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9-1.203 Definitions.

     For the purpose of this Code, the following definitions apply:

     “Abandoned” means to cease from developing, using or maintaining a structure (including signs) or use for a stated period of time. Exceptions are temporary closures for repairs, alterations or other similar situations.

     “Abut” or “abutting” means the same as “adjoining.”

     “Access” means usable ingress or egress to a property or use, from a public right-of-way.

     “Accessory structure/building” means a structure detached from a principal structure on the same parcel, incidental to the principal structure and not designed for human habitation, and shall incorporate a design, including materials and colors, similar to the principal structure, and shall be located in an efficient manner in compliance with all applicable zoning requirements. Accessory structures/buildings shall not be located in a required front or street side yard setback.

 

 

     “Accessory use” means a use incidental to and customarily associated with a specific principal use, located on the same parcel.

     “Addition (expansion)” means the physical alteration of a structure that results in an increase in its floor area, volume or height. Also, a structure added to the original structure after completion of the original structure.

     “Adjacent” means two (2) or more parcels of land separated only by an alley, street, highway or recorded easement or two (2) or more objects that lie near or close to each other.

     “Adjoining (abutting)” means two (2) or more parcels of land sharing a common boundary line or two (2) or more objects that lie near or close to each other.

     “Adult businesses”: See Section 9-4.303, General Standards, for specific definition of terms.

     “Affected persons” shall mean person or persons owning real property within a 100-foot radius of the proposed family child day care home.

     “Affordable housing cost” means the monthly housing expenses paid by a qualifying household, which shall not exceed a specified fraction of their gross income as specified in California Health and Safety Code Section 50052.5.

     “Affordable rent” means the monthly housing expenses, including a reasonable utility allowance, paid by a qualifying household, which shall not exceed a specified fraction of their gross income as specified in California Health and Safety Code Section 50053.

     “Affordable sales price” means the purchase price for an affordable unit for moderate income households that is calculated so that the total monthly housing cost does not exceed the affordable housing cost.

     “Affordable unit” means a dwelling unit within a residential housing development which will be reserved for, and restricted to, very low, low, or moderate income households at an affordable rent or at an affordable sales price, or is a unit in a senior citizen housing development.

     “Alley” means a public way, at the rear or side of property, permanently reserved as an ancillary means of vehicular or pedestrian access to adjoining property.

     “Alteration” means the physical change or rearrangement of the supporting members of an existing structure (e.g., bearing walls, columns, beams, girders or interior partitions) as well as any change in doors, windows, means of ingress or egress, or any addition to or diminution of a structure, whether horizontally or vertically, or the moving of a structure from one location to another.

     “Amusement/video arcade” means a commercial establishment open to the public containing five (5) or more mechanical or electronic amusement devices/games, or other similar devices/ games/machines/tables, not including billiard/pool tables.

     “Animal care facility” means a use providing grooming, housing, medical care or other services to animals, including veterinary services, animal hospitals, overnight or short-term boarding ancillary to veterinary care, indoor or outdoor kennels, grooming and similar services.

     “Antenna” means any system of wires, poles, rods, reflecting discs or similar devices for the transmission of reception of electromagnetic waves external to or attached to the exterior of any building.

     “Antique store” means a use that offers for sale objects of personal property that were manufactured, assembled or fabricated fifty (50) or more years earlier and which because of their age have a unique appeal and enhanced value. To be categorized as an “antique store,” a minimum of fifty (50%) percent of the objects available for sale shall be more than fifty (50) years old.

     “Apartment” means a separate suite, not owner occupied, that includes kitchen facilities and is designed for and rented as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more persons living as a single housekeeping unit.

     “Applicant” means owner(s) or lessee(s) of property, or their agent(s), or person(s) who have contracted to purchase property contingent upon their ability to acquire the necessary permits under this Code, or the agent(s) of such person(s).

     “Area” means net area unless otherwise specified.

     Area, Net. “Net area” means the area of a lot or parcel of land, less the area of existing or proposed public alleys, highways, streets or other necessary public sites, when included within a proposed development project, and other public or private easements when the lot or parcel is the servient tenant and its owner does not have the right to the exclusive use of the entire surface.

 

     “Attached” means any structure that has a wall or roof in common with another structure.

     “Awning” means a nonstructural roof-like cover that is attached to and projects from the wall of a structure for the purpose of shielding a door or window from the elements.

     “Bar/cocktail lounge/tavern” means an establishment used primarily for the on-sale of general alcoholic beverages, where food and/or entertainment are incidental to the sale of alcohol.

     “Berm” means a mound or embankment of earth.

     “Block” means a contiguous area or parcels of land surrounded by public streets, highways, freeways, railroad rights-of-way, greenbelts, flood control channels, creeks, washes, rivers or unsubdivided acreage or any combination thereof.

     “Bonus development” means an increase in allowable development, not normally allowed by the strict application of this Code or other city standards, in exchange for the inclusion of beneficial or desirable design or amenity elements, of some proportional value, to a development either on-site or off-site not normally required by strict application of applicable regulations. See Chapter 9 Article 2.

     “Building” means any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls.

     “Buildable area” means the net portion of the parcel remaining after deducting all required setbacks and open space requirements from the gross area of the parcel.

     “Building envelope” means an area delineated on a plan in which all clearing and land disturbance for building construction shall be confined. If not delineated, it is the area of a parcel excluding any required front, side or rear yard setback area, any recorded easement or offer of dedication.

 

     “Building height” means the vertical distance from the lowest point of the finished grade adjacent to the structure to the highest point of the structure, excluding chimneys and vents, and other incidental projections.

 

 

     “Carport” means a permanent roofed structure along the path of a driveway not completely enclosed that is used for vehicle parking for the occupants of the premises. A two (2) car carport shall have a minimum unobstructed inside dimension of eighteen (18′) feet width by twenty (20′) feet length. A one car carport shall have a minimum unobstructed inside dimension of nine (9′) feet width by twenty (20′) feet length. For residential properties, carports shall not substitute a garage.

     “Certificate of Compliance” means a permit issued by the Community Development Department prior to occupancy or change of tenant(s) of a structure to ensure that the structure is ready for occupancy after having received all City/Governmental agency approvals with all defects corrected and all construction debris removed and the site graded to final grade.

     “Change of use” means the replacement of an existing use by a new use, or a change in the nature of an existing use, but not including a change of ownership, tenancy, name or management where the previous nature of the use, line of business, or other function is substantially unchanged.

     “Child day care facility” means a facility that provides nonmedical care to children under eighteen (18) years of age in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual on less than a twenty-four (24)-hour basis. Child day care facility includes family day care homes.

     “City” means the City of Huntington Park, hereafter referred to as “City.”

     “City Engineer” means the City Engineer of the City of Huntington Park (or designee), hereafter referred to as “City Engineer.”

     “Clinic” means a place for outpatient medical services to patients, human or animal (includes laboratories).

     “Commercial vehicle” means a vehicle customarily used as part of a business for the transportation of goods or people; any vehicle that has been registered as a commercial vehicle with the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

     “Commission” means the Planning Commission of the City of Huntington Park, hereafter referred to as “Commission.”

     “Community care facility” means an intermediate care facility providing nonmedical or a combination of medical and nonmedical residential care or day care for children, adults or both, including physically handicapped and mentally incompetent persons.

     “Compatible use” means a land use activity that is deemed to be capable of co-existing with other land uses without resulting in any form of conflict.

     “Conditional Use Permit” means a discretionary entitlement granted by the Planning Commission under the provisions of this Code and which when granted authorizes a specific use to be made of specific premises, subject to compliance with all terms and conditions imposed on the entitlement.

     “Condominium” means a development consisting of an undivided interest in common for a portion of a parcel coupled with a separate interest in space in a residential or commercial building on the parcel.

     “Congregate care housing” means a structure(s) providing residence for a group of senior citizens, as defined by the State of California Civil Code, with central or private kitchen, dining, recreational, etc. facilities with separate bedrooms and/or living quarters.

     “Convalescent home” means a licensed facility which provides bed and ambulatory care for patients with post-operative convalescent, chronic illness and persons unable to care for themselves; but not including alcoholics, drug addicts or persons with mental or contagious diseases or afflictions. (Includes “Nursing Home” and “Rest Home”).

     “Convenience store, mini market” means an easy-access retail store selling a combination of alcohol, a range of merchandise and motor vehicle fuels (e.g., gasoline) to provide convenience items, primarily for the motoring public.

     “Council” means the City Council of Huntington Park, hereafter referred to as “Council.”

     “Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)” includes a wide variety of strategies aimed at reducing opportunities for crime through the proper design and effective use of the built environment. Key components of CPTED include: natural access control; natural surveillance and territorial reinforcement. CPTED involves design of physical space in the context of the needs of bona fide users of the space, the activity planned for the space and the predictable behavior of bona fide users and criminal offenders. The CPTED concept was first made popular in the book Defensible Space: Crime Prevention Through Urban Design, Oscar Newman. New York: Macmillan, 1972.

     “Defensible space” means a residential environment whose physical characteristics—building layout and site plan—function to allow inhabitants or patrons themselves to become the key agents in ensuring their own security. From the book Defensible Space: Crime Prevention through Urban Design, Oscar Newman. New York: Macmillan, 1972.

     “Density” means the number of dwelling units per gross acre, unless otherwise stated, for residential uses.

     “Density bonus” means a density increase over the maximum residential density allowed under the zoning ordinance and Land Use Element of the General Plan as of the date of application by the applicant to the City.

     “Density bonus housing agreement” means a recorded and legally binding agreement between a developer and the City to ensure that all density bonus requirements are satisfied. The agreement, among other things, shall establish the number of target units, their size, location, terms and conditions of affordability and production schedule.

     “Density bonus units” mean those residential units granted pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3, Article 22 which exceed the otherwise maximum residential density for the development site.

     “Department” means  the City of Huntington Park Community Development Department, hereafter referred to as the “Department.”

     “Department store” means an enclosed commercial sales structure containing a variety of compatible new merchandise for sale by either a single owner/tenant or multiple compatible tenants with no distinguishing separations between tenants and no visual indications that multiple tenants occupy the structure (includes “variety store”).

     “Detached” means the condition of not having a wall or roof in common with any other structure.

     “Development” means the placement or erection of any solid material or structure; discharge or disposal of any gaseous liquid, solid or thermal waste; grading, removing or extraction of any soil or materials; change in the density or intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to, subdivision in compliance with the Subdivision Map Act, and any other division of land, including lot splits, except where the land division is brought about in connection with the purchase of the land by a public agency for public recreational use; construction, reconstruction, demolition or alteration of the size of any structure, including any facility of any private, public or municipal utility; and the removal of any major vegetation. As used in this Code, “structure” includes, but is not limited to, any building, road, pipe, conduit, siphon, telephone line and electrical power transmission and distribution line. A “project,” as defined in State Law (Government Code 65931), is included within this definition.

     “Development Permit” means a discretionary entitlement granted under the provisions of this Code that authorizes a new structure(s) or use(s).

     “Development standard” includes a site or construction condition, including, but not limited to, a height limitation, a setback requirement, a floor area ratio, an onsite open-space requirement, or a parking ratio that applies to a development pursuant to any ordinance, general plan element, specific plan, charter, or other local condition, law, policy, resolution, or regulation.

     “Director” means the Director of the Huntington Park Community Development Department (or designee), hereafter referred to as “Director.”

     “Driveway” means an improved area designated on a parcel that is unencumbered to a height of not less than eight (8) feet, is clear of structures and in all other ways is suitable to provide vehicular access to a garage, carport or other required off-street parking space or loading facility. A driveway serving a residential use shall be further defined as a paved way over the shortest distance between a garage, carport or other approved parking area and the point of access thereto from a street or alley.

     “Dwelling” means a structure or portion thereof designed for residential occupancy, not including hotels or motels.

     Dwelling, Multi-Family. “Multi-family dwelling” means a residential structure containing three (3) or more dwelling units or a combination of three (3) or more separate single-family dwelling units on a single parcel of land.

     Dwelling, Single-Family. “Single-family dwelling” means a residential structure containing not more than one dwelling unit entirely surrounded by open area on a single parcel. This definition includes manufactured housing (when placed on a foundation for permanent residency) and mobile homes.

     Dwelling, Two-Family. “Two-family dwelling” means a residential structure containing not more than two (2) dwelling units entirely surrounded by open area on a single parcel.

     “Dwelling unit” means one or more rooms, including bathroom(s) and a kitchen, designed as a unit for occupancy by one social unit/person for living and sleeping purposes. An efficiency or SRO dwelling unit may, but does not need to, include a bathroom and/or a kitchen.

     “Easement” means an area reserved for access, drainage, maintenance, open space, recreation or the installation and servicing of utilities (e.g., cable, electrical, sewers, telephone, water, etc.).

     “Educational institution, high-intensity” means any public or private school offering instruction in the technical, commercial, or trade fields such as business, secretarial, electrical, building, plumbing, mechanical, medical, cosmetology, computer, or other curriculum with emphasis on instruction provided to adults.

     “Educational institution, low-intensity” means any public, private, charter, or parochial school, and elementary, junior high, or high school giving general academic instruction in the several branches of learning, excluding trade schools, with emphasis on instruction provided to minors. It also includes infant centers, preschools, extended day care facilities, and school age child care centers. It does not include large or small family child day care homes.

     “Emergency shelter” means a facility operated by a nonprofit organization providing temporary housing and minimal supportive services for homeless persons for a period of no more than six (6) months.

     “Employee” means all persons engaged in the operation of conduct of any business, whether as owner, any member of the owner’s family, partner, agent, manager or solicitor and all other persons employed or working in the business.

     “Employee housing” providing accommodations for six (6) or fewer employees, pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17021.5(b), shall be deemed a single-family dwelling. Qualified employee housing is subject to all Municipal Code provisions, regulations, and other standards generally applicable to single-family dwellings in the same zone.

     “Environmental impact (negative)” means a measurable negative effect on the site, adjoining sites, neighborhood, adjoining neighborhoods, the City, region or the entire state, determined to be a negative effect based on the completion and evaluation of an environmental assessment in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the City’s CEQA Guidelines.

     “Equivalent financial incentive” means a monetary contribution, based upon a land cost per dwelling unit value, equal to (1) a density bonus and/or additional incentive(s), or (2) a density bonus, where an additional incentive(s) is not requested or is determined to be unnecessary.

     “Exercising the entitlement” means that this act shall be considered to have occurred when, at a minimum, the applicant/permittee has received approval of, and has been issued, a Building or Grading Permit for the project authorized by the subject entitlement.

     “Family” means one or more persons occupying a premises and living as a single non-profit housekeeping unit, as distinguished from a group occupying a boarding or lodging house, hotel, club or similar dwelling for group use. A family shall not include a fraternal, religious, social or business group. A family shall be deemed to include domestic help employed by the family.

     “Family day care home” means a home that regularly provides care, protection, and supervision for fourteen (14) or fewer children, in the provider’s own home, for periods of less than twenty-four (24) hours and is either a large family child day care home or a small family child day care home.

     “Flea market/rummage sale”: See “Swap meet.”

     “Frontage” means the portion of a parcel or structure abutting a street (at the front lot line), except the side of a corner parcel.

     “Garage” means an enclosed structure or a portion of an enclosed structure, used for the parking of vehicles. Garage design and architecture shall be compatible with the main dwelling unit(s). A minimum interior dimension of twenty (20′) feet by twenty (20′) feet of clear and unobstructed floor space shall be maintained for a two (2) car garage.

     “Garage sale/yard sale” means the sale of second-hand/used personal property to the general public conducted on residential property by the owner/occupant of the property. (Includes driveway sales, patio sales, porch sales and the like.)

     “General Plan” means the City of Huntington Park General Plan as adopted by the Council, hereafter referred to as the “General Plan.”

     “Grade” means the lowest horizontal elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk. The degree of rise or descent of a sloping surface.

     “Granny housing”: See “Second dwelling unit.”

     “Gross acreage” means the total area within the lot lines of a lot or parcel of land before public streets, easements or other areas to be dedicated or reserved for public uses are deducted from the lot or parcel.

     “Gross floor area” means the area included within the surrounding exterior finish wall surface of a structure or portion thereof, exclusive of courtyards.

     “Group home” means a facility providing residential social and personal care for children, the elderly and people with limited ability for self-care, but where medical care is not a major element. Group home includes children’s homes, board and care homes, self-help group homes. Convalescent homes, nursing homes and similar facilities providing medical care are not included under this definition.

     “Guest house”: See “Second dwelling unit.”

     “Guest room” means any room or group of rooms which is designed or intended to be used, or which is used, for the temporary sleeping accommodations of any person or group of persons and which contains no cooking facilities.

     “Home enterprise” means an activity conducted in compliance with Chapter 2 Article 3, carried out by an occupant of the dwelling unit and conducted as an accessory use to the dwelling unit.

     “Hospital” means a licensed institution designed within an integrated campus setting for the diagnosis, care and treatment of human illness, including surgery and primary treatment.

     “Hotel” means guest rooms or suites occupied on a transient basis (e.g., daily or weekly, but not monthly) for compensation, and which may include ancillary facilities (e.g., restaurants, meeting rooms and recreation facilities).

     “Housing development” means a development project consisting of five (5) or more residential units in the City for sale or for rent. It also includes a subdivision, planned unit development, or condominium project, the substantial rehabilitation and conversion of an existing commercial building to residential use, and the substantial rehabilitation of an existing multi-family dwelling, where the rehabilitation or conversion would create a net increase of residential units.

     “Intensification of use or structure” means a change in the use of land or a structure, where the new use or altered structure is required by Chapter 3 Article 8 (Off-Street Parking Standards) to have more off-street parking spaces than the former use or existing structure or a change in the operating characteristics of a use (e.g., hours of operation, etc.), which generate more activity on the site.

     “Kennel” means any parcel where four (4) or more dogs, cats or other small animals over the age of four (4) months are kept, whether the keeping is for pleasure, profit, breeding or exhibition, including places where the animals are boarded or kept for sale or hire.

     “Kitchen” means any room, all or part of which is designed and/or used for storage, refrigeration, cooking and the preparation of food.

     “Laboratory”: See “Clinic.”

     “Landscaping” means the planting and maintaining of an area with predominantly native or exotic plant materials, including lawn, groundcover, trees, shrubs and other plant materials; and also including accessory decorative outdoor landscape elements (e.g., pools, fountains and paved or decorated surfaces [excluding driveways, parking, loading or storage areas]).

     “Large family child day care home” means a home that provides family day care for nine (9) to fourteen (14) children, inclusive.

     “Lot” means a parcel, tract, or area of land established by plat, subdivision or as otherwise permitted by law, to be used, developed or built upon. The classification of lots are:

     (1)    “Corner” means a lot located at the intersection of two (2) or more streets at an angle of not more than 135 degrees. If the angle is greater than 135 degrees, the lot shall be considered an “interior lot”;

     (2)    “Flag” means a lot having access or an easement to a public or private street by a narrow, private right-of-way;

     (3)    “Interior” means a lot abutting only one street;

     (4)    “Key” means a lot with a sideline that abuts the rear line of any one or more adjoining lots;

     (5)    “Reverse corner” means a corner lot, the rear of which abuts the side of another lot; and

     (6)    “Through” means a lot having frontage on two (2) generally parallel streets, with only one primary access.

 

     “Lot area” means the total horizontal area included within the lot lines of a parcel.

     “Lot coverage” means the percent of a parcel that is covered by structures, including main and accessory buildings, carports, and patio covers.

     “Lot depth” means the average distance between the front and rear lot lines or between the front line and the intersection of the two (2) side lines, if there is no rear line.

     “Lot frontage” means the portion of the parcel contiguous to the street.

     “Lot line” means any boundary of a parcel. The classifications of lot lines are:

     (1)    “Front” means on an interior lot, the line separating the parcel from the street. On a corner lot, the shorter lot line abutting a street. (If the lot lines on a corner lot are equal in length, the front lot line shall be determined by the Director.) On a through lot, the lot line abutting the street providing the primary access to the lot;

     (2)    “Interior” means any lot line not abutting a street;

     (3)    “Rear” means a lot line not abutting a street that is opposite and most distant from the front lot line. In the case of an irregular-shaped parcel, including a triangular parcel, a line within the parcel, parallel to and at a maximum distance from the front lot line, having a length of not less than ten (10) feet; and

     (4)    “Side” means any lot line that is not a front or rear lot line.

     “Lot width” means the horizontal distance between side lot lines, measured at the front setback line.

     “Low-barrier navigation centers” means a housing-first, low-barrier, service-enriched shelter focused on moving people into permanent housing that provides temporary living facilities while case managers connect individuals experiencing homelessness to income, public benefits, health services, shelter, and housing. “Low barrier” means best practices to reduce barriers to entry, and may include, but is not limited to, the following:

     (1)    The presence of partners if it is not a population-specific site, such as for survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault, women, or youth.

     (2)    Pets.

     (3)    The storage of possessions.

     (4)    Privacy, such as partitions around beds in a dormitory setting or in larger rooms containing more than two (2) beds, or private rooms.

     “Lower income household” means a household whose income does not exceed eighty (80%) percent of the median household income for Los Angeles County, as published and periodically updated by the State Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to Section 50079.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.

     “Manufactured housing” means single-family detached housing that is built to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974. Includes mobile homes.

     “Market rate unit” or “non-restricted unit” means all units within a housing development excluding the affordable/target units.

     “Maximum residential density” means the maximum residential density allowed under the zoning ordinance and Land Use Element of the General Plan as of the date of application by the applicant to the City. Where the density allowed under the zoning ordinance is inconsistent with the density allowed under the Land Use Element of the General Plan, the General Plan density shall prevail.

     “Median family income” (“MFI”) means the median household income for Los Angeles County, as published and periodically updated by the State Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to Section 50079.5 of the California Health and Safety Code.

     “Mini mall”: See “Multiple tenant merchandise mart.”

     “Minor Conditional Use Permit” means a discretionary entitlement granted by the Director of Community Development under the provisions of this Code and which, when granted, authorizes a specific use to be made of specific premises, subject to compliance with all terms and conditions imposed on the entitlement.

     “Mixed use development” means the development of a parcel(s) or structure(s) with two (2) or more different land uses (e.g., a combination of residential, office, commercial retail, public or entertainment) in a single or physically integrated group of structures.

     “Mobile home” means a transportable, factory-built home, designed to be used as a year-round residential dwelling and built prior to the enactment of the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974.

     “Moderate income household” means a household whose income does not exceed 120 percent of the median household income for Los Angeles County, as published and periodically updated by the State Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to Section 50093 of the California Health and Safety Code.

     “Motel”: See “Hotel.”

     “Multiple tenant merchandise mart (formerly defined as “mini-mall”)” means an enclosed commercial-sales structure containing multiple permanent tenant spaces/stalls/ booths where new merchandise is sold or service is rendered by five (5) or more separate vendors and subject to the development standards in.

     “Multi-family development” means a residential development with two (2) or more dwelling units on a single lot or parcel.

     “Net acreage” means the total area within a parcel of land after public street easements or other areas to be dedicated or reserved for public use are deducted from the parcel.

     “New” means not previously used or owned.

     “Nightclubs” means an establishment for the serving of prepared food and the dispensing of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises where a dance floor and live entertainment are provided.

     “Nonconforming property” means any subdivision of land that was lawfully established and in compliance with all applicable ordinances and laws at the time the property was subdivided, but which, due to any subsequently enacted ordinance or law, no longer complies with all of the applicable regulations and standards of the zoning district in which the property is located.

     “Nonconforming structure” means any structure, or improvement upon land, other than the land itself, including any sign, that was lawfully established and in compliance with all applicable ordinances and laws at the time the structure or improvement was established, but which, due to any subsequently enacted ordinance or law, no longer complies with all of the applicable regulations and standards of the zoning district in which the structure or improvement is located.

     “Nonconforming use” means any use of land that was lawfully established and in compliance with all applicable ordinances and laws at the time the use was established, but which, due to any subsequently enacted ordinance or law, no longer complies with all of the applicable regulations and standards of the zoning district in which the use is located.

     “Noise complaint” means that an objection has taken place due to a noise violation of the City’s noise ordinances, taking into consideration the noise level generated by the children.

     “Nursery grow lot” means a place where landscape material (flowers, plants, trees) is propagated and may be available for wholesale purchase at the location. No retail sale of any material is involved.

     “Open space” means land areas which are not occupied by buildings, structures, parking, streets or alleys.

     “Outdoor display of merchandise” means the placement of goods or merchandise or other objects on the exterior of a structure/storefront (including recessed storefront entries) in view from any public right-of-way, parking lot, pedestrian arcade or plaza.

     Open Space, Common. “Common open space” means an outdoor area which is centrally located and improved for common recreational purposes, active or passive, and accessible to each parcel or dwelling unit within a development through a system of walkways.

 

 

     Outdoor Space, Private. “Private outdoor space” means an outdoor area designed and maintained for the exclusive use of the occupants of not more than one adjoining dwelling unit.

 

 

     “Parcel” means a portion of land under one ownership that has been legally subdivided or combined and is shown as a single lot or property on the latest equalized assessment roll.

     “Patio cover” means a permanent roofed structure with a maximum of three (3) walls to be used only for recreational or outdoor living purposes. Patio covers shall only be located behind a main structure.

     “Pedestrian arcade/paseo/breezeway” means a conti-nuous passageway usually perpendicular to the street and connecting to the street/sidewalk at one end and to the alley/parking lot at the other end. Storefronts may open onto an arcade which may also be permanently roofed.

     “Permitted use” means any use allowed in a zoning district and subject to the provisions/regulations applicable to that district.

     “Play/athletic equipment (outdoor)” means apparatus designed and intended for recreational use by means of climbing, swinging, sliding, jumping, including mechanisms for physical exercise.

 

     “Plaza/courtyard” means an open space area usually surrounded by streets, sidewalks and/or structures that is improved with landscaping and hardscaping.

     “Principal use” means the main, primary or pre-dominant use of any parcel or structure.

     “Professional/administrative offices” means an establishment where the managerial, administrative and clerical functions of a business or industry are conducted, or where members of a profession (e.g., doctors or attorneys) conduct their practice.

     “Public park” means a park, playground, swimming pool, beach, pier, reservoir, golf course or athletic field within the City which is under the control, operation or management of the City, the County or the State.

     “Public right-of-way” means a strip of land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a road, trail, water line, sanitary sewer and/or other public uses.

     “Queuing lane” means an area for temporary awaiting of motor vehicles while obtaining a service or other activity from a drive-up service window/facility.

     “Recreation vehicle” means motorized types including aircraft, boats, buses converted to recreational uses, motor homes, off-road vehicles, camper vans or other motorized vehicles, and nonmotorized types including boats, camper shells, camping trailers, travel trailers or other nonmotorized vehicles without a permanent foundation which can be hauled or towed and which are designed primarily for recreational use.

     “Recycling facility”: Refer to Chapter 3 Article 10 for specific definitions.

     “Religious institution” means a structure that is used primarily for religious worship and related religious activities.

     “Retail sales” means establishments engaged in selling goods or merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption and rendering services incidental to the sale of the goods.

     “Review authority” means the person, committee, Commission or Council responsible for the review and final determination on a land use entitlement, map, permit or amendment.

     “Rummage sale/flea market”: See “Swap meet.”

     “Satellite dish antenna” means a device incorporating a reflective surface that is solid, open mesh or bar configured, and is the shape of a shallow dish/cone. The device shall be used to transmit and/or receive radio or electromagnetic waves between terrestrially and/or orbitally based uses. This definition is meant to include, but not be limited to, what are referred to as satellite earth stations, TVROs (television reception only satellite dish antennas) and satellite microwave antennas.

     “Second dwelling unit” means a dwelling unit located on the same lot as the primary single-family dwelling, which the second unit is either attached to, or detached from, and which provides complete, independent living facilities for no more than two (2) persons. A second unit shall include permanent living facilities, including permanent but separate provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation and shall contain a full bath, a kitchen and not more than one bedroom.

     “Secondhand/thrift store” means a use where used articles, goods, merchandise or wares are offered for sale but not including the working on or dismantling of such items.

     “Senior citizen housing” means a housing development consistent with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (Government Code Section 12900 et seq., including 12955.9 in particular), which has been “designed to meet the physical and social needs of senior citizens,” and which otherwise qualifies as “housing for older persons” as that phrase is used in the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-430) and implementing regulations (24 CFR, part 100, subpart E), and as that phrase is used in California Civil Code Section 51.2 and 51.3.

     “Service station” means the use of any structure or parcel for a business whose primary use is to supply gasoline and other fuels, and may include the provision for minor services to automobiles and other motor vehicles. (Also includes “Gas station.”)

     “Setback” means the required distance that a structure, use or parking shall be located from a lot line.

     Setback, Front. “Front setback” means on corner lots, the shortest street frontage shall be the front yard in residential zoning districts, while the longest street frontage shall be the front yard in commercial and industrial zoning districts.

     “Sidewalk sale” means the sale/display of goods and merchandise within the public right-of-way between the curb line and adjacent property line, regardless of whether a sidewalk exists.

     “Single room occupancy (SRO) facility” means a cluster of guest units within a residential hotel of weekly or longer tenancy providing sleeping or living facilities in which sanitary and cooking facilities may be provided in the unit or shared within the facility.

     “Slope” means the degree of deviation of a surface from the horizontal, usually expressed in percent or degrees.

     “Small family child day care home” means a home that provides family day care for eight (8) or fewer children.

     “Solar access” means the airspace over a parcel that provides access for a solar energy system to absorb energy from the sun.

 

 

     “Specific plan” means a plan one step below the General Plan in the land use hierarchy, and which is intended to assist in the implementation of specified areas of the General Plan by identifying the distribution, location and extent/intensity of land uses, the standards and criteria by which development will generally proceed, and the implementation measures necessary to carry out the proposed development.

     “Storage” means the keeping/maintaining of goods/materials for a period of time in excess of seventy-two (72) hours.

     “Storage shed” means accessory structure/building utilized for the keeping of items belonging to the occupant(s) of the property. Storage sheds shall be exempt from a building permit and planning approval subject to the following: (1) are less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet; (2) do not require a building permit, including electrical or mechanical; (3) are not placed on a permanent foundation; and (4) have a maximum exterior height of seven feet six inches (7′-6″) as measured from the finished floor to the highest point of the roof. All accessory structures shall comply with zoning district setbacks even if a permit is not required. Maximum of one storage shed per parcel.

     “Story” means that portion of a structure included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it, or if there is no floor above it, then the space between the floor and the ceiling above it.

     “Strip center” means a multi-tenant shopping center with up to 15,000 square feet of gross floor area.

     “Street” means any public or private thoroughfare, which provides a primary means of access to abutting property.

     “Structure” means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground.

     “Supportive housing” shall have the same meaning as transitional housing; however, there is no limit on the length of stay, and on-site or off-site services must be provided as part of the program. Services may include assistance in retaining housing, living and working in the community, and/or improving health and may also include case management, mental health treatment, and life skills. Under the California Health and Safety Code, the target population for this housing type consists of low-income persons with disabilities (including substance abuse), chronic health conditions, and similar problems. The terms “supportive housing” and “target population” are defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 50675.14, which is incorporated herein by reference.

     “Swap meet (indoor/outdoor)” means the temporary retail sale or exchange of new, handcrafted and/or secondhand merchandise from temporary spaces/stalls/booths by one or more individual vendors sponsored and operated by a nonprofit/charitable organization. (Includes “Flea market” and “Rummage sale.”)

     “Target unit” means a dwelling unit within a residential housing development which will be reserved for, and restricted to, very low, low, or moderate income households at an affordable rent or at an affordable sales price, or is a unit in senior citizen housing development.

     “Temporary use” means a use established for a specified/limited period of time, with the intent to discontinue the use at the end of the designated time period.

     “Tenant space access” means a clearly defined and legal means of access, for pedestrians and motor vehicles, either directly or indirectly, from a public right-of -way.

     “Traffic safety sight area” means  space that is set aside on a street corner or driveway entrance in which all visual obstructions (e.g., structures and plantings) that can prevent visibility, and thus be a hazard to traffic and pedestrian safety, are prohibited.

 

 

     “Transient” means a person who receives lodging accommodations for a fee, with or without meals, for a maximum period of thirty (30) days.

     “Transitional housing” means temporary housing for a homeless individual or family transitioning to permanent housing for stays of at least six (6) months. Housing can take several forms, including group housing or multi-family units, and may include supportive services to allow for necessary life skills in support of independent living. The term “transitional housing” is defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 50675.2, which is incorporated herein by reference.

     “Transportation demand management (TDM)” means the implementation of programs, policies or permit approvals designed to encourage changes in individual travel behavior, including emphasis on alternative travel modes to single occupant vehicle use (i.e., carpools, vanpools and public transit, reduction or elimination of vehicle trips, shifts in peak hour vehicle commuting, etc.).

     “Tree house” means a structure built off the ground more than four (4) feet and supported by trees, poles, posts or similar objects, not for habitation and without any utilities.

     “Use” means the purpose (type and extent) for which land or a structure is arranged, designed or intended, or for which either land or a structure is occupied or maintained.

     “Use inauguration (initiation)” means the implementation of a use on a parcel or the occupancy of a structure, subject to determination by the Director.

     “Variance” means a discretionary entitlement which permits a departure from the strict application of the development standards contained in this Code.

     “Vehicle body repair, paint or restoration” means the use of any structure or land for a business involving the repair or painting of vehicles.

     “Vehicle repair” means the use of any structure or land for a business, service or industry involving the maintenance, servicing or repair or painting of vehicles which is conducted as the sole or primary use of the land. (Also includes “Repair garage.”)

     “Vehicle sales” means the use of any structure or land for the display and sale of new or used automobiles, trucks or vans, trailers or recreational vehicles including any warranty repair work and other repair service conducted as an accessory use only.

     “Vehicle wrecking yard” means any land where two (2) or more vehicles not in running condition, or the parts thereof, are wrecked, dismantled, disassembled or substantially altered. Includes the sale of parts, but does not include a “pick a part” operation where customers remove their own parts from vehicles.

     “Vending machine” means an automated mechanical/electronic device that is designed to dispense items (e.g., food, stamps, novelties, etc.) or services (e.g., shoe shine, telephone, television viewing, etc.) to the general public when currency, tokens or electronic cards are inserted into the machine. Automated teller machines and mechanical/electronic game machines are not included in this definition.

     “Very low income household” means a household whose income does not exceed fifty (50%) percent of the median household income for Los Angeles County, as published and periodically updated by the State Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to Section 50105 of the California Health and Safety Code.

     “Wireless communication facility” means a public or private structure that supports antennae, microwave dishes and other related equipment that sends and/or receives radiofrequency signals. (Also see “Antenna.”)

     “Yard” means an open space on a parcel of land, other than a court, unobstructed and unoccupied from the ground upward, except for projections permitted by this Code.

 

 

     Yard, Corner Side. “Corner side yard” means an area extending from the front yard to the rear yard, and from the side street line to the structural setback line parallel thereto.

     Yard, Front. “Front yard” means an area extending across the full width of the parcel between the front lot line or the existing or future street right-of-way and a structural setback line parallel thereto.

     Yard, Interior Side. “Interior side yard” means an area extending from the required front yard to the required rear yard and from the interior side lot line to a setback line parallel thereto.

     Yard, Rear. “Rear yard” means an area extending across the full width of the parcel between the rear lot line and a setback line parallel thereto.

     “Zero lot line” means the location of a structure on a parcel in which one or more of the structure’s sides rest directly on a lot line, and maintenance easements are provided.

 

 

     “Zoning district” means a portion of the City within which certain uses of land and structures are defined and regulations are specified.

(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001, as amended by § 2, Ord. 771-NS, eff. March 21, 2006, § 1, Ord. 845-NS, eff. January 7, 2010, § 1, Ord. 846-NS, eff. January 21, 2010, § 1, Ord. 849-NS, eff. January 21, 2010, § 1, Ord. 2019-978, eff. September 5, 2019, and § 2, Ord. 2023-02, eff. December 7, 2023)