Table 17.36.010-1 (Development Standards – Single-Family Residential) and Table 17.36.010-2 (Development Standards – Multifamily Residential) describe the development standards for the residential zones. Additional regulations are also denoted in the right-hand column. Section numbers in this column refer to other Sections of this Title.
Table 17.36.010-1. Development Standards – Single-Family Residential | ||||||||||
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Residential Zones – Single-Family Residential Development Standards | ||||||||||
Standards | ER | LDR | SFR 1 | SFR 2 | SFR 3 | RN 1 | RN 2 | RN 3 | Additional Regulations | |
Lot and Density Standards1 | ||||||||||
Net Density (units/acre) | ||||||||||
Minimum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 20 | Applies to new development only | |
Maximum | 0.4 | 1 | 2 | 4.4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 30 | ||
Minimum Net Lot Size per Dwelling Unit (sf) (for new SFR lots) | 80,000 | 40,000 | 20,000 | 10,000 | 7,000 | 3,800 | 1,900 | 1,250 | ||
Minimum Lot Width per Dwelling Unit (ft) (for new SFR lots)1 | 150 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 40; 50 for corner and reverse corner lots | 30; 40 for corner and reverse corner lots | 20; 30 for corner and reverse corner lots | • | Lots siding onto a railroad right-of-way shall increase the minimum required lot width by an additional 40 feet. |
• | Attached Single-Family Homes/Townhomes: A minimum lot width of 30 to 40 feet may be necessary for townhomes with double loaded attached garages in front, and to comply with parking location and design requirements. Minimum lot width may be reduced to 20 feet if garages are single-car wide, detached and/or accessed from an alley. | |||||||||
• | Small-Lot Detached Single-Family Homes: A lot width of 35 feet may be necessary for small-lot single-family homes with attached double loaded garages in front and to comply with parking location and design requirements. Lot width may be reduced to 30 feet if garages are single-car wide, detached and/or accessed from an alley. | |||||||||
Minimum Lot Depth per Dwelling Unit (ft) (for SFR new lots)1 | 200 | 200 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 75 | 55 | 45 | Where a lot directing backs onto a railroad right-of-way, the minimum lot depth shall be 130 feet. | |
Maximum Unit Size per Dwelling Unit (sf) (for SFR) | – | – | – | – | – | 3,500 | 3,000 | 2,500 | Inclusive of attached garage space. | |
Maximum Lot Coverage (% of lot) | 20 | 30 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 75 | NA | See PMC § 17.17.050 (Floor area and lot coverage). | |
Building Form and Location | ||||||||||
Maximum Height (ft)/Stories – Primary Structure | 35/2 stories | 35/2 stories | 35/2 stories | 35/2 stories | 35/2 stories | 35/2.5 stories | 40/3 stories | 50/4 stories | • | Projects must comply with both stories and overall height maximums. See PMC § 17.17.030 (Measuring heights). |
• | Architectural features may project above the maximum height by five feet. Architectural features include rooftop stair access and elevator shafts, mechanical equipment, or other rooftop amenities, as approved by the Director. | |||||||||
Maximum Height (ft)/Stories – Accessory Building | 40/2 stories | 40/2 stories | 17/1 story | 17/1 story | 17/1 story | 17/1 story | 17/1 story | 17/1 story | ||
Minimum Distance Between Structures (both between main structures and accessory structures) | See PMC § 17.82.050 (Distance between buildings in residential and mixed-use zones) | |||||||||
Lot Setbacks – Minimums (ft) | Applies to individual lots within a development site. | |||||||||
Front (primary frontage) | 35 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 5 | • | For new single-family attached and detached dwelling units, front-loaded garages shall be set back at minimum 20 feet from the property line. |
• | For RN 3, front-loaded parking is not allowed. | |||||||||
Street Side (corner lots)2 | 35 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 5 | ||
Interior Side | 25 | 20 | 15 | 5 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and 10 ft minimum required on the garage side | 5 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and 10 ft minimum required on the garage side | 5 | 5 | 5 | • | Only applies to detached single-family dwellings and the ends of attached single-family dwellings. |
• | Where a railroad right-of-way is located along the side setback of a lot, the minimum side setback for the habitable residential structure(s) on the lot shall be 50 feet. | |||||||||
Interior Side – Zero Lot Line/Common Wall Developments | – | – | – | – | – | 10 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and no setback required on the opposite side | 10 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and no setback required on the opposite side | 10 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and no setback required on the opposite side | See PMC § 17.37.020 (Zero lot line option). | |
Rear | 45 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | Where a railroad right-of-way is located along the rear setback of a lot, the minimum side setback for the habitable residential structure(s) on the lot shall be 50 feet. | |
Alley (when present) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||
Garage Frontage | ||||||||||
Maximum Parking Frontage on a Public Street (for new residential development) | – | The garage portion(s) of any new primary single-family residential structure shall be designed to comply with at least one of the following criteria: 1. The garage doors shall not extend across more than 40% of the street facing facade of the primary residential structure. 2. The garage is attached to the primary residential structure through a breezeway or other portion of the primary structure, and is located in the rear of the lot. 3. The garage is detached from the primary residential structure and located within the rear of the lot. 4. The garage is designed with a side-on entry, with decorative windows facing the street. 5. The garage doors shall not extend across more than 50% of the street facing facade of the primary residential structure, and shall comply with at least one of the following criteria: a. The entire area above the garage is developed as a habitable space. Any garage bays that are in excess of 40% of the street facing facade shall be recessed at least two feet from the rest of the garage; or b. Any garage bay that is in excess of 40% of the street-facing facade shall be recessed at least 10 feet from the rest of the garage door facade. A decorative trellis a minimum of eight feet in depth shall be provided above the entire width of the recessed garage bay; or c. The habitable portion of the house or a covered porch shall project a minimum of six feet in front of all garage doors. 6. Other alternative designs as reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. | 60% | 60% | – | For RN 1 and RN 2 SFR: Applies to new development. Garage doors that face the street shall not occupy more than the stated percentage of the width of any street-facing building facade. This limitation does not apply to frontages along alleys. | ||||
Open Space Standards | ||||||||||
Minimum Usable Open Space (sf per unit) | – | – | – | – | – | 300 sf total per unit, of which 150 ft must be private | 200 sf total per unit, minimum 100 sf of private open space required for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units | 200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units | • | Setback areas are not considered usable open space unless they are at least 20 feet wide. Minimum private open space is 6 feet in either direction. |
• | See PMC § 17.38.050 (Open space). | |||||||||
Maximum front yard paving | A maximum of 40 percent of the required front yard setback, excluding the driveway, shall be covered with impervious surfaces. | |||||||||
Minimum Required Landscaping | See PMC § 17.37.010(G) (Landscaping) | See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements) | ||||||||
Other Standards | See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.37 (Supplemental Standards for Single-Family Residential Development), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the City of Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards[1] (Adopted by Ordinance 1594) | |||||||||
Notes: |
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1. The lot depth to width ratio shall not exceed 3:1. |
2. For lots of record, created and recorded prior to the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance for which the alternate section was specifically allowed, the front yard setback may include the landscaped parkway located between the edge of the sidewalk and the property line. |
Table 17.36.010-2. Development Standards – Multifamily Residential | |||||
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Residential Zones – Multifamily Residential Development Standards | |||||
Standards | RN 2 | RN 3 | RN 4 | Additional Regulations | |
Lot and Density Standards | |||||
Net Density (units/acre) | |||||
Minimum | 10 | 20 | 30 | Applies to new development only | |
Maximum | 20 | 30 | 50 | ||
Minimum Development Project Site Area (sf) (for new lots) | 10,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | ||
Minimum Development Project Site Width (ft) (for new lots) | 60 | 60 | 100 | ||
Minimum Development Project Site Depth (ft) (for new lots) | 100 | 100 | 100 | ||
Building Form and Location | |||||
Maximum Height (ft) – Primary Building | 40/3 stories | 50/4 stories | 60/5 stories | • | Projects must comply with both stories and overall height maximums. See PMC § 17.17.030 (Measuring heights). |
• | Architectural features may project above the maximum height by five feet. Architectural features include rooftop stair access and elevator shafts, mechanical equipment, or other rooftop amenities, as approved by City staff. | ||||
Maximum Height (ft) – Accessory Building | 17/1 story | 17/1 story | 17/1 story | ||
Maximum Height Adjacent to Single-Family Zoned Property | Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors. See Figure 17.38.060-1 (Transitions to Lower Density Building Types). | See PMC § 17.38.060 (Neighborhood transitions). | |||
Minimum Distance between Structures (both between main structures and accessory structures (excluding accessory dwelling units)) | See PMC § 17.82.050 (Distance between buildings in residential and mixed-use zones) | ||||
Development Site Setbacks (ft) | |||||
Front – Minimum | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||
Front – Maximum1 | 25 | 25 | 25 | ||
Street Side – Minimum | 15 | 10 | 10 | ||
Street Side – Maximum1 | 25 | 20 | 20 | ||
Interior Side – Minimum | 5 ft; 10 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property | 5 ft; 10 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property | 10 ft; 15 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property | ||
Rear – Minimum | 15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property | 15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property | 15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property | ||
Parking Frontage | |||||
Maximum Parking Frontage on a Public Street (% of frontage) (for new residential development) | 30 | 30 | 30 | • | Applies to both surface parking and parking garage frontages. Applies to new development and/or major additions or renovations (as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions)). |
• | See Figure 17.36.010-1 (Maximum Parking Frontage Along a Primary Street) | ||||
Open Space and Storage Standards | |||||
Minimum Usable Open Space (sf per unit) | 200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space required for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units | 200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units | 150 sf total per unit; a minimum of 50% of the units must have 60 sf of private open space | • | Setback areas are not considered usable open space unless they are at least 20 feet wide. Minimum private open space is six feet in either direction. |
• | See PMC § 17.38.050 (Open space). | ||||
Minimum Front Yard Landscaping | 30% of the minimum required front yard area shall be landscaped, of which half must be planted with live plant material | See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements) | |||
Minimum Required Landscaping | 10% of the lot, of which half must be planted with live plant material | Includes required setbacks. Excludes areas devoted to parking, driveways, and walkways. See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements). | |||
Minimum Required Storage Space | 125 cubic ft of private enclosed storage space within the garage, carport, or immediately adjacent to the dwelling unit | ||||
Other Standards | See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.38 (Supplemental Standards for Multifamily Residential Development), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the City of Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards[2] (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594) | ||||
Notes: |
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1. If a development provides publicly accessible plazas or forecourt, and there is clear visibility between the sidewalk and building entrance, the maximum setback may be waived for up to 40 percent of the building frontage. Entry courtyards, plazas, entries, or outdoor eating areas must be located adjacent to the property line and buildings shall be built to the edge of the courtyard, plaza, or dining area. |
Figure 17.36.010-1. Maximum Parking Frontage Along a Primary Street |
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(Ord. 1603 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023; Ord. 1613 § 4 (Exh. I), 2023)
[1]
Editor's Note: Said City of Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed Use Design Standards are included as an attachment to this title.
[2]
Editor's Note: Said City of Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed Use Design Standards are included as an attachment to this title.