Glossary of Terms

Pursuant to Sec. 13B.10.4. (Annual Inspection Monitoring (Type 2)), used vehicle sales area is defined as an area or lot where any type of used motor vehicle or trailer is displayed for sale.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.3.11. (Utilities), utilities is defined as utility infrastructure as a primary use of land, necessary for the public provision of services such as water, sewer, power, or communications. For the purposes of this definition, utilities uses exclude the following off-site systems: transmission lines, pipes, or other systems for conveying and transmitting services within utility easements, as those systems are not regulated as a use of land by Article 5. (Use).

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.3.11.B. (Utilities: Major), utilities: major is defined as utility infrastructure that requires significant health, safety, and environmental precautions due to potential adverse impacts immediate surroundings, and requires on-site personnel. Utilities: major include non-solar power generation facilities, wastewater treatment, and water supply treatment.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.3.11.A. (Utilities: Minor), utilities: minor is defined as utility infrastructure that does not require significant health, safety, and environmental precautions, and do not require on-site personnel. Utilities: minor includes renewable energy generation, including wind turbines, geothermal systems, and solar photovoltaic systems serving no more than 10 different lots with supporting on-site storage, control and transmission equipment, storm water retention or detention ponds, aeration and septic systems, reservoirs, lift stations, water supply wells and water tanks or towers, telecommunications switching facilities, and electrical substations.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.3.11.C. (Utilities: Solar Energy Facility), utilities: solar energy facility is defined as utility infrastructure that generates energy for the general public using a solar photovoltaic system primarily for off-site use or sale serving 11 or more lots.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.3.11.D. (Utilities: Wireless Facility, Freestanding), utilities: wireless facility, freestanding is defined as a freestanding device or system including a monopole, tower, or antenna for the transmitting or receiving of electromagnetic signals, including, but not limited to, radio waves and microwaves, for cellular technology, personal communications services, mobile services, paging systems and related technologies. Facilities include antennas, microwave dishes, parabolic antennas and all other types of equipment used in the transmission and reception of such signals; structures for the support of such facilities, associated buildings or cabinets to house support equipment, and other accessory structures or development. A utilities: wireless facility, freestanding is a type of telecommunications facility.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.3.11.E. (Utilities: Wireless Facility, Rooftop), utilities: wireless facility, rooftop is defined as a device or system that is mounted on a building or structure rooftop for the transmitting or receiving of electromagnetic signals, including, but not limited to, radio waves and microwaves, for cellular technology, personal communications services, mobile services, private antennas, paging systems and related technologies. Facilities include antennas, microwave dishes, parabolic antennas and all other types of equipment used in the transmission and reception of such signals; structures for the support of such facilities, associated buildings or cabinets to house support equipment, and other accessory structures or development. A utilities: wireless facility, rooftop is a type of telecommunications facility.

Utility area is defined as any area containing mechanical equipment or utility equipment.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.i. (Utility Equipment), utility equipment is defined as equipment related to publicly-operated or utility-operated systems, including their related wires, conduits and pipes. Examples of utility equipment include, but are not limited to: hydrants, transformers, utility cabinets, water utility devices, cable television boxes, Internet boxes, or phone boxes.

Vacant lot is defined as a lot on which no building, temporary or permanent, is erected; or which has no uses of the land.

Vanpool is defined as a vehicle carrying six or more persons to and from work on a regular schedule, and on a prepaid basis.

Pursuant to Sec. 13B.5.3. (Variance), variance is defined as granted relief from a standard or regulation in this Chapter or Chapter I. (General Provisions and Zoning) on the basis of hardship or difficulties.

For purposes of Sec. 14.1.5. (Encroachments) vegetation is defined as living organisms, absorbing water and organic substances through its roots and synthesizing nutrients. Examples of vegetation include, but are not limited to: trees, shrubs, flowers, herbs, vegetables, grasses, ferns, or moss.

Vehicle is defined as anything used to transport people or goods, including automobiles, vans, trucks, buses, and motorcycles, bicycles, or any other form of micro-mobility.

Vehicle entry restriction device is defined as any device, such as mechanical gates or ticket dispensers, restricting ingress vehicle traffic during operating hours.

Pursuant to Sec. 3D.6.4. (Vertical Band Articulation), vertical band articulation is a continuous band of material running vertically up a facade.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.5.B.1.d. (Vertical Circulation), vertical circulation is defined as enclosed and covered structures used for building circulation and rooftop access. Examples of vertical circulation may include, but are not limited to: elevator rooms and associated equipment, and stair accesses to a roof.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.5.B. (Vertical Encroachments), vertical encroachment is defined as a structure or assembly that extends vertically into a space where structures are typically prohibited.

The Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) are determined through the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) wildfire hazard assessment, based on boundaries established by the Los Angeles Fire Department in accordance with state law.

A very low income household is a household whose annual income, adjusted for family size, does not exceed 50 percent of the area median income as designated for this category in California Health and Safety Code, Sec. 50105.

Very low vehicle travel area is defined pursuant to California Government Code Sec. 65915(o)(9).

Vesting preliminary parcel map is defined as a preliminary parcel map for any land division that has printed conspicuously on its face the words "Vesting Preliminary Parcel Map" and is characterized by certain rights to proceed with development when filed and processed in accordance with Div. 13B.7. (Division of Land).

Vesting tentative tract map is defined as a tentative tract map for any land division that has printed conspicuously on its face the words “Vesting Tentative Tract Map” and is characterized by certain rights to proceed with development when filed and processed in accordance with Div. 13B.7. (Division of Land).

Vintage original art mural is defined as an original art mural that existed prior to October 12, 2013 (the operative date of Ord. No. 182,706). See Div. 4C.11. (Signs).

Visual light transmittance is defined as the amount of light in the visible portion of the spectrum that passes through a glazing material as defined in manufacturer specifications.

Visual obstruction is defined as any opaque object, assembly, or structure that obscures visibility through a transparent area, on the interior side of the transparent area of a building facade. See Sec. 3C.4.1. (Transparent Area).

For the purposes of Sec. 9.2.1. (State Density Bonus), Sec. 9.2.2. (Affordable Housing Incentive Program), Sec. 9.2.3. (Opportunity Corridors Housing Incentive Program), Sec. 9.2.4. (Corridor Transitions Incentive Program), and Sec. 9.2.5. (Transit Oriented Incentive Program), waivers are defined as reductions in development standards that will have the effect of physically precluding the construction of a housing development project at the densities or with the incentives permitted under those referenced Sections, as specifically discussed in California Government Code Sec. 65915(e). Waivers neither reduce nor increase the number of incentives or density bonus that a project is entitled to in those Sections. The terms density bonus, incentive, and housing development project, are defined in this Glossary (Div. 14.3.).

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.3.A.2. (Walking Distance), walking distance is defined as the distance measured as the most direct path of travel for a pedestrian.

Wall is defined as a constructed vertical barrier erected to enclose, screen, or separate areas. A wall differs from a fence in having a solid foundation along its whole length.

Pursuant to Sec. 4C.11.6.C.12. (Wall Sign), wall sign is defined as a sign on the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the wall, that has been attached to, painted on, or erected against the wall, projected onto the wall, or printed on any material which is supported and attached to the wall by an adhesive or other materials or methods.

Pursuant to Sec. 14.2.5.A.1.h. (Waste Enclosure), waste enclosure is defined as waste areas and their required screening structures. Examples of waste enclosures include, but are not limited to: trash compactors, garbage, recycling, or food waste.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.9.5. (Waste Facility), waste facility is defined as any heavy industrial use involving the receipt, storage, separation, conversion, combustion, processing of solid waste, transfer of waste directly from small to larger vehicles for transport, or operation as a landfill. This use includes facilities involved in the transfer, processing, and transformation of organic waste, construction and demolition debris, inert material, solid waste.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.9.5.B. (Waste Facility: Hazardous Waste), waste facility: hazardous waste is defined as any waste facility use involving the storage, treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste, as defined in the California Health and Safety Code, Sec. 25117.1. (Definitions).

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.9.5.A. (Waste Facility: Organic Waste), waste facility: organic waste is defined as any waste facility use that receives any material that comes from a plant or animal and is biodegradable, for chipping and grinding, composting, curing, mulching or similar processing methods. This use does not include any chipping and grinding, composting, curing, or mulching conducted as part of the maintenance of landscaped areas associated with any public & institutional uses or open space & recreation uses.

Pursuant to Sec. 5D.9.5.C. (Waste Facility: Solid Waste), waste facility: solid waste is defined as any waste facility use that does not involve any storage, treatment, and disposal of hazardous waste, or that does not exclusively receive organic waste. For such uses, see Sec. 5D.9.5.B. (Waste facility: Hazardous Waste) and Sec. 5D.9.5.A. (Waste Facility: Organic Waste).

For the purposes of Div. 13B.7. (Division of Land), water supply is defined as the water system supply and distribution facilities necessary to provide a reliable and adequate water supply for private use and public fire protection purposes.