ORDINANCE NO. 26-0012
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH AMENDING TITLE 10 OF THE MANHATTAN BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE AND CHAPTER A OF THE MANHATTAN BEACH LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM TO IMPLEMENT OMNIBUS ZONE TEXT AMENDMENTS AND MAKING DETERMINATIONS OF EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT THE MANHATTAN BEACH CITY COUNCIL HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Over the years, the City has identified various sections of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) and the Manhattan Beach Local Coastal Program (MBLCP) that require amendments for effective implementation. The Omnibus Zone Text Amendments are proposed to better align existing codes with established policy direction, ensure internal consistency, clarify regulations, and maintain compliance with State law.
SECTION 2. On July 8, 2026, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing. At the conclusion of said hearing, the Commission adopted Resolution No. PC 26-08, recommending that the City Council adopt the omnibus zone text amendments to Title 10 of the MBMC and Chapter A of the MBLCP.
SECTION 3. On October 6, 2026, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing regarding the proposed zone text amendments.
SECTION 4. The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the zone text amendments are exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations), and 15601(b)(3) (Common Sense) of the State CEQA Guidelines, as described below:
CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) applies to the proposed amendments to MBMC Section 10.04.030 and MBLCP Section A.04.030 (Definitions), MBMC Section 10.12.030 and MBLCP Section A.12.030 (Property development regulations: RS, RM, and RH districts), the swimming pools and hot tubs portion of MBMC Section 10.52.050 and MBLCP Section A.52.050 (Accessory Structures), and MBMC Section 10.84.120 (Minor exceptions). These amendments serve to clarify existing definitions and development standards that apply to existing facilities that result in negligible or no expansion of those facilities.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) also applies to the proposed amendments to MBMC Section 10.04.030 and MBLCP Section A.04.030 (Definitions), and MBMC Section 10.12.030 and MBLCP Section A.12.030 (Property development regulations: RS, RM, and RH districts), as well as the entirety of the amendments to MBMC Section 10.52.050 and MBLCP Section A.52.050 (Accessory Structures). These amendments are applicable to the calculation of building ratios, setbacks, height, and small structure placement on parcels when new construction of single-family residences, duplexes, small apartment projects (less than six units), utility extensions, swimming pools, fences, and hedges are proposed.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations) applies to the amendments to MBMC Section 10.52.040 and MBLCP Section A.52.040 (Religious assembly yard requirements), as well as the utility cabinets portion of MBMC Section 10.52.050 and MBLCP Section A.52.050 (Accessory structures). These amendments establish minor changes in development standards for religious assembly uses to be consistent with other similarly situated uses and allow utility cabinets immediately adjacent to the public right-of-way in instances where placement in the public right-of-way is not possible.
MBMC Section 10.01.060 (Applicability of land use and development regulations), and MBMC Chapter 10.68 (Nonconforming uses and structures) are covered by the common sense exemption established by CEQA Guidelines Section 15601(b)(3), which exempts projects that can be seen with certainty to have no possible significant effect on the environment.
These proposed amendments make changes to text and graphics for consistency purposes only, and have no impact on policy, code interpretation, applicability, or physical changes to the environment. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from further review under CEQA.
SECTION 5. The proposed zone text amendments have been prepared in accordance with Government Code Sections 65853, et seq.
SECTION 6. The City Council hereby amends the following Chapters and/or Sections of the MBMC, as set forth in Exhibit “A” to this Ordinance and incorporated herein by this reference:
MBMC Section 10.04.030 (Definitions)
MBMC Section 10.12.030 (Property Development Regulations: RS, RM, and RH Districts) MBMC Section 10.52.050 (Accessory Structures)
MBMC Chapter 10.68 (Nonconforming uses and structures)
MBMC Section 10.84.120 (Minor Exceptions)
SECTION 7. The City Council hereby repeals MBMC Section 10.52.040 (Religious assembly yard requirements).
SECTION 8. The City Council hereby amends the following Chapters and/or Sections of the MBLCP as set forth in Exhibit “B” to this Ordinance and incorporated herein by this reference:
MBLCP Section A.04.030 (Definitions)
MBLCP Section A.12.030 (Property Development Regulations: RS, RM, and RH Districts) MBLCP Section A.52.050 (Accessory Structures)
SECTION 9. The City Council hereby repeals MBLCP Section A.52.040 (Religious assembly yard requirements) SECTION 10. The proposed zone text amendments will be consistent with the General Plan Land Use Element as below:
Policy LU 1.2: Require the design of all new construction to utilize notches, balconies, rooflines, open space, setbacks, landscaping, or other architectural details to reduce the bulk of buildings and to add visual interest to the streetscape.
Policy LU 2.1: Preserve and encourage private open space on residential lots citywide.
Policy LU 3.1: Continue to encourage quality design in all new construction.
Policy HE 1.1. Preserve the scale of development in existing residential neighborhoods.
SECTION 11. The proposed zone text amendments will be consistent with the City’s Local Coastal Implementation Plan as below:
Policy II.1: Control Development within the Manhattan Beach coastal zone.
Policy II.B.1: Maintain building scale in coastal zone residential neighborhoods consistent with Chapter 2 of the Implementation Plan.
Policy II.B.2: Maintain residential building bulk control established by development standards in Chapter 2 of the Implementation Plan.
SECTION 12. Any provisions of the Municipal Code, or any other resolution or ordinance of the City, to the extent that they are inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and the City Clerk shall make any necessary changes to the Municipal Code for internal consistency.
SECTION 13. If any part of this Ordinance or the exhibits hereto, or its application, is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or their application and, to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance and of its exhibits are severable.
SECTION 14. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause this Ordinance to be published within 15 days after its passage, in accordance with Section 36933 of the Government Code.
ADOPTED on , 2026.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
JOE FRANKLIN
Mayor
ATTEST:
LIZA TAMURA
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
QUINN M. BARROW
City Attorney
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A: Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Text Amendments Exhibit B: Manhattan Beach Local Coastal Program Text Amendments