Long Beach, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- IL district
- 55% max lot coverage
- IM district
- 60% max lot coverage
- IG district
- 80% max lot coverage
- Westside Redevelopment Area (IG)
- 60% max lot coverage
- IP district
- No lot coverage restriction
- Governing table
- LBMC Table 33-3, § 21.33.120
Summary
Long Beach caps building footprint in its industrial zones through Table 33-3: 55% in IL, 60% in IM, 80% in IG (60% in the Westside Redevelopment Project Area), and no restriction in IP. LBMC § 21.33.120 bars construction beyond these district-specific ceilings.
21.33.120 - Maximum lot coverage. No building or structure shall be constructed to exceed the lot coverage standards indicated in Table 33-3. ... Table 33-3 General Development Standards: Maximum Lot Coverage (see 21.33.120) — IL: 55%; IM: 60%; IG: 80% (b); IP: No restriction. ... Notes: (b) City redevelopment plans may establish an alternative standard which supersedes this standard. For the Westside Redevelopment Project Area, the maximum lot coverage standard is 60 percent for new buildings.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
33, Division II of the Long Beach Municipal Code sets development standards for the city's four industrial zoning districts, Limited Industrial (IL), Medium Industrial (IM), General Industrial (IG), and Port Industrial (IP). 120, titled "Maximum lot coverage," states flatly that no building or structure may be constructed to exceed the coverage standards in Table 33-3, the General Development Standards table for these districts. That table assigns a different ceiling to each zone: 55 percent in IL, 60 percent in IM, 80 percent in IG, and no restriction at all in IP, reflecting the port-oriented nature of that district.
A footnote to the IG figure carves out the Westside Redevelopment Project Area, where the applicable redevelopment plan lowers the standard to 60 percent for new buildings rather than the citywide 80 percent, a reminder that redevelopment plans can supersede the base zoning table. in IM and IG, no minimum in IP) and maximum building heights, so a lot-coverage calculation typically gets checked alongside those companion standards during Planning and Building plan review. 090. 43.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the Table 33-3 coverage limit is a zoning violation enforceable under LBMC § 1.32.010, punishable as a misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day of the violation a separate offense. Under the citation procedure in § 1.32.060, Planning and Building inspectors first serve a notice of violation with 10 days to correct; continued noncontinuation of the noncompliance draws a $100 infraction citation, a $250 citation on recurrence within six months, and escalation to a misdemeanor referral to the City Prosecutor if it persists further.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage for industrial buildings in Long Beach?
Is there an exception to the 80 percent IG limit?
Does the lot coverage limit apply to residential or commercial lots?
What happens if a project exceeds the coverage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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