Burbank | Parking, Setbacks and Height

Burbank, California Parking, Setbacks, Height and Lot Coverage: R-1 Houses, R-2, R-3 and R-4 Buildings, Open Space and Parking Spaces per Home

This page covers the size and placement rules for homes in Burbank: yards, heights, lot coverage, floor area, open space and parking. A setback is the distance a building must keep from a property line, and a yard is the strip that distance creates. The house rules are in Section 10-1-603 and the apartment rules in Section 10-1-628 of Title 10. Hillside lots have added rules on the hillside, Rancho and airport page. The Burbank overview has the summary.

R-1 Houses

Table 10-1-603(A) holds the standards for the R-1 and R-1-H zones. A top plate is the horizontal framing member on top of a wall, where the roof starts. The floor area ratio, or FAR, is building floor area divided by lot area. Lot coverage is the share of the lot under the footprints of all structures.

Source: Burbank Municipal Code Table 10-1-603(A) and its notes. Items marked (H) in the code change in the hillside area.

• How height is measured. Height is "the vertical distance from grade to an imaginary plane located the allowed number of feet" above and parallel to the grade, taken from the existing or the finished ground surface, "whichever is lower." A Conditional Use Permit allows measuring from average grade.
• Fill is not a way to gain height. "the placement of fill dirt in the front and rear yards is not allowed in order to change the overall grade of the property and increase the allowable height."
• Front yard. The setback is the average for lots "on the same block that are within 250 feet on either side of the subject property." Measurements that differ from the average by more than 150 percent are left out.
• Second story at the front. If the first floor sits "between 25 and 30 feet" from the front line, "the second story must be set back 10 feet." Over 35 feet, no added setback is needed. Other cases use a 60-degree daylight plane, an imaginary sloped surface the building must stay under, starting 12 feet above grade.
• Second story at the side. One of three options: "At least 40 percent of the length of the second story is set back 4 feet from the first floor building face"; at least 30 percent of the side offset 5 feet; or a 45-degree daylight plane starting 12 feet above grade at the side property line.
• Porches. A front porch roof is limited to 12 feet above grade.
• Fences. 4 feet in the front yard, with an open design above 2 feet, and 8 feet outside the front and street-facing side yards.

R-1 Floor Area

Table 10-1-603(D) turns the floor area ratio into square feet. "For lot sizes between the sizes shown, the maximum floor area shall be determined by the relevant proportional increase."

Source: Burbank Municipal Code Table 10-1-603(D), selected rows.

• What counts. "the total gross floor area of all enclosed structures on the property, including the main dwelling structure, accessory structures, accessory dwelling units, enclosed patios." The ADU division separately exempts new ADUs from the floor area ratio; see the ADUs and SB 9 page.
• Garage exclusion. Attached garages and carports are excluded "up to 400 square feet if in front of the house or within the front half of the lot and 500 square feet if either attached or detached in the rear half of the lot; and 600 square feet if access to the garage is taken from the alley."
• Other exclusions. Front covered porches up to 250 square feet open on two sides, detached structures open on all sides, and up to two sheds under 120 square feet each.
• Tall rooms. "Any portion of a structure, including the area above a staircase, over 12 feet in interior height, shall count as floor area as if a second story were within the space."
• Basements. A habitable basement counts unless the first floor is no more than 24 inches above the ground for at least 50 percent of the basement perimeter and the basement lies directly beneath enclosed space that is counted.
• A 10 percent exception. The Planning Commission may grant "up to ten (10) percent" more floor area for a first-story addition to a house that has reached an FAR of .399. "Only non-Hillside houses on lots of 7,000 square feet or smaller are candidates." On a 6,000 square foot lot that is 240 square feet, for 2,640 in total.
• Accessory structures. "The combined gross floor area of all enclosed accessory structures on a property, excluding garages, shall not exceed 1,000 square feet." They keep 6 feet from other structures, and none "shall be used for cooking or sleeping purposes."

R-1 Parking and Driveways

• Covered. "All parking required by this Section must be provided in a carport, as defined in Section 10-1-203, or in an enclosed garage."
• Size. "A space no less than nine (9) feet, six (6) inches wide and 19 feet deep must be provided for each required vehicle parking space inside a carport or garage."
• Tandem. "The first two required parking spaces must not be tandem spaces. The third parking space may be a tandem space." Tandem means one car parked behind another.
• When an older house must add parking. When an addition brings the main dwelling to more than 3,400 square feet, when the whole house is demolished, or when the garage or carport is demolished, removed, relocated or rebuilt.
• Front garages. A garage at the front with a door parallel to the street sits at least "10 feet back from the ground floor front facade" and takes "no more than 50 percent of the width of the dwelling." A three-car-wide garage needs a lot 70 feet wide.
• Driveways. "The maximum width of driveways at a curb shall be no more than 25 percent of the lot width with no single driveway exceeding 15 feet in width." On a 50-foot lot that is 12.5 feet (VanPlex arithmetic).
• Front yard parking. "No vehicle shall be parked in a required front yard or street-facing side yard except on a driveway."
• Relief for older houses. For single family dwellings that existed when Ordinance No. 3640 took effect, added parking "may be waived if in the opinion of the Community Development Director it is not feasible to add such parking."

R-2, R-3 and R-4 Buildings

Table 10-1-628(A) gives every standard twice for height and coverage: one figure for lots "located within 500 feet of single family zoned property" and one for lots farther away. Measure that distance first.

Source: Burbank Municipal Code Table 10-1-628(A) and its notes. MDR-3 and MDR-4 follow R-3 and R-4.

• Minimum and average. Each yard has two numbers. The building may come as close as the minimum, and the average distance of the wall on every story must reach the higher figure. "No less than 25 percent and no more than 75 percent of the length of each elevation must be located behind the average setback plane."
• Three stories. Rear, interior side and street-facing side setbacks "are each increased by one (1) foot for a three (3)-story project," except along an alley.
• Next to houses. Upper stories that face single family zoned property sit 5 more feet back, and a 20-foot buffer applies in any side or rear yard that abuts or is adjacent to such property. "Public alleys and streets may be included in the 20-foot buffer distance."
• Stories. A floor more than 5 feet above the ground makes the space beneath it a story. Subterranean and semi-subterranean garages are left out of the story count, and an above-grade garage counts as a story.
• Roof features. In zones other than R-1, equipment and structures usually placed above a roof "may be erected up to 15 feet above the height limits prescribed in this chapter" under Section 10-1-1301. A tower feature may add 5 feet unless the lot abuts single family zoned property.
• Lot coverage. Cantilevered upper stories of up to 4 feet and fully subterranean garages 3 feet below the ground surface are left out.

Apartment Parking

• R-2. "2 spaces per unit," all "in an enclosed garage or carport."
• R-3 and R-4. "1.25 spaces per efficiency unit (studio unit that is 500 square feet or less)," "1.75 spaces per 1-bedroom unit or studio unit greater than 500 square feet" and "2 spaces per unit with 2 or more bedrooms."
• Rounding. "The number of required parking spaces for all units, including fractions of a space, is added together before rounding," and a fraction of 0.5 or more counts as a space. Three one-bedroom homes need 5.25, which is 5 spaces (VanPlex arithmetic).
• Guests. "1 guest space per 4 units (minimum 2 guest spaces required)," and "No guest spaces are required for a multifamily project with three (3) or fewer dwelling units." Four two-bedroom homes need 8 tenant spaces and 2 guest spaces (VanPlex arithmetic).
• Condominiums. Section 10-1-629: "A minimum of two (2) off-street parking spaces must be provided for each dwelling unit, regardless of the number of bedrooms," plus guest parking and 60 cubic feet of storage per home.
• Space size. "no less than eight (8) feet, six (6) inches wide and no less than 18 feet deep." Inside an individual garage: 9 feet 6 inches by 19 feet.
• Tandem. "Tandem parking spaces may be used only on projects with three (3) or fewer dwelling units in the multiple family zones, other than in the R-2 Zone."
• Where spaces go. Outside R-2, spaces in the rear half of the lot may be uncovered; "all other parking spaces must be in an enclosed garage." Uncovered areas are screened from the street and walled at the property lines with a 6-foot masonry wall.
• Driveways. 10 to 20 feet wide, a curb cut no wider than 18 feet, and a backup turning radius of 24 feet.
• Bicycles. Required "only for projects with 20 or more dwelling units."
• Buildings from before 1963. For multiple dwellings built "under a permit issued before November 11, 1963, the parking required at the time of construction shall be maintained" if adding more is not feasible.

Open Space and Landscaping

• Amounts. 150 square feet of common open space and 50 square feet of private open space per home, with no dimension under 5 feet.
• Small projects. "For projects with five (5) or fewer units, 200 square feet of private open space per unit may be provided in lieu of providing separate common and private open space."
• Not on the roof. "Rooftop areas, including the top of above-grade garages, may not be utilized to satisfy required common or private open space requirements."
• Not in the front yard. Front and street-facing side yards do not count, except balconies that project as the table allows.
• A view from each home. Each home needs windows "with a combined minimum width of eight (8) feet" in a main living room, facing a public street or on-site open space.
• Amenities. Projects of 20 or fewer units provide two items from a list that includes a gazebo, a spa, a built-in barbecue area, a fountain and fixed outdoor seating.
• Trees. One tree per 40 linear feet of yard, with at least one 48-inch box tree in the front and street-facing side yards, and one tree per 600 square feet of common open space.
• Turf. "No more than 35 percent of the total landscape area of the lot as a whole may be occupied by turf or lawn."
• Design rules. At least two colors, no glass curtain walls, parapets and mansards that continue around the whole building, and a trash enclosure of 7 by 8 feet for four or more homes.

State Law on Parking Near Transit

Article 14 and Article 6 of Title 10 set the parking numbers above. A search of both found no mention of Government Code 65863.2, the 2022 state law known as AB 2097. The statute says: "A public agency shall not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirement on a residential, commercial, or other development project if the project is located within one-half mile of public transit." It defines public transit as "a major transit stop as defined in Section 21155 of the Public Resources Code." A city may still impose parking on a project after written findings made "within 30 days of the receipt of a completed application."

The City's own tables for housing in commercial zones say their parking applies "unless otherwise preempted by State law." Ask the Planning Division whether your lot is within one-half mile of a major transit stop. ADUs and SB 9 homes have their own parking rules on the ADUs and SB 9 page, and density bonus projects may ask for the ratios on the three or more homes page.

Limits of This Page

The code was read as text from codepublishing.com, where it is stated to be current through Ordinance 26-4,038, passed February 24, 2026. The diagrams that show daylight planes, height measurement and setback planes are pictures and were not read. The encroachment tables, which list how far eaves, porches, stairs and equipment may reach into each yard, are summarized only in part. Standards for the commercial, industrial and specific plan zones are outside this page. The City website answered 403, so no City handout was read. Ask the Planning Division whether a newer ordinance is in force.

Where to Go Next

Related on VanPlex: the Burbank overview, the three or more homes page and the California duplex to fourplex page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources (checked October 2026)