R116101
City Council Meeting: August 27, 2024 Santa Monica, California
July 24, 2015; and
WHEREAS, currently the Zoning Ordinance, in accordance with Santa Monica
Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 9.21.050(A)(1), allows fence, wall, and hedge heights
up to 42 inches in the front setback within all zoning districts, with the option to apply for
a discretionary height modification should additional height be requested pursuant to
SMMC Section 9.43.050(B); and
WHEREAS, SMMC Section 9.04.050(D), provides rules for measurement of any
fence, wall, or hedge, including specific rules for measuring fences, walls and hedges
located on top of retaining walls; and
WHEREAS, during its Regular Meeting on June 25, 2024, in response to concerns
raised related to protecting privacy and
due to the development volume in those districts as a result of changes in State law that
allows for greater density, the City Council directed staff to return with amendments to the
Municipal Code to allow front fence, wall, and hedge heights to be limited to 72 inches in
RESOLUTION NUMBER 11610 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA DIRECTING THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO INIT ATE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE TEXT OF TO INCREASE
THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED HEIGHTS OF FENCES, WALLS AND HEDGES IN THE
FRONT SETBACKS OF R2, R3 AND R4 ZONING DISTRICTS AND TO ADDRESS
THE RULES FOR MEASURING THE HEIGHTS OF FENCES, WALLS AND HEDGES
LOCATED ON TOP OF RETAINING WALLS
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height in the front setback within the R2, R3, and R4 zoning districts and address
measurements that include retaining walls.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.46.030(A), the
City Council does hereby direct the Planning Commission to initiate an amendment to the
text of the Zoning Ordinance, as set forth in Exhibit A, attached to this Resolution.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
DOUGLAS SLOAN
City Attorney
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EXHIBIT A
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TOPIC
DESCRIPTION
SMMC SECTION(S) TO
BE REVIEWED
AND/OR AMENDED
INCLUDE BUT MAY
NOT BE LIMITED TO:
Fences, Walls
and Hedges
Consider possible amendments to:
Increase fence, wall and hedge heights to 72
inches in front setback in the R2, R3 and R4
Zoning Districts
Address the rules for measuring the heights of
fences, walls and hedges located on top of
retaining walls
9.04.050, Land Use
Regulations, Measuring
Height
9.21.050, Fences, Walls
and Hedges
9.43.050, Applicability:
Fence, Wall, and Hedge
Height Modifications
9.43.080, Procedures
and Required Findings
for Fence, Wall and
Hedge Height
Modifications
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Adopted and approved this 27th day of August, 2024.
__________________________
Phil Brock, Mayor
I, Nikima S. Newsome, Interim City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby
certify that Resolution No. 11610 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 27th day of August, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers de la Torre, Torosis, Davis, Parra, Zwick,
Mayor Pro Tem Negrete, Mayor Brock
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
Nikima S. Newsome, City Clerk
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