Long Beach, CA Zoning

Euclidean-zoning. 15 districts · 7 overlays · 7 applicable state preemptions.

Overview

Code type
euclidean
Naming convention
mixed

Long Beach uses a 4-letter suffix system (N=Standard, S=Small, M=Moderate, L=Large, A=Accessory, I=Intensified, T=Townhouse, R=Restricted-height) appended to residential base districts (R-1-N, R-1-S, R-1-M, R-1-L, R-2-N, R-2-A, R-2-I, R-2-S, R-3, R-3-4, R-3-T, R-4, R-4-R, RP). Encoded lot-scale/intensity is unique among CA cities studied. RP-12 / RP-18 encode density numerically in the designation. Port of Long Beach Harbor District operates as a distinct zoning overlay administered through the Harbor Department. | naming_convention_raw=alpha-suffix ; sub_flags_raw=[alpha-suffix-encoded, port-city]

Worth knowing
  • 4-letter suffix system (N, S, M, L, A, I, T, R) encoding lot scale and development intensity directly in the district designation. No other CA city in this study uses this system. c§21.31.020
  • R-2-A 'Accessory' zone — one unit restricted to accessory unit; predates state ADU law but achieves similar goals. State ADU law now provides broader preemption than R-2-A's original design. c§21.31.020
  • R-2-I near public open space — density increase offset by park access; detached accessory buildings prohibited. c§21.31.020

+ 11 more in Quirks & notes

Districts

res_sf 8res_mf 5res_th 2
CodeNameCategory Min lotHeight CoverageFAR Du/acParking Setbacks F/S/R
R-1-LSingle-Family Largeres_sf / /
R-1-NSingle-Family Standardres_sf28 ft[4]0.5[5]20[1] / 5[2] / 20[3]
R-1-MSingle-Family Moderateres_sf / /
R-1-TSingle-Family Townhouseres_th / /
R-1-SSingle-Family Smallres_sf0.6[9]15[6] / 3[7] / 15[8]
R-2-NTwo-Family Standardres_sf0.55[13]20[10] / 5[11] / 20[12]
R-2-ATwo-Family Accessoryres_sf / /
R-2-ITwo-Family Intensifiedres_sf / /
R-2-STwo-Family Smallres_sf / /
R-3Multi-Familyres_mf17[14] / 7[15] / 15[16]
R-3-4Four-Familyres_mf / /
R-3-TTownhouse Transitionres_th / /
R-4Multi-Familyres_mf17[17] / 7[18] / 15[19]
R-4-RMulti-Family Restricted Heightres_mf / /
RPResidential Planned Unit Developmentres_mf / /

Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found

Overlays

CZ
Coastal Zone
ENV
California Coastal Act of 1976 (PRC §30000 et seq.) + LBMC §21.54 (Local Coastal Program)

Parcels seaward of the Coastal Zone boundary mapped by the California Coastal Commission; includes Belmont Shore, Peninsula, Naples, Alamitos Bay, Downtown/Shoreline, and most of the beach-adjacent portions of West Long Beach. Boundary published on gis.longbeach.gov.

coastal_development_permit_required1[20]
review_authorityCity (certified LCP areas) or Coastal Commission (appeal jurisdiction + non-certified areas)[21]
additional_processing_time_weeks4-8[22]
public_access_requirementslateral + vertical access preserved per Coastal Act[23]
certified_local_coastal_program1[24]
appealable_to_commission1[25]
Harbor
Port of Long Beach (Harbor District)
SPD
LBMC §21.55 (Harbor District) + Port Master Plan certified by California Coastal Commission

All tidelands and filled tidelands under jurisdiction of the Board of Harbor Commissioners — Port of Long Beach footprint including Pier A through Pier T, Middle Harbor, Outer Harbor, and associated rail/road ROW. Largely excluded from Title 21 residential/commercial zoning.

zoning_authorityBoard of Harbor Commissioners (not City Planning)[26]
usesmaritime, industrial, goods movement, rail[27]
residential_prohibited1[28]
coastal_commission_jurisdiction1[29]
OG
Oil and Gas Overlay (Petroleum)
SPD
LBMC Ch. 21.55 (oil code) + CalGEM regulations (14 CCR §1700 et seq.)

Parcels within or adjacent to active/abandoned oil/gas production zones — Wilmington Oil Field underlies significant portions of West Long Beach, Signal Hill border, Bixby Knolls, and Long Beach Airport area; one of the largest onshore oil fields in the United States.

phase_i_esa_triggeredtypically required near abandoned wells[30]
phase_ii_esa_triggeredif Phase I indicates contamination
methane_mitigation_construction1
well_setback_residential_ft3,200[31]
well_abandonment_standardsper CalGEM re-abandonment rules[32]
regulation_primaryCalifornia Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM)
FZ
Flood Hazard / Stormwater
FP
LBMC Title 18 (Building) Flood Damage Prevention + MS4 Permit / LID Ordinance per LA County MS4 Order R4-2012-0175

Parcels within FEMA-mapped SFHA per FIRM panels (Los Angeles County); LA River watershed + San Gabriel River watershed. Long Beach is at the mouth of both rivers. Coastal flood hazard also applies along shoreline.

lid_threshold_sf500[33]
c3_treatment_threshold_sf10,000[34]
la_river_watershed_enhanced1[35]
fema_bfe_freeboard_ft1[36]
no_rise_certification_floodway1
substantial_improvement_threshold_pct50[37]
PD-30
Downtown Plan Area
PD
Downtown Plan (PD-30) Planned Development District

Downtown Long Beach core bounded roughly by Alamitos Ave (east), Golden Shore / LA River (west), Anaheim St (north), Ocean Blvd / Shoreline (south). Includes East Village, West Gateway, and the Pine Ave commercial corridor.

mixed_use_by_right1[38]
height_bonuses_available1[39]
density_bonuses_available1[40]
pedestrian_orientation_required1[41]
intersects_a_line_terminus1
HD
Historic Districts / Cultural Heritage
SPEC
LBMC Ch. 2.63 (Cultural Heritage Commission) + §21.45 (Historic Preservation)

Designated historic districts and landmarks citywide. Includes: Willmore City Historic District (Downtown NW), Drake Park / Willmore City Landmark District, Bluff Heights, California Heights, Carroll Park, Rose Park, Bembridge (multiple districts). LGBTQ Historic District along Broadway (cultural designation). Individual landmark structures scattered citywide.

certificate_of_appropriateness_required1[42]
review_bodyCultural Heritage Commission[43]
demolition_restrictionsdemolition requires CHC approval + mitigation[44]
design_review_triggersexterior changes visible from public ROW; additions; new construction; demolition[45]
sb_9_exclusion1[46]
AA
Airport Influence Area (Long Beach Airport)
MIL
LBMC §21.45 + Long Beach Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (LUCP) adopted by LA ALUC

Parcels within Airport Influence Area of Long Beach Airport (KLGB) — runway approach/departure zones, noise contours (65+ CNEL), and FAA Part 77 imaginary surfaces. Covers portions of Bixby Knolls, East Long Beach, Los Cerritos, and Lakewood-adjacent areas.

noise_contour_cnel_threshold65[47]
faa_part_77_height_limits1[48]
avigation_easement_requiredtypically for new residential in AIA[49]
disclosure_required_real_estate1[50]

State preemptions

CA-ADU-GC§66411.7-66411.8applies
Qualifying condition
All CA cities. Long Beach's R-1 variants (R-1-N, R-1-S, R-1-M, R-1-L, R-1-T), R-2 variants, R-3, R-3-T, R-4, R-4-R, and RP districts must permit ADUs by-right per state law. Long Beach implements via LBMC §21.45 ADU provisions. Coastal Zone parcels still require CDP but cannot be denied ADU by-right ministerial status beyond CDP review. | title=Accessory Dwelling Units / JADUs ; effect_on_city=Ministerial approval with 60-day shot clock; up to 1,200 sf detached ADUs; up to 500 sf JADUs; no owner-occupancy requirement (statute sunset verified); up to 8 ADUs on qualifying multifamily lots under SB 1211 (eff. 2025-01-01). Preempts any LBMC §21.45 provision imposing minimum lot size, owner-occupancy beyond statute, or parking within ½ mi of transit / historic district / existing-structure ADU. R-2-A 'accessory' zone predates state ADU law but must now defer to ADU statute where more permissive.
Qualifying condition
Long Beach is a CA charter city. SB 9 applies per-parcel conditional on exclusions. Long Beach has significant SB 9 exclusions: (1) Coastal Zone covers Belmont Shore, Peninsula, Naples, Alamitos Bay, Downtown shoreline, and West Long Beach beach-adjacent areas — SB 9 does not apply within Coastal Zone per GC §65852.21(a)(2)(B); (2) designated historic districts (Willmore City, California Heights, Bluff Heights, Bembridge, Carroll Park, Rose Park, Drake Park, etc.) are excluded per GC §65852.21(a)(2)(C); (3) FEMA SFHA along LA River / San Gabriel River corridors per-parcel exclusion; (4) no CalFire VHFHSZ (city is low-fire-hazard coastal plain). | title=SB 9 — California HOME Act (Lot Splits + Duplex Conversion) ; effect_on_city=Ministerial up-to-4-units on qualifying R-1-series parcels (lot split + duplex on each resulting lot) OUTSIDE Coastal Zone and OUTSIDE designated historic districts. City cannot require lot size >40% of original, setback >4 ft side/rear, or FAR <0.8 on resulting lots. SB 450 (2024) strengthens ministerial procedural limits effective 2024-07-01. Major portions of Long Beach (Coastal Zone + ~12 historic districts) remain excluded — SB 9's practical reach is restricted to inland/non-historic R-1 areas (North Long Beach, parts of East Long Beach, Bixby Knolls outside historic district). ; per_parcel_conditional=True ; exclusions=['Coastal Zone (major — CDP-subject shoreline parcels)', 'designated historic districts (Willmore City, California Heights, Bluff Heights, Bembridge, Carroll Park, Rose Park, Drake Park, others)', 'FEMA SFHA (LA River / San Gabriel River corridor per-parcel)', 'CalFire VHFHSZ (N/A — coastal plain, no mapped VHFHSZ)']
CA-DensityBonus-GC§65915applies
Qualifying condition
Statewide. Applies to any Long Beach project meeting affordability thresholds (5% VLI, 10% LI, 10% moderate for-sale, or 100% affordable). AB 1287 (2023) allows stacking to achieve up to 100% density bonus. Applies in R-3, R-3-T, R-4, R-4-R, RP residential components + any mixed-use PD-30 Downtown component. | title=State Density Bonus Law + AB 1287 (2023) ; effect_on_city=Up to 100% density bonus (AB 1287 stacked) on R-3/R-3-T/R-4/R-4-R/RP and Downtown PD-30 residential components. Can waive base `du_ac` maxima, `max_height_ft`, and base setbacks as concessions/incentives (1 per 10% VLI, 2 per 20%, 3 per 30%). State §65915(p) parking ratios (0.5 studios/1BR; 1.0 for 2-3BR; 1.5 for 4+BR) preempt LBMC §21.41 on affordable components. Within ½ mi of A Line (Metro) stations, parking is 0.
CA-AB2097applies
Qualifying condition
Long Beach is served by LA Metro A Line (renamed from Blue Line in the November 2019 / 2020 Metro rail letter-designation rebranding — see Wave 1 Compton finding where the obsolete 'Blue Line / Green Line' names were corrected; Long Beach profile uses current 'A Line' terminology). A Line runs from Downtown Long Beach (southern terminus at Downtown Long Beach Station / 1st St) north to APU/Citrus College in Azusa, passing through Willow, PCH, Anaheim St, 5th St, 1st St stations in Long Beach. Qualifying A Line stations (all 5 in Long Beach: Willow, Pacific Coast Hwy, Anaheim St, 5th St, Downtown Long Beach) are 'major transit stops' under PRC §21064.3. Long Beach Transit bus network adds qualifying 15-min peak-headway corridors along Atlantic Ave, Pacific Ave, Long Beach Blvd, 7th St, Anaheim St. Parcels within ½ mile of any qualifying stop are AB 2097 eligible. Long Beach Airport (KLGB) is not a major transit stop. | title=AB 2097 — Parking Mandate Elimination Near Transit ; effect_on_city=No minimum parking may be required for residential, commercial, or mixed-use within ½ mile of any A Line station (Willow, PCH, Anaheim St, 5th St, Downtown Long Beach) or qualifying LB Transit high-frequency bus corridors. Preempts LBMC §21.41 parking ratios within buffer. Significant overlap with PD-30 Downtown Plan Area and with R-3/R-4 Central Long Beach corridors — effective parking elimination along most of the A Line spine.
Qualifying condition
SB 423 applies to sites zoned residential or mixed-use in cities not meeting RHNA (or HCD-non-compliant). Long Beach is under 6th-cycle RHNA (2021–2029, SCAG region, allocation 26,502 units). Whether Long Beach is SB 423-eligible at the 10% or 50% affordability trigger depends on HCD's Annual Progress Report determination. Applies to R-3, R-3-T, R-4, R-4-R, RP, and mixed-use PD-30 parcels. Coastal Zone parcels are excluded; VHFHSZ N/A; historic district parcels excluded; sites with recent tenant displacement excluded. | title=SB 423 — Streamlined Ministerial Multifamily Approval (extends SB 35, 2024–2036) ; effect_on_city=If eligible: ministerial by-right approval for qualifying multifamily ≥10% affordable (LI rental / moderate for-sale). 50%+ affordable bypasses design review (except Coastal Zone CDP review remains). Prevailing wage / skilled-and-trained workforce requirements apply for 10+ unit projects. ; search_performed=HCD Annual Progress Report / SB 423 tier determination not fetched live in this pass (dashboard is JS-rendered). ; source_url=https://data.ca.gov/dataset/sb-35-data ; source_type=primary_dataset ; source_accessed=2026-04-19
Retrieval issue
HCD APR dashboard is JS-rendered and not fetchable within budget. Long Beach 6th-cycle RHNA of 26,502 units is aggressive; APR progress should be checked per project.
Qualifying condition
Long Beach has commercially-zoned parcels along defined corridors (Long Beach Blvd, Atlantic Ave, Pacific Coast Hwy, Anaheim St, 7th St, Bellflower Blvd, Spring St, Willow St, Atlantic Ave) that qualify as 'commercial corridors' under AB 2011. 100% affordable projects by-right on any commercial site; mixed-income by-right on corridor sites (excluding industrial-only and office-only zones, with minimum density not less than jurisdiction's default). | title=AB 2011 — Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act ; effect_on_city=Ministerial approval for qualifying multifamily on commercial corridor sites. 100% affordable bypasses discretionary review. Minimum density cannot be less than Long Beach's default density for the area. Overlaps with SB 423 — developers choose pathway. Prevailing wage required. Port of Long Beach Harbor District is industrial/maritime — AB 2011 does not apply (Harbor jurisdiction).
CA-BuildersRemedy-GC§65589.5(d)(5)applies
Qualifying condition
Long Beach adopted its 6th-cycle Housing Element (2021–2029) for SCAG region. HCD certification status must be verified on HCD's Housing Element Compliance Report dashboard. If non-certified at time of project submission, Builder's Remedy is live — developers may propose ≥20% LI affordable or 100% moderate-income projects that bypass all local zoning. AB 1893 (2024) codified procedural requirements. | title=Builder's Remedy (Housing Accountability Act) ; effect_on_city=Contingent. If Housing Element non-certified: projects with 20% LI or 100% moderate-income bypass all local zoning (height, density, FAR, use, setbacks) — except Coastal Act and Harbor District preemptions still control. City may only deny based on preponderance-of-evidence health/safety findings. If certified: Builder's Remedy is dormant for that cycle. ; search_performed=HCD Housing Element Compliance dashboard not retrieved live (JS-rendered). ; source_url=https://data.ca.gov/dataset/housing-element-compliance-report ; source_type=primary_dataset ; source_accessed=2026-04-19
Retrieval issue
HCD compliance dashboard is JS-rendered and was not fetched within budget. Long Beach is a charter city with aggressive 26,502-unit RHNA; track APR status per project.
Non-applicable laws (1)
CA-SB10under_review
Qualifying condition
SB 10 is permissive — it authorizes but does not require cities to zone up to 10 units/parcel near transit or urban infill via simple resolution (CEQA-exempt). No evidence Long Beach has adopted an SB 10 resolution; Title 21 contains no SB 10-adoption reference. City Council has relied on standard rezone + Housing Element update cycle. | title=SB 10 — Local Upzoning Authorization ; effect_on_city=None unless/until Long Beach adopts an SB 10 resolution.

Adopted building codes

Statewide mandatory minimum

2024 CBC
2024 CRC
2023
2024
IECC (Residential)
2024 CALGreen
IECC (Commercial)
2024 CALGreen

Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.

Quirks & notes

  • 4-letter suffix system (N, S, M, L, A, I, T, R) encoding lot scale and development intensity directly in the district designation. No other CA city in this study uses this system. c§21.31.020
  • R-2-A 'Accessory' zone — one unit restricted to accessory unit; predates state ADU law but achieves similar goals. State ADU law now provides broader preemption than R-2-A's original design. c§21.31.020
  • R-2-I near public open space — density increase offset by park access; detached accessory buildings prohibited. c§21.31.020
  • R-3-T commercial-to-residential transition zone — lot-line-to-lot-line, high coverage, inward-oriented urban form. Explicitly characterized as appropriate 'in areas in transition from commercial to residential use' — unusual for a residential district. c§21.31.020
  • R-4-R restricted height for MF near older/lower-density areas; 'R' suffix signals height restriction. c§21.31.020
  • RP density baked into zone designation number (RP-12, RP-18 = DU/ac) rather than Table lookup. c§21.31.020
  • R-1-L garage 50 ft setback from street — as far as the front of many houses on smaller lots. c§21.31.245
  • 84 ft continuous wall rule for MF buildings — max wall length without ≥10 ft recess. Linear articulation rule distinct from FAR/coverage controls. c§21.31.215
  • Wilmington Oil Field petroleum overlay citywide — one of the largest onshore oil fields in the US. Routine Phase I ESA and methane mitigation required. Citywide condition, not site-specific. c§21.55
  • R-1-S and R-1-M both prohibit detached accessory buildings — R-1-M prohibition (despite 'moderate' size) reflects odd/shaped parcel design philosophy. c§21.31.245
  • Zero lot line in three districts (R-1-M, R-1-T, R-3-T) — opposite side ≥ 2× required; adjacent structure ≥ 8 ft. c§21.31.215
  • Port of Long Beach Harbor District is governed by Board of Harbor Commissioners, NOT City Planning. Title 21 does not apply to Port parcels; Port Master Plan certified by CA Coastal Commission governs. Unique city-within-a-city zoning structure.
  • Coastal Zone covers much of South/West Long Beach — adds 4-8 week CDP review and Coastal Commission appeal jurisdiction. Also excludes those parcels from SB 9. c§21.54
  • LA Metro A Line (renamed from Blue Line in the 2019/2020 Metro letter-designation system) terminates at Downtown Long Beach — 5 stations in the city (Willow, PCH, Anaheim St, 5th St, Downtown Long Beach). Makes downtown and A Line spine corridors fully AB 2097-eligible (no parking minimums).

Formulas

Definitions

height
Measured from grade to highest point of structure per §21.31
lot_coverage
Building footprint / lot area. Includes principal + accessory structures.
far
du_ac
Dwelling units per gross acre.
impervious_cover
setback_front
Front property line to nearest building face per §21.31.215
setback_side
Side property line to nearest building face per §21.31.215
setback_rear
Rear property line to nearest building face per §21.31.215
parking
Spaces per dwelling unit unless noted; non-residential per §21.41
zero_side_yard
Permitted in R-1-M, R-1-T, R-3-T per §21.31.215; opposite side yard ≥ 2× required individual side yard; adjacent structure ≥ 8 ft from zero lot line.
continuous_wall
Max 84 ft continuous MF wall without ≥10 ft recess (10 ft each dimension) per §21.31.215

Capacity calculations

max_footprint_sf
lot_area_sf * lot_coverage
max_gfa_sf
lot_area_sf * far
max_units_from_density
lot_area_sf * du_ac / 43560
buildable_width_ft
lot_width_ft - setback_side_ft * 2
buildable_depth_ft
lot_depth_ft - setback_front_ft - setback_rear_ft
buildable_envelope_sf
buildable_width_ft * buildable_depth_ft
max_stories_approx
max_height_ft / 10
max_gfa_from_envelope
min(buildable_envelope_sf * max_stories_approx, max_gfa_sf)
parking_required
units * parking

Massing explorer

Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.

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District Category Height FAR Coverage Setbacks Parking Density Min lot Overlays

Sources & references

Primary source
Title 21 current through 2026 amendments · retrieved 2026-04-19
Citations
  1. [1] §21.31.215
  2. [2] §21.31.215
  3. [3] §21.31.215
  4. [4] §21.31.215
  5. [5] §21.31.215
  6. [6] §21.31.215
  7. [7] §21.31.215
  8. [8] §21.31.215
  9. [9] §21.31.215
  10. [10] §21.31.215
  11. [11] §21.31.215
  12. [12] §21.31.215
  13. [13] §21.31.215
  14. [14] i§21.31.215
  15. [15] i§21.31.215
  16. [16] §21.31.215
  17. [17] i§21.31.215
  18. [18] i§21.31.215
  19. [19] §21.31.215
  20. [20] §21.54
  21. [21] PRC §30600
  22. [22] §21.54
  23. [23] PRC §30210-30214
  24. [24] §21.54
  25. [25] PRC §30603
  26. [26] §21.55
  27. [27] §21.55
  28. [28] §21.55
  29. [29] PRC §30700 et seq.
  30. [30] §21.55
  31. [31] CA AB 1757 / SB 1137 (2022)
  32. [32] 14 CCR §1723
  33. [33] MS4 Permit
  34. [34] MS4 Permit
  35. [35] MS4 Permit
  36. [36] LBMC Title 18
  37. [37] 44 CFR §59.1
  38. [38] PD-30
  39. [39] PD-30
  40. [40] PD-30
  41. [41] PD-30
  42. [42] §21.45
  43. [43] §2.63
  44. [44] §21.45
  45. [45] §21.45
  46. [46] CA GC §65852.21(a)(2)(C)
  47. [47] LUCP
  48. [48] 14 CFR Part 77
  49. [49] LUCP
  50. [50] PUC §21670 et seq.

Research status

Publication gates

primary url presentpassed
no aggregator citedpassed
confidence tags full formpassed
overlays have parameters trigger confidencepassed
preempt section city specificpassed

Data quality

60%completeness68 confirmed18 partial4 inferred
Documented gaps
  • Full Table 31-2A (complete dimensional standards for R-1-L, R-2-A, R-2-I, R-2-S, R-3-4, R-4-R, RP) not retrieved live
  • Table 31-7 (R-3/R-4 garage standards for 3+ unit projects) not retrieved live
  • Table 31-2 (narrow lot <27 ft wide standards) not retrieved live
  • PD-30 Downtown Plan subdistrict dimensional standards not retrieved live
  • LBMC oil code chapter number + full Wilmington Oil Field setback/mitigation parameters not retrieved live
  • Individual historic district boundaries and design guidelines not retrieved (Willmore City, California Heights, Bluff Heights, Bembridge, Carroll Park, Rose Park, Drake Park, etc.)
  • Long Beach Airport LUCP specific CNEL contours and Part 77 surfaces not retrieved
  • LBMC §21.41 parking ratios by use not retrieved as a full table
  • HCD Housing Element certification status for 6th-cycle (Builder's Remedy gating) not confirmed
  • HCD APR SB 423 eligibility determination not confirmed

Known issues

freshness:volatiledata:gaps-present

Verification

last_verified_at2026-04-19T00:00:00Z
verifier_specialistverification-pass
verifier_version1.0
verification_resultpassed
atomic_claims_checked54
atomic_claims_passed54
atomic_claims_failed0
failed_claims
narrative_refnarratives/long-beach-ca/lb-2026-04-19-v2.json
metro_line_obsolescence_checknote: v1 profile and markdown contained NO Metro rail line references (neither obsolete nor current). v2 adds current 'A Line' terminology in AB 2097 preemption narrative and PD-30 overlay. No Compton-style obsolete-name bug present.

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