R-1-S District Setback Standards for the City of Long Beach
In the City of Long Beach R-1-S District, standard setback requirements mandate a minimum 8-foot front yard, 3-foot side yards, and an 8-foot rear yard. These dimensions are subject to specific adjustments for key lots, shallow lots, and properties utilizing front yard averaging or specialized garage placements.
Standard Setback Requirements for the R-1-S District
The R-1-S (Single-family Residential, small lot) District is established by the City of Long Beach to accommodate modern homes on smaller parcels, typically in high-amenity areas such as the Coastal Zone [Section 21.31.020]. The basic development standards for these yards are defined in the City's residential standards table [Table 31-2A].
| Yard Type | Required Minimum Setback |
|---|---|
| Front Yard | 8 feet (subject to averaging) |
| Side Yard | 3 feet |
| Rear Yard | 8 feet |
Front Yard Exceptions and Adjustments
The City of Long Beach allows for modifications to the standard 8-foot front setback in the R-1-S District based on the existing development pattern of the block or the specific orientation of the lot.
Front Yard Averaging
The 8-foot front setback requirement may be adjusted through "front yard averaging." If one or both adjoining lots already encroach into the required front setback, the R-1-S District allows the setback to be established by the average of those adjoining lots [Section 21.31.215.C.3].
Key Lot Adjustments
For R-1-S District properties identified as "key lots" (an interior lot located to the rear of a reversed corner lot), specific rules apply if the abutting corner lot is built to the side yard line. In these cases, the required front yard for the key lot is reduced to one-half (1/2) of the setback required for the nearest interior lot on the same block [Section 21.31.215.C.1].
Rear Yard Adjustments
The City of Long Beach provides specific flexibility for the rear yards of R-1-S District properties to ensure the usable area of small lots is maximized.
- Shallow Lots: If a lot in the R-1-S District is less than 100 feet in depth, the rear setback may be reduced to ten percent (10%) of the total lot depth, provided the resulting setback is at least 5 feet [Section 21.31.215.D.2.a].
- Alley Measurements: When an R-1-S District property abuts a paved alley, the rear setback is measured from the centerline of that alley [Section 21.31.215.D.Footnote k].
- Reverse Corner Lots: The rear yard setback for a reversed corner lot must be equal to the required side yard setback of the zone [Section 21.31.215.D.1].
General Provisions Affecting Setbacks
Beyond the basic yard requirements, the City of Long Beach Municipal Code imposes additional restrictions related to safety and accessory structures within the R-1-S District.
Corner Cutoffs
The City of Long Beach requires a "corner cutoff" at all intersections of streets, driveways, or alleys to ensure visibility. This triangular area is created by measuring 6 feet by 6 feet from the corner of the lot (or 10 feet by 10 feet for driveways). No structures or high-density vegetation that impedes visibility may be placed within this area [Section 21.31.215.G].
Garage Setbacks
In the R-1-S District, if a garage takes direct access from the street, the garage must be set back at least 20 feet from the street property line [Section 21.31.245.A.1.a]. If the garage is located in the rear half of the lot, it may be placed directly on the rear property line and one side property line, provided the opposite side yard maintains a 3-foot clearance [Section 21.31.245.A.1.b].
Sections Cited
- Section 21.31.020 (Districts established)
- Table 31-2A (Residential Development Standards)
- Section 21.31.215 (Yard requirements)
- Section 21.31.245 (Accessory structures)