Update on Implementation of
Changes to Single Family
Residential Zone Standards
CITY COUNCIL
December 5, 2023
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Background
• On March 15, 2022, the Council amended the single-
family residential (R-1/R-1-H) zones development
standards (RE: Ordinance No. 22-3,970).
• Council direction to bring back an update evaluating the effectiveness of the new standards.
• Purpose of the Updated Regulations (Ordinance No. 22- 3,970):
• Maintain and build upon standards that worked well in addressing a home’s mass and bulk.
• Eliminate redundancy and improve clarity through
objective standards.
• Streamline planning review process while protecting
neighborhoods.
Background
Analysis
• 521 single-family residential plan check projects were submitted between April 15, 2022, and August 11, 2023.
• Staff’s analyzed review timelines for 389 out of 521 plan check projects.
• Staff analyzed the following:
• Initial Planning review times
• Overall review time for final planning approval
• Total number of planning reviews prior to planning
approval
Planning Approval Time Outcomes
Total planning approval time for single-family residential development projects was reduced by up to 71 %.
SFSDP & Design Guidelines Updated Regulations
Standards Subjective design guidelines &
objective standards
Objective
Development & Design
Standards
Process Two-step review process (SFSDP &
plan check review)
One-step review
process during plan
check
Planning
Approval
Time
Total 16 to 22 months (including 4
to 6 months for plan check review
post the initial SFSDP review)
Total 4.2 to 6.7
months; reduction of
total review time by
71%.
One-Step SFR Process Versus Two -Step SFSDP
Process
SFR review
time under
updated
regulations
SFSDP
127.19
171.00
67.74 204.86 200.33
577.92
0.00 100.00
200.00
300.00
400.00
500.00
600.00
700.00
Addition: 500 SF or Less Addition: Greater than
500 SF
Remodel work New Construction:
One-Story
New Construction:
Two-Story
SFSDP
Days
Single Family Residential Development Project Type
Average Days for Final Planning Approval
2.2 Months
5.6 Months 6.7 Months 6.5 Months
19 Months
4.2 Months
Initial Planning Review Time
• Captures planner’s initial round of plan check review times.
• Improved review times effectiveness of updated
standards.
• Average 1ST round reviews are taking 1.4 to 2.1 months. • Ongoing effort to improve review times to ensure
compliance with AB 2234
• State-mandated plan check review times under AB 2234
30 business days or 42 calendar days for initial review.
Initial Planning Review Time (Continued)
61.71 63.64
41.62 99.73
57.31 0.00
20.00 40.00
60.00 80.00
100.00
120.00
Addition: 500 SF or Less Addition: Greater than 500
SF
Remodel work New Construction: One-
Story
New Construction: Two-
Story
Days
Single Family Residential Development Project Type
Average Days for First Round of Planning Review
Approx. 42 calendar days
per AB 2234
2 Months
1.9 Months
3.3 Months
1.4 Months
2.1 Months
Total Planning Review Rounds
Average rounds of planning review prior to final planning approval for SFR plan checks range from 1.4 to 2.4 rounds
1.80 1.87
1.42 2.00
2.44 0.00
0.50 1.00
1.50 2.00
2.50 3.00
Addition: 500 SF or Less Addition: Greater than 500 SF Remodel work New Construction: One-Story New Construction: Two-Story Number of Rounds of Planning Review
Single Family Residential Development Project Type
Average Rounds of Planning Review Prior to Planning Approval Future Considerations
• Non-Conforming Walls
o Evaluate the proper definition of replacement cost
including potential substitution of “replacement cost
of non-conforming features” with “linear length of
non-conforming wall”.
• Top of the Plate Height Measurement for Sloped Lots
o Determine potential thresholds for by-right approval
of top of the plate height measurement from average
grade of a lot.
Future Considerations
• Minor Setback Exception (MSE)
o Establish objective standards for MSE applications.
• Basements
o Evaluate any potential limits to basement FAR
exemption.
• Fences in R-1 Hillside Lots
o Establish objective standards to address view
impacts and overall fence heights in the hillside areas.
Future Considerations
• Minor & Major Fence Exception
o Establish objective standards to replace the subjective language of MFE findings.
• Entry Porches
o Establish objective standards to clarify entry porch
dimensions for different development scenarios.
• Average Front Yard setback
o Identify front setbacks per residential block pursuant to Burbank Municipal Code (BMC) Section 10-1-603(G).
Conclusion of New Zoning Updates
• Reduced total planning review time by 71%
• Streamlined the planning review process
• Facilitate consistent applications of SFR development standards
• Eliminates redundant information and increased clarity of the code
• Builds upon on the prior extensive work of the council and public to address neighborhood compatibility and
protection.
Contact:
Shipra Rajesh
Senior Planner
SRajesh
@burbankca.gov
(818) 238-5250
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Update on Implementation of
Changes to Single Family
Residential Zone Standards
CITY COUNCIL
December 5, 2023
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT