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Zoning Regulations & Design Guidelines

The Zoning Regulations guide how a city develops. It is a set of rules that implements the General Plan on each parcel. It defines what any given parcel can be used for (e.g., housing, manufacturing, open space) and how buildings can be developed and designed. The first step is knowing in which zoning district you are located. When researching a site for a construction project or new business, be sure to ask the following:

What Is My Zoning Designation? What Does That Mean?

Step One: Check the Zoning Map

Step Two: Review Zoning Regulations

  • Cross reference the Zoning Regulations for a particular Zoning District to see the permitted activities, facilities, and development standards. 

Further Information
We have also created zoning handouts for your reference:

Still have questions? Contact us.

Parking Requirements

To check if your site is exempt from parking requirements, please visit the Parking Exempt Area page. If your site isn’t in the parking exempt area, please visit Chapter 21.41 of the Zoning Regulations to view requirements for off-street parking and loading.

Specific Plan Districts

Some areas of the City are "zoned" as special districts, called Specific Plan Districts. A Specific Plan is a comprehensive planning and zoning document that provides a vision, zoning regulations and design guidelines for the development and improvement of a specific neighborhood or corridor within Long Beach.

SP-1 Midtown
SP-2 Southeast Area
SP-3 Globemaster
SP-4 Century Villages at Cabrillo

Planned Development Districts

Some areas of the City are "zoned" as special districts, called Planned Development Districts. Planned Development Districts are more comprehensive than zoning and are intended to achieve a specific outcome in a geographic area.

*Repealed – Section rescinded.
**Reserved – Designation not currently in use, held for possible future use.

PD-1 (Repealed*)
PD-2 Belmont Pier
PD-3 (Reserved**)
PD-4 Long Beach Marina
PD-5 Ocean Boulevard
PD-6 Downtown Shoreline
PD-7 Long Beach Business Center
PD-8 (Reserved**)
PD-9 Long Beach Airport Business Park
PD-10 Willmore City
PD-11 Rancho Estates
PD-12 Long Beach Airport Terminal
PD-13 (Repealed*)
PD-14 (Reserved**)
PD-15 Redondo Avenue
PD-16 (Reserved**)
PD-17 Alamitos Land
PD-18 Kilroy Airport Center
PD-19 Douglas Aircraft
PD-20 All Souls
PD-21 Queensway Bay
PD-22 Pacific Railway
PD-23 Douglas Center
PD-24 (Reserved**)
PD-25 Atlantic Avenue
PD-26 West Long Beach Business Park
PD-27 Willow Street Center
PD-28 (Repealed*)
PD-29 (Repealed*)
PD-30 Downtown Plan
PD-31 Research and Technology Center
PD-32 Douglas Park North
PD-32 North Design Guidelines
PD-32 Douglas Park South
PD-32 South Design Guidelines

Planning Bureau

562.570.6194

411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802

M: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
T: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
W: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
TH: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
F: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Planning and Zoning phone line is open Monday through Thursday during regular business hours and closes daily for lunch from Noon to 1:00 p.m. The Permit Center is closed daily for lunch from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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