other kindred birds
and animals usually or ordinarily kept as household pets.
"Incidental"
means a use or occupancy which occupies less than twenty
percent of the floor area of a building or structure.
"Junior accessory dwelling unit" or "JADU"
means a unit that is no more than five hundred square feet
in size which is contained entirely within enclosed uses within the
residence, such as attached garages, is considered a part of the proposed
or existing single-family residence. A junior accessory dwelling unit
may include separate sanitation facilities, or may share sanitation
facilities with the existing structure. This definition shall be interpreted
as consistent with and including the definition of junior accessory
dwelling unit found in
Government Code Section 65852.22.
"Junk"
means an accumulation of solid materials or equipment which
are generally in a state of disrepair and/or are inoperable.
"Kennel"
means any place where four or more weaned dogs and cats,
or four or more of either, are maintained at any one location.
"Kitchen or kitchenette"
means a room or portion of a room, in a structure, used for
the purposes of preparing meals, containing the necessary cooking
or food preparation facilities, which may include microwave ovens
or hot plates, and which is also equipped with a sink with hot and
cold running water.
"Landscaping"
means an area devoted to or developed and maintained with
native or exotic plantings, lawn, ground cover, gardens, trees, shrubs,
and other plant materials, decorative outdoor landscape elements,
pools, fountains, water features, paved or decorated surfaces of rock,
stone, brick, block, or similar material (excluding driveways, parking,
loading, or storage areas), and sculptural elements. Plants on rooftops,
porches or in boxes attached to buildings are not considered landscaping.
"Laundry facility"
means a building or a portion of a building containing facilities
for the mechanical washing and drying of clothes.
"Living area"
means the interior habitable area of a dwelling unit, including
basements and attics, but does not include a garage or any accessory
structure. This definition shall be interpreted as consistent with
and including the definition of living area found in
Government Code
Section 65852.2.
"Loading space"
means an off-street space on the same lot with a building,
or contiguous to a group of buildings for the temporary parking of
a commercial vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials.
"Lot"
means a contiguous quantity or parcel of land in the possession
of, or owned by, or recorded as the property of the same claimant
or person and shall further mean:
1.
A parcel of real property when shown as a delineated parcel
of land with a number or other designation on a tract or plat recorded
in the office of the county recorder.
2.
A parcel of land, the dimensions and boundaries of which are
defined by a record of survey recorded pursuant to the provisions
of the Subdivision Map Act of the state in the office of the county
recorder.
3.
Where contiguous parcels of land in the same ownership are legally
described and developed as permitted by this code, such individual
parcels shall be considered as separate lots. A lot includes any area
of land under one ownership abutting upon at least one street, alley
or recorded easement.
Lot Area, Gross.
"Gross lot area" means the total horizontal area within the
property lines of a lot prior to the granting or dedication of any
easements or dedication of any rights-of-way for public streets, and/or
other dedications for required public facilities.
Lot Area, Net.
"Net lot area" means the total horizontal area within the
property lines of a lot less any area that is or has been dedicated
to a public agency.
"Lot coverage"
means the total square footage of the lot which is covered
by buildings or roofed areas, excluding allowed projecting eaves,
balconies and similar features.
"Lot depth"
means the average horizontal distance from the front lot
line to the rear lot line. Where there is no rear lot line, the lot
depth shall be measured by a line perpendicular to the front lot line
to the most distant point on any other lot line.
"Lot line"
means a line dividing one lot from another or from a street
or alley.
Lot Line, Front.
"Front lot line" means, on an interior lot, the lot line
abutting a street. On a corner lot, the "front lot line" means the
lot line separating the narrowest street frontage of the lot from
the street. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Lot Line, Rear.
"Rear lot line" means, on a rectangular lot, the lot line
generally opposite and most distant from the front lot line. On a
triangular, gore-shaped or irregularly shaped lot the rear lot line
shall be a line ten feet long in length within the lot and further
removed from the front lot line and at right angles to the line comprising
the depth of such lot shall be used as the rear lot line. (See Diagram
"A" 17.08.020.)
Lot Line, Side.
"Side lot line" means any lot line which is not a front lot
line or a rear lot line. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
"Lot width"
means the horizontal distance between the side lot lines
measured at the required front setback line.
Lot, Corner.
"Corner lot" means a lot abutting upon two or more streets
at their intersection, or upon the curvature of a single street, where
such streets or curvature form an angle of intersection of not more
than one hundred thirty-five degrees. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Lot, Flag.
"Flag lot" means a lot having access or easement to a public
road by a narrow, private right-of-way, where the lot is located generally
in the rear of another lot or lots. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Lot, Interior.
"Interior lot" means a lot abutting only one street. (See
Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Lot, Key.
"Key lot" means the first lot in the rear of a reverse corner
lot, whether or not separated by an alley. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Lot, Reverse Corner.
"Reverse corner lot" means a corner lot, the rear of which
abuts the side of another lot. The side line of a reverse corner lot
is substantially a continuation of the front line of the lot upon
which it rears. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Lot, Through.
"Through lot" means a lot having frontage on two parallel
or approximately parallel streets. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
"Main building"
means the building containing the principal legal use on
the lot.
"Main dwelling"
means the legal dwelling containing the largest square footage,
which is located on a lot on which there is more than one legal dwelling.
"Major highway"
means a major highway or primary arterial designated on the
circulation element of the Lawndale general plan.
"Manufactured housing"
means housing that is constructed of manufactured components,
assembled partly at the site rather than totally at the site.
Also referred to as modular housing, factory-built housing,
or prefabricated housing.
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"Marquee"
means a permanent hood or roofed structure attached to and
supported wholly by a building and projecting from the wall of the
building.
"Mezzanine" or "interior balcony"
means any floor with major orientation to the story immediately
beneath it. If the total gross floor area of the mezzanine floor is
equal to or exceeds thirty-three and one-third percent of the total
gross floor area of the first full story immediately below it, it
shall be considered as a full story.
"Minimart"
means a small establishment designed and intended to serve
the daily needs of the immediate surrounding area for food and other
convenience items, which may include gasoline and other petroleum
products.
"Mobilehome"
means a structure transportable under permit in one or more
sections to be used with or without a foundation system. "Mobilehome"
does not include a commercial coach, manufactured housing or factory-built
housing, but includes a recreation vehicle located in a mobilehome
park.
"Mobilehome lot"
means a lot created through the approval of a mobilehome
subdivision by the city.
"Mobilehome park"
means any area or tract of land where two or more mobilehome
spaces are rented or leased or held out for rent or lease to accommodate
mobilehomes used for human habitation. The rental paid for any such
mobilehome shall be deemed to include rental for the space it occupies.
"Mobilehome park" shall include the terms "trailer court" and "trailer
park."
"Mobilehome space"
means an area of land within a mobilehome park designed for
the accommodation of one mobilehome, which is rented or leased, by
the owner or occupant of a mobilehome for placing a mobilehome thereon
for residential purposes.
"Motel"
means a single building or group of attached or detached
buildings containing completely furnished guest rooms or dwelling
units, the majority of which have separate entrances directly from
outside the building, with conveniently located automobile parking
spaces provided on the lot or parcel of land for such rooms or dwelling
units as required therefor, which are designed, intended to be used,
or used wholly or in part for the accommodation of registered guests
who are primarily transient automobile travelers. No motel shall be
allowed to have more than forty percent of its total gross floor area
devoted to dwelling units. "Motel" shall also include auto courts,
motel lodges and tourist courts.
Motor Vehicle Repair, Major.
"Major motor vehicle repair" means a place providing a full
range of repair and maintenance services for motor vehicles, but does
not include vehicle body repair or painting.
Motor Vehicle Repair, Minor.
"Minor motor vehicle repair" means a place performing repair
and maintenance services for motor vehicles but does not include vehicle
body repair or painting, welding, engine removal or replacement, transmission
repair or removal or replacement, clutch replacement, cylinder head
replacement, valve grinding or replacement, radiator or heater core
repair or replacement, repair of fuel tank, repair or replacement
of rear end or rear axles, and other similar activities.
"New development"
means any structural development of one thousand square feet
or more, or additions to existing structural development of ten percent
or more of the existing ground floor area, whichever is more restrictive.
"Nightclub"
means an establishment in which food and/or alcoholic beverages
are sold and consumed on the premises and in which live entertainment
is provided for the customers.
"Nonconforming use, structure or lot"
means a lot, the area, dimensions or location of which, or
a structure or building, the size, dimensions or location of which,
or a use or activity, which was lawful prior to the adoption, revision
or amendment of the zoning ordinance, but which fails, by reason of
such adoption, revision or amendment, to conform to the present requirements
of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
"Nuisance"
means anything which is injurious to health, or is indecent
or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property,
so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life.
"Nursing home"
means a living facility in which skilled nursing care is
provided for the residents.
"Office"
means a building or portion of a building wherein services
are performed involving predominantly administrative, professional,
or clerical operations.
"Open space"
means any parcel or area of land or water essentially unimproved
and set aside, dedicated, designated, or reserved for public or private
use for the enjoyment of owners, occupants and their guests, of land
adjoining or neighboring such open space.
Open Space, Common.
"Common open space" means an open space, that is available
for use by all residents of the development and which is landscaped
with lawns, trees, and shrubs, and may contain paved walkways, swimming
pools, common patios, patio structures and similar recreational facilities
which are intended or used in common and not under the exclusive control
or possession of individual units.
Open Space, Private.
"Private open space" means an open space that is intended
for the exclusive use of the owner or tenant of a dwelling unit. Such
private open space shall abut such dwelling unit and may be bounded
by a wall, fence, or landscaping and may include a private patio,
balcony, or deck.
"Overlay zone"
means a zone which is applied in addition to the basic zone
of a lot, and may specify additional land use or development regulations.
"Outdoor display"
means goods, merchandise or materials actively available
for retail sale, which are located in other than an enclosed building
or structure which are brought indoors during hours that the business
is not open.
"Outdoor storage"
means the storage of goods, merchandise, materials (except
temporary storage of construction materials associated with an active
building permit), shipping containers, machines, inoperative vehicles
and vehicles not related to the use of an on-site business, and other
equipment, which are located in other than a fully enclosed building
or structure. "Outdoor storage" does not include outdoor sales and
display areas for new or used automotive sales and outdoor sales and
display areas for seasonal merchandise, e.g. Christmas tree lots,
pumpkin patches.
Parking Area, Private.
"Private parking area" means a permanently surfaced area
located on a private lot and used for the temporary parking of automobiles,
which is not available for public parking.
Parking Area, Public.
"Public parking area" means a permanently surfaced area other
than a street, alley or place used for the temporary parking of automobiles
and available for public use, whether free, for compensation, or as
an accommodation to clients or customers.
"Parking lot"
means an area not within a building or structure where motor
vehicles may be stored for the purpose of temporary, daily or overnight
off-street parking.
Parking, Shared.
"Shared parking" means the development and use of parking
areas on two or more separate lots for joint use by the businesses
on those lots.
Parking Space, Automobile.
"Automobile parking space" means a space within a building,
structure, or open permanently surfaced area for the temporary parking
or storage of one automobile. Each parking space must have a means
of access to a public street. Such automobile parking space shall
have a minimum width of nine feet and a minimum length of twenty feet.
Parking Space, Automobile Tandem.
"Automobile tandem parking space" means an automobile parking
space which is adjacent to another automobile parking space at its
narrow end and which may require the moving of one automobile to enable
the other to have access to or egress from the other parking space.
"Parking turning radius"
means the curvature radius required for the turning movement
into or out of a parking space, or between access driveways, which
radius is not less than thirteen feet.
"Parkway"
means a portion of a street or highway right-of-way between
the back of the curb and the right-of-way line and which is not intended
to be used as part of the roadway.
"Passageway"
means a pathway that is unobstructed clear to the sky and
extends from a street to one entrance of the accessory dwelling unit.
This definition shall be interpreted as consistent with and including
the definition of passageway found in
Government Code Section 65852.2.
"Person" means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint
venture, association, organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver,
syndicate, joint stock company, club, business trust, or any other
entity, or the authorized agent thereof, and every city, county, state,
federal, government, political, public or quasi-public unit, body,
agency district or entity.
"Planned development"
means a development project which has its various elements,
such as buildings, parking, landscaping, and uses designed and integrated
into a single complex.
"Proposed dwelling"
means a dwelling that is the subject of a permit application
and that meets the requirements for permitting. This definition shall
be interpreted as consistent with and including the definition of
proposed dwelling found in
Government Code Section 65852.2.
"Public transit,"
for the purpose of Section
17.48.056 only, means a location, including, but not limited to, a bus stop or train station, where the public may access buses, trains, subways, and other forms of transportation that charge set fares, run on fixed routes, and are available to the public. This definition shall be interpreted as consistent with and including the definition of public transit found in
Government Code Section 65852.2.
"Razor wire"
means twisted strands of fence wire with sharp-edged cutting
surfaces at regular intervals.
"Recreation vehicle"
means a camp car, truck pickup camper, truck-mounted camper,
converted bus or van, motor home, travel trailer, tent trailer, or
boat designed for human habitation for recreational or emergency occupancy,
with a living area of less than three hundred twenty square feet,
excluding built-in equipment, such as wardrobes, closets, cabinets,
kitchen units, baths, toilet rooms, and driver's areas, which vehicle
may be moved upon the public highway without a special permit or chauffeur's
license. "Recreational vehicle" shall also include boats, boat trailers,
dune buggies, and off-road vehicles, jet skis, snowmobiles and similar
vehicles.
"Recycling facility"
means a center for the collection and/or processing of recyclable
materials. A "recycling facility" does not include storage containers
or processing activity located on the premises of a residential, commercial,
or manufacturing use and used solely for the recycling of material
generated by that residential property, business or manufacturer.
"Religious facility"
means a land use, building or structure providing facilities
for worship or the assemblage of the public for worship. Accessory
uses include personal counseling and education in subjects relating
to personal life and also the building or buildings where such activities
take place. This definition includes church, cathedral, mosque, shrine,
synagogue or temple and other similar places for religious worship.
"Residential second unit"
means an attached or detached dwelling unit which provides
complete, independent living facilities for one or more persons and
shall include permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking
and sanitation on the same parcel as the existing single-family dwelling
unit is situated. Residential second unit also means guesthouse.
"Restaurant"
means a retail business selling food and beverages prepared
on the site, where customers consume the products on-premises.
Restaurant, Drive-In.
"Drive-in restaurant" means an establishment that delivers
prepared food and/or beverages to customers in motor vehicles, regardless
of whether or not it also serves prepared food and/or beverages to
customers who are not in motor vehicles, for consumption either on
or off the premises.
Restaurant, Fast-Food.
"Fast-food restaurant" means a restaurant where customers
are served prepared food from a walk-up ordering counter, or drive-through
window, for either on- or off-premises consumption.
"Rest home"
means the same as boardinghouse or guest home but permitting
nursing, dietary and other personal services rendered to convalescents,
invalids and aged persons, such as are customarily provided in convalescent
homes, but excluding cases of contagious or communicable diseases
and excluding surgery or primary treatment such as are customarily
provided in sanitariums and hospitals.
"Right-of-way"
means an area or strip of land, either public or private,
on which an irrevocable right of passage has been recorded for the
use of vehicles or pedestrians or both.
"Roof"
means a structural covering over any portion of a building
or structure or open area, including projections beyond the walls
or supports of the building or structure. A structural covering shall
not be considered a roof if the upper surface area of the component,
the solid portion thereof measured on the horizontal plane, does not
exceed twenty percent of the area of the covering.
"Room"
means an unsubdivided portion of the interior of a dwelling,
excluding bathrooms, kitchens, closets, hallways and service porches.
"Satellite dish antenna"
means any parabolic antenna designed for receiving satellite
signals, and which system is external to or attached to the exterior
of any building.
"Seating capacity"
means the actual seating capacity of an area based upon the
number of seats or one seat per eighteen inches of bench or pew length.
For other areas where seats are not fixed, the seating capacity shall
be determined as indicated by the Building Code.
"Secondary highway"
means a secondary highway designated on the circulation element
of the Lawndale general plan.
"Security measure or device"
including, but not limited to, security bars, gates, grills,
reinforced screen doors and all fixed, retractable, sliding or rollup
devices used primarily for added security over doors and windows.
"Self-service storage facility"
means a building or group of buildings in a controlled access
and fenced compound that contains varying sizes of individual, compartmentalized,
and controlled access stalls or lockers for the storage of customer's
goods or wares.
"Setback"
means the distance between a building or structure and a
lot line or lines, measured perpendicularly from the lot line or lines
in a horizontal plane.
Setback Line, Front.
"Front setback line" means a line extending between side
lot lines which is the required minimum horizontal distance between
the front lot line and parallel thereto on the lot. (See Diagram "A"
17.08.020.)
Setback Line, Rear.
"Rear setback line" means a line extending between the side
lot lines which is the required minimum horizontal distance between
the rear lot line and parallel thereto on the lot. (See Diagram "A"
17.08.020.)
Setback Line, Side.
"Side setback line" means a line extending between the front
lot line and the rear lot line which is the required minimum horizontal
distance between the side lot line and parallel thereto on the lot.
(See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
"Shall"
means mandatory as used in this code.
"Shelter"
means a facility operated by a nonprofit agency providing
either meals, clothing, temporary housing or any combination thereof.
"Shipping/freight container"
means a pre-manufactured structure of metal construction
that is delivered to a site as a fully contained unit and is used
for freight transport and the portable storage of goods and/or commodities.
This shall exclude storage sheds that are assembled on site, roll
off trash bins, trucks, trailers, or rail cars. A shipping/freight
container, as defined herein, shall be considered a structure for
purposes of the Uniform Building Code.
"Shopping center"
means a commercial land use consisting primarily of retail
sales uses and consisting of three or more lease areas on a single
lot with common parking facilities.
Shopping Center, Community.
"Community shopping center" means a shopping center containing
not less than forty thousand square feet of gross floor area and not
more than one hundred thousand square feet of gross floor area. A
community shopping center usually, but need not always, contains a
supermarket and/or drugstore.
Shopping Center, Neighborhood.
"Neighborhood shopping center" means a building containing
three or more tenant spaces of retail, personal services or restaurant
use sharing off-street parking with a total building area of forty
thousand square feet or less of gross floor area. "Neighborhood shopping
center" includes mini shopping center.
Shopping Center, Regional.
"Regional shopping center" means a shopping center containing
not less than one hundred thousand square feet of gross floor area.
A regional shopping center usually, but need not always, contains
one or more department stores.
"Short term rental unit"
means any residential dwelling, residential dwelling unit,
or room in a residential dwelling or residential dwelling unit rented
or made available for rent, by way of a rental agreement, lease, license
or any other means, whether oral or written, for compensation or consideration
for an occupancy of less than thirty days.
"Sidewalk café"
means an area adjacent to and directly in front of a street-level
eating or drinking establishment located within the sidewalk area
of the public right-of-way exclusively for dining, drinking and pedestrian
circulation. The encroachment area of a sidewalk café may be
separated from the remainder of the sidewalk by railings, fencing,
or landscaping planter boxes or a combination thereof.
Sign.
Definitions for sign and sign projects are contained in Chapter
17.76 of this code.
"Single room occupancy (SRO)"
means a multifamily residential building containing housing units with floor restrictions as described in Section
17.56.045 which may have kitchen and/or bathroom facilities. Each housing unit must be restricted to occupancy by more than two persons and offered on a monthly or longer rental basis.
"Small fitness center"
means a private health, athletic or recreational club facility
which conducts personal fitness training or fitness classes including,
but not limited to, weight training, aerobic exercise, yoga or other
similar athletic activities, to individuals or groups of individuals,
and does not provide showers, pools, saunas, and other amenities of
a full service fitness center.
"Smoking lounge"
means any establishment or location that is dedicated, in
whole or in part, to the smoking of tobacco, marijuana, or other substances,
including, but not limited to, establishments referred to as cigar
bars or lounges, hookah cafés, tobacco clubs or tobacco bars.
"Special use"
means a use that, because of special requirements or characteristics,
may be allowed in a particular zoning district only after review by
the planning commission and granting of a special use permit imposing
such conditions as necessary to make the use compatible with other
uses permitted in the same zone or vicinity. Special use means a conditional
use.
"Special use permit (SUP)"
means a permit issued by the city authorizing establishment
and operation of a special use. Special use permit means a conditional
use permit.
"Specific plan"
means a plan, adopted by city ordinance, which shows the
future physical development to be implemented within a specifically
defined and circumscribed area of the city. The specific plan describes
the types of land uses to be developed on each parcel; a plan for
infrastructure in and adjacent to the specific plan area; and written
standards, regulations and policies for such items as architectural
design, open spaces, preservation of existing structures, and other
relevant factors. See Sections 65450 through 65457 of the California
Government Code for specific plan requirements.
Stand, Temporary.
"Temporary stand" means a temporary structure for the display
and sale of products with no space for customers within the structure
itself.
"Story"
means that portion of a building included between the surface
of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it. If there
is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling
above it, and including basements used for primary use. For a more
precise definition please refer to the city's adopted building code.
Story, First.
"First story" means the lowest story in a building which
qualifies as a story, as defined herein, except that a floor level
in a building having only one floor level shall be classified as a
first story, provided such floor level is not more than four feet
below grade, as defined herein, for more than fifty percent of the
total perimeter, or not more than eight feet below grade, as defined
herein, at any point.
"Street"
means a public or private right-of-way, other than a parkway,
major or secondary highway or alley, whose function is to carry vehicular
traffic and/or provide vehicular access to abutting property.
"Structure"
means anything constructed or erected, which requires a fixed
location on the ground, or is attached to something having a fixed
location on the ground.
"Subdivision"
means the division, by any subdivider, of any unit or units
of improved or unimproved land, or any portion thereof, shown on the
latest equalized county assessment roll as a unit or as continuous
units, for the purpose of sale, lease or financing, whether immediate
or future, except for leases of agricultural land for agricultural
purposes.
"Subterranean garage"
means the parking space of a building which is used exclusively
for the interim storage of automobiles and is serviced by a driveway
or other similarly paved surface which leads to enclosed and fully
covered garages and which is more than fifty percent below natural
grade.
"Supportive housing"
means housing with no limit on length of stay, that is occupied
by the target population as defined in
Health and Safety Code Section
53260(d), and that is linked to on-site or off-site services that
assist the supportive housing resident in retaining the housing, improving
his or her health status, and maximizing his or her ability to live,
and when possible, work in the community. Supportive housing shall
be considered a residential use and subject to those restrictions
that apply to other residential uses of the same type and zone.
"Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs"
mean any outdoor water-filled enclosures having a depth of
eighteen inches or more used for swimming or recreation, fountains,
water landscaped elements, fish ponds and similar water containers.
"Synthetic turf"
means a synthetically derived, natural grass substitute that may be used to fulfill the plant material coverage requirement of Section
17.44.015(B) in as much as it meets the minimum standards for materials, installation, and maintenance of synthetic turf prescribed in Section
17.44.017.
"Temporary portable storage container"
means a standardized shipping/freight container rented or
owned by the owner or occupant of a property that is designed to hold,
goods, commodities, household or personal items on a temporary basis.
"Theater"
means an enclosed building to which the public is permitted
or invited where motion pictures, still pictures, projections or other
image-projecting devices are maintained to show images, but does not
include an adult mini motion picture theater or adult motion picture
theater.
"Town home"
means a design style with all elements of a dwelling unit
stacked vertically, no other unit is over or under the dwelling; occupying
its own lot but which is physically attached to at least one other
dwelling unit.
"Transitional housing"
means buildings configured as rental housing developments,
but operated under program requirements that call for the termination
of assistance and recirculation of the assisted unit to another eligible
program recipient at some predetermined future point in time, which
shall be no less than six months. Transitional housing shall be considered
a residential use and subject to those restrictions that apply to
other residential uses of the same type and zone.
"Travel trailer"
includes any type of "commercial coach" and "recreational
vehicle" as such terms are defined in Division 13, Part 2.1 of the
Health and Safety Code. "Travel trailer" does not include a coach
that is intended to be attached to a foundation.
"Use"
means the purpose for which a lot or building is arranged,
designed or intended, or for which either is, or may be occupied or
maintained.
Use, Principal.
"Principal use" means the main use of land or structures
as distinguished from a secondary or accessory use.
"Variance"
means a dispensation permitted on individual parcels or property
as a method of alleviating unnecessary hardship by allowing a reasonable
use of the building, structure, or property, which because of unusual
or unique circumstances is denied by the terms of the zoning ordinance.
Vehicle, Inoperable.
"Inoperable vehicle" means any vehicle which is described
by one or more of the following:
1.
Does not have current registration;
2.
Is supported on blocks, jacks, stands or other bracing materials;
3.
Is lacking an engine, transmission, rear end or other mechanical
equipment essential for its operation;
4.
Is lacking lights, windshield, wheels or body parts required
for legal operation on the streets and/or highways but does not include
currently registered off-road vehicles.
"Veterinary use"
means a commercial land use consisting of the grooming, treating
(medical), selling or boarding of animals. Species of equine are excluded
from this definition. "Veterinary use" does not include pet stores,
or facilities for pet grooming.
"Video game arcade"
means a place of business open to serve the general public
where four or more coin-operated or slug-operated amusement machines
are maintained.
"Warehouse"
means a building or substantial portion of a building where
goods, merchandise, products, supplies, or equipment are stored before
distribution to manufacturers, retailers or wholesalers.
"Waste treatment and disposal facility"
means public or private disposal facilities, or transfer
stations, operated for the purpose of recycling, reclaiming, treating
or disposing of garbage, sewage, rubbish, offal, dead animals, oil
field wastes, or other waste material originating on or off the premises.
"Wholesale sales"
mean the sale of goods by an individual or firm, usually
in rather large quantities and at lower prices, to another individual
or firm for the purpose of resale; or a product for which the purchaser
pays no sales tax.
"Wild animal"
means any mammal, fowl, fish or reptile which is wild, exotic,
dangerous, nondomestic, vicious or known to be dangerous or vicious,
or belonging to a predatory species.
"Yard"
means an open space on a lot or parcel, other than a court,
unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except for encroachments
otherwise permitted by this code.
Yard, Front.
"Front yard" means an open yard which is located between
the front lot line and the nearest part of a main building. (See Diagram
"A" 17.08.020.)
Yard, Rear.
"Rear yard" means an open yard which is located between the
rear lot line and the nearest part of a main building. (See Diagram
"A" 17.08.020.)
Yard, Required Front.
"Required front yard" means the yard which is located between
the front lot line and the front setback line. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Yard, Required Rear.
"Required rear yard" means the yard that is located between
the rear lot line and the rear setback line. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Yard, Required Side.
"Required side yard" means the yard that is located between
the side lot line and the side setback line. (See Diagram "A" 17.08.020.)
Yard, Side.
"Side yard" means an open yard that is located between the
side lot line and the nearest part of a main building. (See Diagram
"A" 17.08.020.)
"Youth hostel"
means a shelter for the use of pedestrians or bicycle travelers,
not serving meals, under the auspices of a nonprofit organization.
"Zero lot line"
means the location of a building or structure on a lot in
such a manner that one or more of the building or structure's sides
abuts directly on the lot line.
"Zero lot line development"
means a residential project where dwelling units on individual
lots of record are located so they all abut one side property line,
without a side and/or rear setback.
"Zone"
means a specifically delineated area or district within which
certain regulations and requirements uniformly govern the use and
development of land and buildings.
(Ord. 777-95 § 3; Ord. 823-97 § 4; Ord. 841-98 §§ 6—9; Ord. 861-99 § 1; Ord. 912-02 §§ 1—3; Ord. 960-06 § 3; Ord. 969-06 § 12; Ord. 1011-08 § 1; Ord.
1015-08 § 1; Ord. 1043-10 § 1; Ord. 1045-10 § 2; Ord. 1056-11 § 1; Ord. 1091-13 § 1; Ord. 1118-16 § 3; Ord.
1119-16 § 6; Ord. 1131-17 § 2; Ord. 1136-17 § 4; Ord. 1139-17 §§ 2, 3, 5; Ord. 1144-17 § 2; Ord. 1177-20 §§ 2, 3; Ord. 1195-22 § 6)