Lot and Density Standards

Nonresidential Maximum Floor Area Ratio

0.35

2.0

3.0

Residential Density (units/acre)

Minimum

0

20

30

Applies to new development only.

Maximum

20

30

50

Minimum Development Project Site (sf) (for new lots)

10,000

20,000

20,000

Minimum Development Project Site Width (ft) (for new lots)

60

100

100

Minimum Development Project Site Depth (ft) (for new lots)

100

100

100

Minimum Net Lot Size per Dwelling Unit (sf) (for new SFR lots)

1,900

1,250

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Minimum Lot Width per Dwelling Unit (ft) (for new SFR lots)

20; 30 for corner and reverse corner lots

20; 30 for corner and reverse corner lots

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Attached Single-Family Homes/Townhomes in the MU 1 and MU 2 zones: If double-loaded attached garages along the primary frontage are provided, then the minimum lot width shall be 25 feet. The minimum lot width may be reduced to 20 feet if garages are single-car wide.

Minimum Lot Depth per Dwelling Unit (ft) (for new SFR lots)

55

45

–

Maximum Unit Size per Dwelling Unit (sf) (for new SFR lots)

3,000

2,500

–

Inclusive of attached garage.

Building Form and Location

Maximum Height (ft)/Stories – Primary Structure

45/3 Stories

55/4 Stories

65/5 stories

•

Projects must comply with both stories and overall height maximums. See PMC § 17.17.030 (Measuring heights).

•

Architectural features may project above the maximum height by five feet. Architectural features include rooftop stair access and elevator shafts, mechanical equipment, or other rooftop amenities, as approved by the Director.

Maximum Height (ft)/Stories – Accessory Structures

17/1 story

17/1 story

17/1 story

Maximum Height Adjacent to Single-Family Zoned Property

Starting from the third floor up, step back each subsequent floor by 15 ft for every two floors. See Figure 17.38.060-1 (Transitions to Lower Density Building Types).

See PMC § 17.38.060 (Neighborhood transitions).

Minimum Ground Floor Height – Nonresidential (Floor to Floor)

15

15

15

Distance between Structures (sf)

See PMC § 17.82.050 (Distance between buildings in residential and mixed-use zones)

Development Site Setbacks (ft)1

Front – Minimum (Residential Ground Floor)

15

15

15

Front – Maximum (Residential Ground Floor)2

25

25

25

Front – Minimum (Nonresidential Ground Floor)

5

5

5

Front – Maximum (Nonresidential Ground Floor)2

15

15

15

Street Side – Minimum (Residential Ground Floor)

15

10

10

Street Side – Maximum (Residential Ground Floor)2

25

20

20

Street Side – Minimum (Nonresidential Ground Floor)

5

5

5

Street Side – Maximum (Nonresidential Ground Floor)2

15

15

15

Interior Side – Minimum

0; 10 abutting single-family residential zones

0; 10 abutting single-family residential zones

0; 10 abutting single-family residential zones

Rear – Minimum

15; 20 abutting single-family residential zones

15; 20 abutting single-family residential zones

15; 20 abutting single-family residential zones

Alley – Minimum (when present)

5

5

5

Lot Setbacks – Minimums (ft) (for SFR)

See Figure 17.37.010-1. (Example Residential Auto Court Site Plan) in Division 3 illustrating lot setbacks.

Front – Minimum

5

5

–

•

For new single-family attached dwelling units in MU 1 and MU 2, front-loaded garages shall be set back at minimum 20 feet from the property line.

•

For MU 3, front-loaded parking is not allowed.

Street Side – Minimum

5

5

–

Interior Side – Minimum

5

5

–

Only applies to the ends of attached single-family dwellings.

Rear – Minimum

15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zones

15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zones

–

Not additive with development site (inclusive).

Parking Frontage

Maximum Parking along Primary Frontage

80% for SFR/30% for MFR

80% for SFR/30% for MFR

30%

•

For SFR: Applies to new development. It is strongly encouraged that garage doors not face the primary frontage for detached single-family homes. For garage doors that face the street, they shall not occupy more than 80% of the width of any street-facing structure facade. This limitation does not apply to frontages along alleys.

•

For MFR: Applies to new development and/or major additions or renovations (as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions)). No more than 30% of the primary street frontage shall be devoted to parking garages and openings, carports, and open/surface parking. This limitation does not apply to frontages along alleys (see Figure 17.36.010-1 (Maximum Parking Frontage Along a Primary Street)).

Open and Storage Space Standards

Minimum Usable Open Space (sf per unit) – Applies to Residential Component

200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units

200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space for ground-level units and 60 sf of private open space for upper-level units

150 sf total per unit; a minimum of 50% of the units must have 60 sf of private open space

•

Common open space includes roof decks and other shared common open areas.

•

Up to 40 square feet per unit may be provided in an indoor communal space so long as it opens directly onto a common outdoor space.

•

See PMC § 17.38.050 (Open space) in Division 3 for additional standards for the dimension and design of common and private open space.

Minimum Usable Open Space – Applies to Nonresidential Component Over 25K sf

3% of gross floor area

3% of gross floor area

3% of gross floor area

Common open space may be utilized for employees or publicly accessible open space. If the open space is over 1,000 square feet and provided as publicly accessible, up to 50 percent may count toward the required residential common open space.

Minimum Required Front Yard Landscaping for SFR on Individual Lots

1.    Every single-family residential lot shall be required to have one street tree installed per street frontage; corner lots shall have one tree planted in the front setback and two trees planted in the street side setback for a total of three trees. Within the public right-of-way, the species of trees and the standards for installation shall conform with the City’s Landscaping Design Standards. Trees planted beyond the public right-of-way are recommended but not required to conform with the City’s Landscaping Design Standards.

2.    A minimum of 60 percent of the front setback area, excluding the driveway, shall be landscaped. Landscaping shall mean any combination of trees, shrubs, vines, ground cover, gravel, stones, decomposed granite, mulch, or other pervious nonplant materials, pursuant to PMC § 17.37.010(G)(3)(d). Bare dirt shall not be allowed.

3.    A minimum of one shrub of any container size per 50 square feet of landscape area, excluding the driveway, shall be provided.

4.    No living turf is permitted. Artificial turf may be utilized within a maximum of 10 percent of the front yard as an “accent point only” and shall be maintained and replaced when weathered or worn.

5.    The use of bark mulch is not allowed in the public right-of-way and is to be used as an accent up near the house only. The use of stabilized decomposed granite, rock and cobble is highly encouraged. A porous fabric weed barrier shall be installed beneath all rock or mulched areas with the exception of the stabilized decomposed granite.

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See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements)

Minimum Required Front Yard Landscaping for MFR

30% of the minimum required front yard area shall be landscaped, of which half must be planted with live plant material

See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements)

Minimum Required Landscaping for All Other Development

10% of the lot, of which half must be planted with live plant material

•

Includes required setbacks. Excludes areas devoted to parking, driveways, and walkways.

•

See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements).

Minimum Required Storage Space

125 cubic ft of private enclosed storage space within the garage, carport, or immediately adjacent to the dwelling unit

Other Standards

See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.56 (Supplemental Standards), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594).