LA County has no countywide BMO like LA City, but Title 22 Chapter 22.110 sets hillside grading and bulk limits, and several Community Standards Districts cap floor area ratio in unincorporated communities like Altadena, La Crescenta-Montrose, and Topanga.
Title 22 (Planning & Zoning) of the LA County Code regulates residential bulk through several pathways rather than one mansionization ordinance. Section 22.110.090 imposes hillside development standards: graduated height limits, ridgeline protection, and grading caps tied to slope. Roughly 20 Community Standards Districts in Title 22 Division 6 add neighborhood-specific FAR caps, lot coverage maximums, and second-story setback rules — Altadena CSD limits FAR to 0.45, La Crescenta-Montrose CSD adds daylight planes, and Topanga CSD restricts mass on visible hillsides. Department of Regional Planning reviews projects; large additions in CSDs need Director's Review or a hearing.
Stop-work orders and permit revocation for exceeding FAR or hillside limits. Title 22.60 administrative penalties run up to $1,000 per day. Illegal grading triggers separate Title 11 civil penalties and restoration orders under Public Works supervision.
Downey, CA
Downey building setbacks vary by zone. ADUs require 4 ft side/rear setbacks. Front setbacks established by Planning Commission where necessary. No building m...
Downey, CA
Lot coverage in Downey is regulated by zone. No building may occupy a greater percentage of lot area than specified for its zone. Open space required for one...
See how Downey's anti-mansionization rules stack up against other locations.
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