Gardena, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)

Section 18.12.050(I) of the Gardena Municipal Code fixes lot coverage, the share of a parcel occupied by structures or buildings as defined in Section 18.04.010, at a maximum of fifty percent for an interior lot and a maximum of seventy-five percent for a corner lot. The higher corner-lot allowance reflects a corner parcel's two street frontages and generally larger buildable area under the zone's fifty-five-foot corner lot width standard versus fifty feet for an interior lot. Coverage counts the primary dwelling, any garage and every accessory building on the lot, including one built along a rear or side property line under the reduced accessory-building setback in Section 18.12.050(G)(4).

A related but separate limit sits in Section 18.12.050(G)(5): no more than fifty percent of the front yard area, including driveways, may be paved or otherwise hardscaped, and the remaining front-yard area must be permanently landscaped with softscape and an irrigation system the city approves. Section 18.13.040(F) confirms that an accessory dwelling unit does not count toward this lot coverage cap or toward density, so adding an ADU does not by itself push a lot over its fifty or seventy-five percent limit. Community Development checks proposed lot coverage against Section 18.12.050(I) at plan check before issuing a building permit.