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Manhattan Beach · Land use · Church or place of worship

Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Manhattan Beach?

In Manhattan Beach, a church or other place of worship is needs a permit in 7 (RS, RM, RH, RPD, CL and 2 more, all with a condition) and not allowed in 4 (Manhattan Beach use tables, read October 2026).

Key points

  • Needs a permit: RS, RM, RH, RPD, CL, CG and PS
  • Not allowed: RSC, CC, CD and CNE

Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.

Zones where a church or other place of worship can go

Manhattan Beach's code calls this use “Religious Assembly”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.

ZoneStatusCode
RS
Needs an use permit (see note) — see note
Note L-3: A use permit is required, except for legally existing church facilities, including private schools and day-care contained therein, which do not exceed an overall floor area factor greater than half of the maximum floor area factor permitted by the development standards of the base district.
Note A: See Section 10.52.020, Exterior materials in R districts.
Note D: Facilities on sites of two (2) acres or more are subject to the regulations of Chapter 10.28 (PS district) precluding those of this chapter. See Section 10.28.020, PS district applicability.
§ 10.12.020
RM
Needs an use permit (see note) — see note
Note L-3: A use permit is required, except for legally existing church facilities, including private schools and day-care contained therein, which do not exceed an overall floor area factor greater than half of the maximum floor area factor permitted by the development standards of the base district.
Note A: See Section 10.52.020, Exterior materials in R districts.
Note D: Facilities on sites of two (2) acres or more are subject to the regulations of Chapter 10.28 (PS district) precluding those of this chapter. See Section 10.28.020, PS district applicability.
§ 10.12.020
RH
Needs an use permit (see note) — see note
Note L-3: A use permit is required, except for legally existing church facilities, including private schools and day-care contained therein, which do not exceed an overall floor area factor greater than half of the maximum floor area factor permitted by the development standards of the base district.
Note A: See Section 10.52.020, Exterior materials in R districts.
Note D: Facilities on sites of two (2) acres or more are subject to the regulations of Chapter 10.28 (PS district) precluding those of this chapter. See Section 10.28.020, PS district applicability.
§ 10.12.020
RPD Comprehensive Residential Planned Development
Needs an use permit — see note
Note A: See Section 10.52.020, Exterior materials in R districts.
Note D: Facilities on sites of two (2) acres or more are subject to the regulations of Chapter 10.28 (PS district) precluding those of this chapter. See Section 10.28.020, PS district applicability.
§ 10.12.020
CL
Needs an use permit (see note) — see note
Note L-21: A use permit is required, except for legally existing church facilities, including private schools and day-care contained therein, which do not exceed an overall floor area factor greater than half of the maximum floor area factor permitted by the development standards of the base district.
Note A: Facilities on sites of two (2) acres or more are subject to the regulations of Chapter 10.28 (PS District) precluding those of this chapter. See Section 10.28.020: PS District Applicability.
§ 10.16.020
CG
Needs an use permit (see note) — see note
Note L-21: A use permit is required, except for legally existing church facilities, including private schools and day-care contained therein, which do not exceed an overall floor area factor greater than half of the maximum floor area factor permitted by the development standards of the base district.
Note A: Facilities on sites of two (2) acres or more are subject to the regulations of Chapter 10.28 (PS District) precluding those of this chapter. See Section 10.28.020: PS District Applicability.
§ 10.16.020
PS Public and Semipublic
Needs an use permit (see note) — see note
Note L-20: A use permit is required, except for existing church facilities, including private schools contained therein, which do not exceed an overall floor area factor greater than half of the maximum floor area factor permitted by the development standards of the base district. Such excepted facilities shall be subject to the following standards: 1. The depth of the required front yard shall be the same as that required in the zone and area district in which it is located. 2. Buildings and structures on the site shall not be closer than twenty-five feet (25′) to any residential boundary property line, except that a detached single-family dwelling on such site shall conform to the yard requirements, height, and required distance between buildings as prescribed in the zone and area district in which the site is located. 3. No portion of any building or structure shall exceed a height of thirty feet (30′) as measured from the average of the finished ground level at the center of all walls, except that steeples or other architectural features containing no floor space may exceed such height limit. 4. All off-street parking requirements shall be conformed to, except that on interior lots the required side yards may be used to provide off-street parking areas and, on corner lots, the interior side yard may be similarly used. Under no circumstances may the required front yard or side yard on the side street side be used for off-street parking. 5. All lights provided to illuminate any parking area or building on such site shall be arranged so as to direct the light away from any premises upon which a dwelling unit is located. 6. All bounding streets and/or alleys shall be improved to the dimensions indicated on any formally-adopted plans therefor, and to the City's specifications pertaining to materials, design and construction. Where no official plan for street alignment or widths has been adopted, the plan shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation. 7. The following signs only are permitted: (i) One sign area on the outside wall of the main building and parallel thereto, having an area not greater than twenty (20) square feet; and (ii) A detached sign having dimensions totaling not more than twenty (20) square feet and on which both faces may be utilized, such sign being securely mounted on the ground on supports and the top of which sign shall not be more than six feet (6′) above the natural level of the ground upon which it rests. 8. Loading and unloading of school buses shall be on the school site and no storage or servicing of school buses or automotive equipment shall be permitted on the site.
§ 10.28.030

Zones where it is not allowed

RSC, CC, CD, CNE.

What else applies

  • State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
  • Not covered here: Zone names beyond the chapter titles are not spelled out in the packet (RS..CNE names are conventional and omitted); Chapter 10.08 definitions (Group Residential, Day Care General) not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.

Other uses in Manhattan Beach

Who this affects

HomeownersBuyersReal estate agentsSmall developers

Frequently asked questions

Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RS zone in Manhattan Beach?

Only with an use permit (see note). Manhattan Beach's use table lists it that way in RS (§ 10.12.020). The code adds a condition: “A use permit is required, except for legally existing church facilities, including private schools and day-care contained therein, which do not exceed an overall floor area factor greater than half of the maximum…”

Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RSC zone in Manhattan Beach?

No. Manhattan Beach's use table does not allow it in RSC (§ 10.12.020).

General information, not legal advice.

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