What does the Carson zoning code allow on a residential lot?
Ike Mbelu, Principal Partner · Last checked
On this page: The short answer · What the city code requires · What state law adds · What it means on your lot
The short answer
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§9211.3
Up to 30 units an acre, 40 feet
Carson's residential zoning is Chapter 1A of Article IX of its municipal code. In this LA County city, density runs up to 10 units a net acre in LDR, 10 to 18 in MDR and 18 to 30 in HDR. Heights are 20, 30 and 40 feet. Apartments are permitted in MDR and HDR. CMC §9211.2 and §9211.3.
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What the city code requires
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01
Setbacks
Front 20 feet or 20 percent of lot depth, whichever is less. Rear 15 feet or 15 percent. MDR and HDR sides: 20 percent of width on lots 30 to 50 feet wide, 10 feet on wider lots. CMC §9211.3.
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02
Lot size and coverage
Minimum lot is 5,000 square feet, 50 feet wide. Coverage tops out at 50 percent in MDR and HDR, 35 in LDR. CMC §9211.3.
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03
Parking
One space per market-rate unit under 650 square feet, two at 650 or more. That number is also the cap on private parking. CMC §9316.4.
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04
Approval path
Multifamily is "permitted subject to zoning compliance determination" in MDR and HDR. It is not permitted in LDR. CMC §9211.2.
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05
More density
MDR and HDR allow up to 20 percent more with active ground floor commercial or community benefits. State density bonuses are in addition. CMC §9211.3.
What state law adds
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01
ADUs on a multifamily lot
New building: up to two detached ADUs. Existing building: up to eight detached, capped at the unit count, plus conversions up to 25 percent of units. Gov. Code §66323. See Carson ADU rules.
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02
No parking minimum near transit
Within half a mile of public transit, the city can't impose a minimum parking count. Gov. Code §65863.2(a). More in AB 2097 in Los Angeles.
What it means on your lot
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01
HDR, 50 by 100, 5,000 sf
About three units. Two 10 foot side yards leave about 30 feet of width.
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02
HDR, 60 by 125, 7,500 sf
About five units, before a density bonus. At 650 square feet or more each, roughly ten spaces. In MDR, about three.
Approximate arithmetic on gross lot area, not legal advice. Compare Torrance and Gardena. More on building in Carson.
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