Lot and Density Standards1

Net Density (units/acre)

Minimum

0

0

0

0

0

6

10

20

Applies to new development only

Maximum

0.4

1

2

4.4

6

10

20

30

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

80,000

40,000

20,000

10,000

7,000

3,800

1,900

1,250

Minimum Lot Width per Dwelling Unit (ft) (for new SFR lots)1

150

100

100

80

60

40; 50 for corner and reverse corner lots

30; 40 for corner and reverse corner lots

20; 30 for corner and reverse corner lots

•

Lots siding onto a railroad right-of-way shall increase the minimum required lot width by an additional 40 feet.

•

Attached Single-Family Homes/Townhomes: A minimum lot width of 30 to 40 feet may be necessary for townhomes with double loaded attached garages in front, and to comply with parking location and design requirements. Minimum lot width may be reduced to 20 feet if garages are single-car wide, detached and/or accessed from an alley.

•

Small-Lot Detached Single-Family Homes: A lot width of 35 feet may be necessary for small-lot single-family homes with attached double loaded garages in front and to comply with parking location and design requirements. Lot width may be reduced to 30 feet if garages are single-car wide, detached and/or accessed from an alley.

Minimum Lot Depth per Dwelling Unit (ft) (for SFR new lots)1

200

200

100

100

100

75

55

45

Where a lot directing backs onto a railroad right-of-way, the minimum lot depth shall be 130 feet.

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

–

–

–

–

–

3,500

3,000

2,500

Inclusive of attached garage space.

Maximum Lot Coverage (% of lot)

20

30

30

40

50

60

75

NA

See PMC § 17.17.050 (Floor area and lot coverage).

Building Form and Location

Maximum Height (ft)/Stories – Primary Structure

35/2 stories

35/2 stories

35/2 stories

35/2 stories

35/2 stories

35/2.5 stories

40/3 stories

50/4 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 Building

40/2 stories

40/2 stories

17/1 story

17/1 story

17/1 story

17/1 story

17/1 story

17/1 story

Minimum Distance Between Structures (both between main structures and accessory structures)

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

Lot Setbacks – Minimums (ft)

Applies to individual lots within a development site.

Front (primary frontage)

35

25

20

15

15

10

5

5

•

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

•

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

Street Side (corner lots)2

35

25

20

15

15

10

5

5

Interior Side

25

20

15

5 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and 10 ft minimum required on the garage side

5 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and 10 ft minimum required on the garage side

5

5

5

•

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

•

Where a railroad right-of-way is located along the side setback of a lot, the minimum side setback for the habitable residential structure(s) on the lot shall be 50 feet.

Interior Side – Zero Lot Line/Common Wall Developments

–

–

–

–

–

10 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and no setback required on the opposite side

10 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and no setback required on the opposite side

10 ft minimum on one side of the dwelling unit, and no setback required on the opposite side

See PMC § 17.37.020 (Zero lot line option).

Rear

45

40

30

20

20

15

15

15

Where a railroad right-of-way is located along the rear setback of a lot, the minimum side setback for the habitable residential structure(s) on the lot shall be 50 feet.

Alley (when present)

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

Garage Frontage

Maximum Parking Frontage on a Public Street (for new residential development)

–

The garage portion(s) of any new primary single-family residential structure shall be designed to comply with at least one of the following criteria:

1.    The garage doors shall not extend across more than 40% of the street facing facade of the primary residential structure.

2.    The garage is attached to the primary residential structure through a breezeway or other portion of the primary structure, and is located in the rear of the lot.

3.    The garage is detached from the primary residential structure and located within the rear of the lot.

4.    The garage is designed with a side-on entry, with decorative windows facing the street.

5.    The garage doors shall not extend across more than 50% of the street facing facade of the primary residential structure, and shall comply with at least one of the following criteria:

a.    The entire area above the garage is developed as a habitable space. Any garage bays that are in excess of 40% of the street facing facade shall be recessed at least two feet from the rest of the garage; or

b.    Any garage bay that is in excess of 40% of the street-facing facade shall be recessed at least 10 feet from the rest of the garage door facade. A decorative trellis a minimum of eight feet in depth shall be provided above the entire width of the recessed garage bay; or

c.    The habitable portion of the house or a covered porch shall project a minimum of six feet in front of all garage doors.

6.    Other alternative designs as reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission.

60%

60%

–

For RN 1 and RN 2 SFR: Applies to new development. Garage doors that face the street shall not occupy more than the stated percentage of the width of any street-facing building facade. This limitation does not apply to frontages along alleys.

Open Space Standards

Minimum Usable Open Space (sf per unit)

–

–

–

–

–

300 sf total per unit, of which 150 ft must be private

200 sf total per unit, minimum 100 sf of private open space required 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

•

Setback areas are not considered usable open space unless they are at least 20 feet wide. Minimum private open space is 6 feet in either direction.

•

See PMC § 17.38.050 (Open space).

Maximum front yard paving

A maximum of 40 percent of the required front yard setback, excluding the driveway, shall be covered with impervious surfaces.

Minimum Required Landscaping

See PMC § 17.37.010(G) (Landscaping)

See PMC § 17.86.010 (Landscaping requirements)

Other Standards

See additional standards in PMC Chapter 17.37 (Supplemental Standards for Single-Family Residential Development), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the City of Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards (Adopted by Ordinance 1594)

Lot and Density Standards

Net Density (units/acre)

Minimum

10

20

30

Applies to new development only

Maximum

20

30

50

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

10,000

10,000

20,000

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

60

60

100

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

100

100

100

Building Form and Location

Maximum Height (ft) – Primary Building

40/3 stories

50/4 stories

60/5 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 City staff.

Maximum Height (ft) – Accessory Building

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 Distance between Structures (both between main structures and accessory structures (excluding accessory dwelling units))

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

Development Site Setbacks (ft)

Front – Minimum

15

15

15

Front – Maximum1

25

25

25

Street Side – Minimum

15

10

10

Street Side – Maximum1

25

20

20

Interior Side – Minimum

5 ft; 10 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property

5 ft; 10 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property

10 ft; 15 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property

Rear – Minimum

15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property

15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property

15 ft; 20 ft abutting single-family residential zoned property

Parking Frontage

Maximum Parking Frontage on a Public Street (% of frontage) (for new residential development)

30

30

30

•

Applies to both surface parking and parking garage frontages. Applies to new development and/or major additions or renovations (as defined in PMC Chapter 17.16 (Definitions)).

•

See Figure 17.36.010-1 (Maximum Parking Frontage Along a Primary Street)

Open Space and Storage Standards

Minimum Usable Open Space (sf per unit)

200 sf total per unit; minimum 100 sf of private open space required 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

•

Setback areas are not considered usable open space unless they are at least 20 feet wide. Minimum private open space is six feet in either direction.

•

See PMC § 17.38.050 (Open space).

Minimum Front Yard Landscaping

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

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 17.38 (Supplemental Standards for Multifamily Residential Development), Division 8 (General Development Standards), Division 9 (Special Regulations), Division 10 (Environmental Management), and the City of Palmdale Multifamily and Mixed-Use Design Standards (Adopted by Ordinance No. 1594)