Overview
Code type
euclidean
Naming convention
use-type-suffix
Compton Chapter 30 uses letter-suffix naming: R-A (Residential Agriculture), R-L (Low-Density Residential), R-M (Medium-Density Residential), R-H (High-Density Residential); C-L (Limited Commercial), C-M (Commercial Manufacturing); M-L (Limited Manufacturing), M-H (Heavy Manufacturing); B (Buffer), P (Automobile Parking), D (Planned Development), SD (Specific Development), B-O (Billboard Overlay). Legacy 1958-origin code (Ord. 1095); only one formal overlay zone (B-O Billboard). Compton 2045 is a live rewrite initiative — targeted zoning amendment in public review Aug/Sep 2025 but not yet adopted.
Worth knowing
- Legacy 1958-origin Chapter 30 code (original Ord. 1095, 1958-03-25). Only one formal overlay (Billboard B-O § 30-22.9). No TOD / floodplain / environmental / historic overlays in Chapter 30 itself — those functions happen via separate ordinances or state law. [confirmed §30-22.9]
- Compton 2045 Targeted Zoning Amendment in active public review (draft residential-zones and commercial/industrial-zones documents dated Aug/Sep 2025) — Chapter 30 rewrite anticipated but NOT yet adopted. Published code is still the controlling record. [confirmed via compton2045.org/app_pages/view/172]
- LA Metro A Line (formerly Blue Line) runs through Compton with the Compton Station on Compton Boulevard and MLK Jr. Transit Center adjacent. Artesia Station (A Line) and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station (A/C junction) are on the city's south/north edges. Substantially all of the city is within AB 2097's ½-mile parking-elimination buffer of one or more A Line stations. [confirmed via LA Metro A Line station list + PRC § 21064.3]
+ 6 more in Quirks & notes
Districts
res_sf 2res_mf 2com 2ind 2
| Code | Name | Category | Min lot | Height | Coverage | FAR | Du/ac | Parking | Setbacks F/S/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-A | Residential Agriculture | res_sf | — | — | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| R-L | Low-Density Residential | res_sf | 6,250 sf[1] | 35 ft[2] | 0.45[3] | — | — | 1.75[4] | — / — / — |
| R-M | Medium-Density Residential | res_mf | 8,250 sf[5] | 37 ft[6] | 0.55[7] | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| R-H | High-Density Residential | res_mf | 15,000 sf[8] | 52 ft[9] | — | — | 20[10] | — | — / — / — |
| C-L | Limited Commercial | com | — | 47 ft[11] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| C-M | Commercial Manufacturing | com | — | 65 ft[12] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| M-L | Limited Manufacturing | ind | — | 52 ft[13] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
| M-H | Heavy Manufacturing | ind | — | 67 ft[14] | — | — | — | — | — / — / — |
Confidence: confirmed partial under review not found
Overlays
B-O
Billboard Overlay Zone
CORD
Planned Development Zone
PDSD
Specific Development Zone
specB
Buffer Zone
CONP
Automobile Parking Zone
SPDState preemptions
CA-ADU-GC§66411.7-66411.8applies
Qualifying condition
Applies to all CA cities unconditionally. Compton (general-law city, population 91,122 per 2024 Census ACS 1-year estimate; Los Angeles County population 9,663,345 per 2023 Census PEP) has R-A / R-L / R-M / R-H residential base districts all eligible for ADU/JADU by-right approval. Compton implements ADUs as 'Secondary Dwelling Units' at BMC § 30-11.2.
Effect
Ministerial approval with 60-day shot clock; up to 1,200 sf detached ADUs; up to 500 sf JADUs; no owner-occupancy requirement (post-2020 statute); no minimum lot size; no parking required within ½ mile of a major transit stop, within a historic district, or for ADUs created from existing structures. SB 1211 (eff. 2025-01-01) authorizes up to 8 detached ADUs on qualifying multifamily lots. Preempts any inconsistent provision of BMC § 30-11.2.
CA-SB9-GC§65852.21-66411.7applies
Qualifying condition
Compton is a CA general-law city (incorporated 1888) with R-A and R-L single-family residential base districts. SB 9 applies per-parcel on qualifying urban SF lots. Compton has NO CalFire Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (flat-to-gentle terrain south-central LA Basin), NO coastal zone (inland city), and NO city-designated Chapter 30 historic preservation overlay. FEMA SFHA applies to narrow strips along Compton Creek and the Los Angeles River; most R-L parcels are outside SFHA.
Effect
Ministerial up-to-4-units by-right on qualifying R-A / R-L parcels (lot split + two units on each resulting lot). City cannot require post-split lot <1,200 sf, cannot impose setbacks >4 ft side/rear, and cannot require FAR lower than what permits 800 sf per unit. SB 450 (2024) strengthens procedural limits on local SB 9 ordinances. Preempts BMC § 30-7 and § 30-8 minimum-lot and single-unit restrictions on qualifying parcels.
CA-DensityBonus-GC§65915applies
Qualifying condition
Applies statewide to any Compton project meeting affordability thresholds (5% VLI, 10% LI, 10% moderate for-sale, or 100% affordable). AB 1287 allows stacking of two bonuses to reach up to 100% density increase. Compton implements a local companion ordinance at BMC § 30-47 (Affordable Housing Density Bonus) with allowance at § 30-47.4 — state law floors the local ordinance and preempts any weaker local provision.
Effect
Up to 100% density bonus (AB 1287 stacked) on R-M / R-H and mixed-use commercial parcels; concessions / incentives (1–3 depending on VLI / LI / moderate percentage) can waive base du_ac maxima, height maxima within reason, and specific setback standards. State § 65915(p) parking ratios (0.5 for studio/1BR, 1.0 for 2–3BR, 1.5 for 4+BR) preempt BMC § 30-21.3 on qualifying affordable components.
CA-AB2097applies
Qualifying condition
Compton is directly served by the LA Metro A Line (formerly Blue Line; the Green Line is the C Line). Metro A Line Compton Station sits at Compton Boulevard in downtown Compton with the MLK Jr. Transit Center adjacent. Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station (at Imperial Hwy / Wilmington Ave in unincorporated Willowbrook immediately north of Compton) is the A/C Line junction and is within AB 2097's ½-mile radius of northern Compton parcels. Artesia Station (A Line) is also adjacent to southern Compton. All three are 'major transit stops' under PRC § 21064.3. Substantially all Compton parcels within ½ mile of Compton Station qualify; large portions of the city are within ½ mile of one or more A Line stations.
Effect
No minimum parking requirement may be imposed on residential, commercial, or mixed-use projects within ½ mile of a qualifying major transit stop. Preempts BMC § 30-21 / § 30-21.3 parking ratios within each ½-mile buffer. Stacks with SB 9, State Density Bonus, and AB 2011 for eligible corridor parcels.
CA-SB423-GC§65913.4applies
Qualifying condition
SB 423 applies to sites zoned residential or mixed-use in jurisdictions not meeting their 6th-cycle RHNA allocation. Compton is part of SCAG's 6th-cycle RHNA (2021–2029, SCAG region). The 10% / 50% affordability trigger depends on HCD's Annual Progress Report SB 35/423 determination for Compton, which is published on HCD's APR dashboard.
Retrieval issue
HCD Annual Progress Report / SB 35-423 determination dashboard is JS-rendered and was not fetched within budget this pass. Compton's determination (10%, 50%, or exempt) requires dashboard query at data.ca.gov / HCD APR dashboard.
CA-AB2011-GC§65912.100applies
Qualifying condition
Compton has commercially-zoned corridor parcels (C-L, C-M) along Alameda Street, Rosecrans Avenue, Compton Boulevard, Long Beach Boulevard, Atlantic Avenue, and Central Avenue that qualify as 'commercial corridors' under AB 2011 (≥ 70 ft wide, excluding industrial-only and pure-office-only zones). 100% affordable projects are ministerially approved on any commercial site; mixed-income projects qualify on corridor sites at densities not less than the jurisdiction's default for commercial or 30 du/ac (whichever is higher).
Effect
Ministerial approval for qualifying multifamily on C-L and C-M corridor sites. 100% affordable bypasses discretionary review entirely. Minimum density floor (30 du/ac or jurisdiction default, whichever greater) preempts lower local caps. Prevailing wage required. Overlaps with SB 423 — developers choose pathway.
CA-BuildersRemedy-GC§65589.5(d)(5)applies
Qualifying condition
Compton is part of the SCAG 6th-cycle RHNA (2021–2029). HCD Housing Element certification status for Compton must be verified on HCD's Housing Element Compliance Report. Builder's Remedy is live during any period in which the Housing Element is non-certified; it is dormant while certified. AB 1893 (2024) codified procedural requirements (timing, findings, exhaustion).
Retrieval issue
HCD Housing Element Compliance dashboard is JS-rendered; Compton's current certification status was not fetched live this pass. Compton's active general-plan update (Compton 2045) and associated Housing Element cycle make this a volatile status; treat as under_review and verify per-project.
Non-applicable laws (1)
CA-SB10not_applicable
Qualifying condition
SB 10 is permissive: it authorizes but does not require cities to upzone to 10 units/parcel near transit or urban infill via simple council resolution (CEQA-exempt). No evidence Compton has adopted an SB 10 resolution; Chapter 30 contains no SB 10-adoption reference. The Compton 2045 rewrite (in public review 2025) uses standard rezone mechanics, not SB 10.
Effect
None unless/until Compton council adopts an SB 10 resolution.
Adopted building codes
Statewide mandatory minimum
Click a code label to open its state-by-state adoption atlas.
Amendment history
| Date | Kind | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-22 | supplement effective | eCode360 codification metadata — current through legislation effective 2025-07-22 |
| 1958-03-25 | adoption | Chapter 30 original adoption, Ord. 1095 |
Quirks & notes
- Legacy 1958-origin Chapter 30 code (original Ord. 1095, 1958-03-25). Only one formal overlay (Billboard B-O § 30-22.9). No TOD / floodplain / environmental / historic overlays in Chapter 30 itself — those functions happen via separate ordinances or state law. [confirmed §30-22.9]
- Compton 2045 Targeted Zoning Amendment in active public review (draft residential-zones and commercial/industrial-zones documents dated Aug/Sep 2025) — Chapter 30 rewrite anticipated but NOT yet adopted. Published code is still the controlling record. [confirmed via compton2045.org/app_pages/view/172]
- LA Metro A Line (formerly Blue Line) runs through Compton with the Compton Station on Compton Boulevard and MLK Jr. Transit Center adjacent. Artesia Station (A Line) and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station (A/C junction) are on the city's south/north edges. Substantially all of the city is within AB 2097's ½-mile parking-elimination buffer of one or more A Line stations. [confirmed via LA Metro A Line station list + PRC § 21064.3]
- Prior v1 profile incorrectly cited the Metro Green Line (C Line); Compton is actually served by the A Line (formerly Blue Line) — corrected this pass. [confirmed via Wikipedia + Moovit transit data; Metro renamed lines to letters in 2020]
- Four apparent overlays in the v1 profile (TOD Green Line, Floodplain, Environmental/Hazmat, Industrial Buffer, Specific Plans) were not supported by Chapter 30's text as overlay zones. Re-mapped: (a) TOD effect comes from AB 2097 proximity to A Line, not a local TOD overlay; (b) floodplain handling comes from FEMA SFHA + CA AB 646 / state law, not Chapter 30; (c) environmental/hazmat is handled at state CEQA / DTSC level; (d) industrial buffer maps to Compton's B Buffer Zone (§ 30-16) as a base district; (e) Specific Plans map to Compton's SD Specific Development Zone (§ 30-19). [confirmed this pass]
- Chapter 30 Affordable Housing Density Bonus ordinance at § 30-47 – § 30-47.8 is local companion to GC § 65915; state law and AB 1287 floor the local bonus up to 100% stacked. [confirmed §30-47]
- Environmental legacy — Compton has known contamination history from prior industrial uses (Alameda Corridor, Paramount Gateway). DTSC-listed sites and SB 673 siting restrictions operate at the state level, not via a Chapter 30 overlay. [inferred]
- Secondary Dwelling Units (ADUs) codified at § 30-11.2 — this is Compton's implementation of state ADU law and is preempted / floored by GC §§ 66411.7–66411.8 and SB 1211. [confirmed §30-11.2]
- ecode360.com/CO4057 (primary portal) returns 403 Forbidden to scripted WebFetch. Chapter 30 structure and section-level content were retrieved via elaws.us alternate portal (compton-ca.elaws.us/code/coor_apps-1_ch30). [platform_note]
Formulas
Definitions
- height
- Grade to highest point of structure per § 30-20.4.
- lot_coverage
- Building footprint / lot area.
- far
- Gross floor area / lot area.
- du_ac
- Dwelling units per gross acre.
- setback_front
- Front property line to nearest building face.
- setback_side
- Side property line to nearest building face.
- setback_rear
- Rear property line to nearest building face.
- parking
- Spaces per dwelling unit per § 30-21 off-street parking and loading.
Capacity calculations
- max_footprint_sf
lot_area_sf * lot_coverage- max_gfa_sf
lot_area_sf * far- buildable_width_ft
lot_width_ft - setback_side_ft * 2- buildable_depth_ft
lot_depth_ft - setback_front_ft - setback_rear_ft- max_stories_approx
max_height_ft / 10
Massing explorer
Interactive 3D comparison across every district. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, use the slider to walk districts, and toggle applicable overlays in the right-side panel.
Sort by
Max height
— ft
——
Floor area ratio
—
——
Lot coverage
—%
——
Setbacks (F / S / R)
— ft
——
Parking
— /unit
——
Max density
— du/ac
——
Min lot size
— sf
——
Copy zoning profile
Loading…
| District | Category | Height | FAR | Coverage | Setbacks | Parking | Density | Min lot | Overlays |
|---|
Sources & references
Primary source
Citations
- [1] §30-8
- [2] §30-20.4
- [3] §30-8
- [4] §30-21.3
- [5] §30-9
- [6] §30-20.4
- [7] §30-9
- [8] §30-10
- [9] §30-20.4
- [10] §30-10
- [11] §30-20.4
- [12] §30-20.4
- [13] §30-20.4
- [14] §30-20.4
Research status
Publication gates
| primary url present | passed | |
|---|---|---|
| no aggregator cited | passed | |
| confidence tags full form | passed | |
| overlays have parameters trigger confidence | passed | |
| preempt section city specific | passed |
Data quality
40%completeness18 confirmed22 partial3 inferred
Documented gaps
- § 30-7 / § 30-8 / § 30-9 / § 30-10 residential dimensional tables (min lot, height, coverage, du/ac, setbacks) not retrieved live — most standards carry status=partial
- § 30-12 / § 30-13 commercial and § 30-14 / § 30-15 industrial dimensional tables not retrieved
- § 30-21 / § 30-21.3 off-street parking ratios by land use not retrieved as a full table
- § 30-20.4 height section full content not retrieved
- Enumerated list of adopted Specific Plans under SD § 30-19 not retrieved
- § 30-47 affordable density bonus local-vs-state reconciliation detail not retrieved
- HCD Housing Element certification status for Compton (Builder's Remedy gating) not confirmed live
- HCD APR SB 35/423 determination (10% vs 50% vs exempt) for Compton not confirmed live
- FEMA SFHA exact mapping within Compton (Compton Creek / LA River) not retrieved at parcel level
- Compton 2045 rewrite adoption date — none scheduled per public-review phase materials (public review Aug/Sep 2025)
Known issues
cohort:needs-dom-retrievalfreshness:volatileblocker:ecode360data:gaps-present
Verification
| last_verified_at | 2026-04-19T00:00:00Z |
|---|---|
| verifier_specialist | compt-2026-04-19-v2 |
| verifier_version | 1.0 |
| verification_result | passed_pending_browser_retrieval |
| atomic_claims_checked | 32 |
| atomic_claims_passed | 32 |
| atomic_claims_failed | 0 |
| failed_claims | |
| narrative_ref | narratives/compton-ca/compt-2026-04-19-v2.json |
Other cities in this state
Nearest-alphabetical profiles. Click through to compare zoning patterns side-by-side.