What does the Lawndale zoning code allow on an R-3 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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LMC 17.48
One unit per 1,320 square feet
Lawndale's R-3 zone allows apartments on a lot of at least 5,000 square feet, at one unit for each 1,320 square feet of net land, about 33 an acre. Height is 35 feet and lot coverage tops out at 70 percent. LMC §17.48.160, §17.48.163 and §17.48.200, in this LA County city.
Have a lot in LA County? Send us the address and we'll tell you what it holds.
What the city code requires
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01
Setbacks
Front 15 feet, or 20 with a street-facing garage, and at least 40 percent of a second story back 19 feet. Interior sides 5 feet, rear 15, and 6 feet between buildings. LMC §17.48.170.
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02
Small lots
A legal lot under 5,000 square feet holds one house, plus an ADU or JADU. LMC §17.48.160.B.
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03
Parking
Two covered spaces per unit, one more for a unit of four or more bedrooms, and half a guest space per unit. LMC §17.48.180.
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04
Open space
200 square feet of common open space per unit, plus 100 to 200 square feet of private space by bedroom count. LMC §17.48.190.
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 Lawndale ADU requirements.
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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
R-3, 50 by 120, 6,000 sf
About four units. Roughly ten spaces, eight covered. About 40 feet of building width, 4,200 square feet of footprint.
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02
R-3, 10,000 sf
About seven units, before a density bonus. Roughly eighteen spaces unless the lot is near transit.
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03
On a Housing Opportunity Overlay site
Housing Element sites carry 20 to 100 units an acre, with the R-3 height and parking still in force. LMC §17.54. See the Lawndale Housing Opportunity Overlay.
Approximate arithmetic on gross lot area, not legal advice. Compare Hawthorne and Gardena. More on building in Lawndale.
Buy the site knowing what goes on it.
Office
14623 Hawthorne Bl #306
Lawndale, CA 90260
Region
South Bay and
greater Los Angeles