TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Masa Alkire, AICP, Community Development Director
Adam Finestone, AICP, Planning Manager
Jaehee Yoon, AICP, Senior Planner
Maricela Guillean, Associate Planner
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 25-0012, Amending Section 10.52.050(D) of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Related to Accessory Structure Rear Yard Setback Requirements (No Budget Impact) (Community Development Director Alkire).
ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 25-0012
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 25-0012, amending Section 10.52.050(D) of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (MBMC) related to accessory structure rear yard setback requirements.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
On November 4, 2025, the City Council conducted a public hearing to introduce Ordinance No. 25-0012, which, if adopted, would amend Section 10.52.050(D) of the MBMC related to accessory structure rear yard setback requirements in single-family residential (RS) zones.
DISCUSSION:
Ordinance No. 25-0012 will supplement Section 10.52.050(D) of the MBMC in a manner that would be limited to single-family residential zones in Area Districts I and II. The code amendment is intended to address concerns related to privacy, fire safety, and access due to the current zero-foot setback allowance for accessory structures in rear yards.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 25-0012.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
As previously noted on November 4, 2025, the City Council determined that the zone text amendments are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the State CEQA Guidelines because projects constructed in reliance upon the proposed code amendments would consist of demolition, addition, and the construction of small accessory structures on single-family residential lots. In addition, Section 15305 (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations) of the State CEQA Guidelines applies to the project because the average slope of the City’s Area Districts I and II, where the proposed amendments will be limited to, are less than 20 percent and the proposed amendments represent a minor change to existing development standards which do not result in changes to land use or density. Therefore, the proposed project is exempt from further review under CEQA.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the proposed ordinance as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Ordinance No. 25-0012
2. City Council Staff Report - November 4, 2025 (Web-Link)