Long Beach Height-Limit Overlay (HL) Regulations

The (HL) Height-Limit Overlay in the City of Long Beach modifies base zoning districts by imposing stricter maximum height limits, measured in both feet and stories, to preserve specific neighborhood characters. While this overlay restricts the vertical scale of buildings to levels lower than the base district normally allows, it does not alter the permitted land uses or other development standards of the underlying City of Long Beach zoning district [Sections 21.40.010, 21.40.220].

Overview of the Height-Limit Overlay (HL)

The City of Long Beach established the (HL) Height-Limit Overlay to implement special building height restrictions in areas where the municipality desires lower-scale development than the base zoning would typically permit. This is primarily done to maintain the established character of specific neighborhoods within the City of Long Beach [Section 21.40.010].

The (HL) designation is an "overlay," meaning it is mapped over an existing underlying district. The standards of the (HL) overlay supersede the height standards of the base district only when the overlay standards are more restrictive [Section 21.40.210].

Height and Story Restrictions

Within a City of Long Beach Height-Limit Overlay, the specific height limitations are indicated on the official zoning map using a specific notation format: HL [Maximum Feet] / [Maximum Stories].

For example, a property zoned "R-3-3(HL 20/2)" indicates that while the base zone is R-3-3, the Height-Limit Overlay restricts the development to a maximum of 20 feet in height and no more than 2 stories [Section 21.40.020].

Determination of Standards

The technical limits for the (HL) overlay are established as follows:

Feature	Standard/Requirement
Map Notation Format	(HL) followed by height in feet, a slash, and number of stories (e.g., HL 20/2)
Height Limit (Feet)	As specified by the number preceding the slash in the map notation
Story Limit	As specified by the number following the slash in the map notation
Undefined Limits	If no numbers are indicated on the map, height and stories are determined during site plan review

If the zoning map does not explicitly list the feet and stories for a specific (HL) site, the Zoning Administrator for the City of Long Beach is responsible for determining and specifying these limits during the mandatory site plan review process [Section 21.40.020].

Permitted Uses and Other Standards

The (HL) Height-Limit Overlay is narrow in its scope of modification. It is designed only to control the physical bulk and scale of buildings regarding their height.

Consistency with Base Zone

Except for the reduction in allowable height, the standards of the underlying base district remain in full effect:

Permitted Uses: Any land use that is permitted in the underlying City of Long Beach zone district is also permitted when that district is covered by the (HL) overlay [Section 21.40.110].
Other Development Standards: All other technical requirements, such as setbacks, lot coverage, and parking ratios, must follow the standards of the underlying City of Long Beach zone district [Section 21.40.220].

Sections Cited