RM District Setback and Development Standards in Long Beach

Residential properties located within the RM (Mobile homes, modular and manufactured residential) district in the City of Long Beach must maintain a minimum front yard setback of 10 feet and a rear yard setback of 10 feet. Additionally, the Long Beach zoning code requires a minimum interior side yard of 4 feet and limits building height to 30 feet or two stories [Table 31-2A].

RM District Purpose and Intent

In the City of Long Beach, the RM (Mobile homes, modular and manufactured residential) district is established as a single-family residential district specifically intended for mobile home and manufactured housing developments. This district is designed to accommodate such housing types on large sites, recognizing their unique contribution to the variety of housing choices available within the municipality [Section 21.31.020.Q].

Yard and Setback Requirements

The City of Long Beach mandates specific yard area requirements for the RM district to provide light, air, and privacy. These setbacks are measured after any required dedications or reservations for public rights-of-way [Section 21.31.215.A]. The primary development standards for the RM district are as follows:

Standard	RM District Requirement
Front Yard Setback	10 feet
Side Yard Setback (Interior)	4 feet
Rear Yard Setback	10 feet
Maximum Building Height	30 feet (2 stories)
Maximum Lot Coverage	65%
Minimum Lot Area	18,000 square feet
Minimum Lot Width	120 feet

[Table 31-2A]

Front Yard Standards

The "required front yard" in the RM district refers to the area between the front lot line and the required front setback line, extending across the entire width of the lot [Section 21.15.1160]. In Long Beach, vehicle parking is generally prohibited within the required front yard setback of residential districts [Section 21.31.215.C.5].

Rear Yard Standards

In the RM district, the rear yard is the space between the principal building and the rear lot line [Section 21.15.2240]. While Table 31-2A lists a 10-foot minimum, the Long Beach code further clarifies that in zones other than R-1 or R-2, the rear setback is calculated as twenty percent (20%) of the lot depth, provided it is not less than 10 feet [Section 21.31.215.D.2.d].

Additional Site Requirements

Beyond setbacks, the City of Long Beach imposes density and coverage limits to maintain the residential character of the RM district:

Lot Coverage: The total percentage of the area covered by buildings at all levels (including accessory structures and garages) may not exceed 65 percent of the lot [Section 21.15.1620, Table 31-2A].
Usable Open Space: Residential units in the City of Long Beach must provide minimum usable open space. For the RM district, the requirement is 200 square feet per unit [Table 31-2A].

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