Santa Monica · Zoning · OF
Santa Monica OF zoning: height, setbacks and lot size
In Santa Monica's OF zone, generally buildings can be up to 32 ft (2 stories) tall and the front setback is 5 ft, with the conditions listed below (Santa Monica code, read October 2026).
Key points
- Maximum building height: 32 ft (Tier 1 base standard; lower limits apply along Pacific Coast Highway (see below))
- Maximum number of stories: 2 stories (Tier 1 base standard)
- Minimum front setback: 5 ft (Street frontage; 20 ft along Pacific Coast Highway between the north City limits and the Pier)
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1.5 (Tier 1 base standard; parcels along Pacific Coast Highway have a lower figure (see below))
- Maximum density: 1 unit per 1,500 sq ft of parcel area (Parcels of 4,000 sq ft or more along Pacific Coast Highway (Pier to north City limits); smaller parcels get 1 unit per parcel)
OF (Oceanfront District) is a zoning district in Santa Monica. Every value below was read from the Santa Monica Municipal Code and links to its section (read October 2026). State laws such as the ADU and SB 9 rules can allow more on a residential lot. General information, not legal advice — read the code text and check with the city before you build.
Development standards in OF
The general rule for a typical lot in this zone. Zoning tables often attach notes, such as rules for corner lots, lots next to a residential zone, or new subdivisions only. Open “code text” under a value to see the table cell or sentence it was read from.
| Maximum building height | 32 ft Applies: Tier 1 base standard; lower limits apply along Pacific Coast Highway (see below) § 9.14.030 · code textTable row “Tier 1 — Base Standard”, column “OF”: 2/32'; 2/23' (flat roof) or 2/30' (pitched roof) for parcels located along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of stories | 2 stories Applies: Tier 1 base standard § 9.14.030 · code textTable row “Tier 1 — Base Standard”, column “OF”: 2/32'; 2/23' (flat roof) or 2/30' (pitched roof) for parcels located along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits |
| Minimum front setback | 5 ft Applies: Street frontage; 20 ft along Pacific Coast Highway between the north City limits and the Pier § 9.14.030 · code textTable row “Street Frontage”, column “OF”: 5 ft. from street fronting parcel line except for 20 ft. on Pacific Coast Highway between northern City limits and Santa Monica Pier. See (B) |
| Maximum floor area ratio (FAR) | 1.5 Applies: Tier 1 base standard; parcels along Pacific Coast Highway have a lower figure (see below) § 9.14.030 · code textTable row “Tier 1 — Base Standard”, column “OF”: 1.5; 0.5 for parcels located along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits |
| Maximum density | 1 unit per 1,500 sq ft of parcel area Applies: Parcels of 4,000 sq ft or more along Pacific Coast Highway (Pier to north City limits); smaller parcels get 1 unit per parcel § 9.14.030 · code textTable row “Maximum Allowable Density; Parcels along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits”, column “OF”: Parcels 4,000 sq. ft. or more: 1 unit per 1,500 sq. ft. of parcel area Parcels less than 4,000 sq. ft.: 1 unit per parcel |
Uses in OF
Uses the code's use tables allow in OF, or allow with a permit. Each links to its page with the code section.
- Duplex — Allowed
- Apartment building — Allowed
- Rooming or boarding house — Allowed
- Bed and breakfast — Needs a conditional use permit
- Child care center — Needs a conditional use permit
When a different number applies
The code sets other values for particular lots, buildings or locations in OF:
- Maximum building height: 23 ft — Flat roof; parcels located along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits § 9.14.030
- Maximum building height: 30 ft — Pitched roof; parcels located along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits § 9.14.030
- Maximum building height: 47 ft — 100% affordable housing projects; no limit to number of stories § 9.14.030
- Maximum building height: 47 ft — Tier 2, with provision of community benefits § 9.12.030
- Maximum number of stories: 3 stories — Tier 2, with provision of community benefits § 9.12.030
- Minimum front setback: 20 ft — On Pacific Coast Highway between northern City limits and Santa Monica Pier § 9.14.030
- Minimum front setback: 5 ft additional average setback — Upper stories: at least 30% of the elevation above the maximum ground floor height adds a 5 ft average setback to the front setback § 9.14.030
- Minimum side setback: 10% of parcel width, min 4 ft — Parcels less than 50 feet in width § 9.14.030
- Minimum rear setback: 15 ft — If adjacent to a residential use § 9.14.030
- Minimum rear setback: 25 ft — Beach rear setback for parcels over 100 ft. in depth located along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits § 9.14.030
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 0.5 — Parcels located along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits § 9.14.030
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 2.0 — Tier 2, with provision of community benefits § 9.12.030
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 2.25 — 100% affordable housing projects § 9.14.030
- Maximum floor area ratio (FAR): 1.0 — Santa Monica Pier area, except parcels fronting on Ocean Avenue § 9.14.030
- Maximum density: 1 unit per parcel — Parcels less than 4,000 sq. ft. along the Pacific Coast Highway between the Santa Monica Pier and the north City limits § 9.14.030
Not on this page
We did not find a general side setback, rear setback, lot size, lot coverage limit for OF in the zoning tables we read. The code may still set one elsewhere — check the Santa Monica Municipal Code.
Other Santa Monica zoning districts
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum building height in Santa Monica's OF zone?
32 ft (tier 1 base standard; lower limits apply along Pacific Coast Highway (see below)) — Santa Monica Municipal Code § 9.14.030.
What is the maximum number of stories in Santa Monica's OF zone?
2 stories (tier 1 base standard) — Santa Monica Municipal Code § 9.14.030.
What is the minimum front setback in Santa Monica's OF zone?
5 ft (street frontage; 20 ft along Pacific Coast Highway between the north City limits and the Pier) — Santa Monica Municipal Code § 9.14.030.
What is the maximum floor area ratio (far) in Santa Monica's OF zone?
1.5 (tier 1 base standard; parcels along Pacific Coast Highway have a lower figure (see below)) — Santa Monica Municipal Code § 9.14.030.
What is the maximum density in Santa Monica's OF zone?
1 unit per 1,500 sq ft of parcel area (parcels of 4,000 sq ft or more along Pacific Coast Highway (Pier to north City limits); smaller parcels get 1 unit per parcel) — Santa Monica Municipal Code § 9.14.030.
General information, not legal advice.
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