390 WilliamsburgLane_HeightLimitOrdinance_F_E
ORDINANCE NO. 390
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
AMENDING CHAPTER 17.16 OF TITLE 17 OF THE ROLLING HILLS
MUNICIPAL CODE TO AMEND THE RESIDENTIAL HEIGHT LIMIT FOR LOTS
ON WILLIAMSBURG LANE, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE TO BE
CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM CEQA.
WHEREAS, the City of Rolling Hills, California (“City”) is a municipal corporation, duly organized
under the California Constitution and laws of the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the City is a semi-rural hillside community, characterized by predominantly single-
story California ranch-style homes, large parcels with open space, and an abundance of
equestrian facilities; and
WHEREAS, one of the unique features of the City is the uniformity of homes throughout the
years, which are typically limited to one story in height; and
WHEREAS, in recent years, many homes have been constructed to maximize the building area
on the lot, including increased height and a greater amount of grading to prepare many of the
steeper properties for a structure; and
WHEREAS, these trends have significantly altered the community’s character and affect
surrounding properties, creating a high level of concern among residents related to development
and design compatibility issues; and
WHEREAS, the residential developments on Williamsburg Lane are of a different architectural
style and character than other residences in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to preserve and enhance the character of Williamsburg
Lane by providing flexibility as it relates to residential building height; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the City by Article XI, Section 7 of the California
Constitution, the City has the police power to regulate the use of land and property within the
City in a manner designed to promote public convenience and general prosperity, as well as
public health, safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the Rolling Hills Municipal Code to modestly
increase the height limit on residential developments on Williamsburg Lane in the City; and
WHEREAS, on June 16, 2026, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public
hearing to consider the Ordinance, wherein it considered the staff report, supporting documents,
public testimony, and all appropriate information submitted with the Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, on July 27, 2026, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing to
consider the Ordinance, wherein it considered the staff report and supporting documents,
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Planning Commission’s recommendation, public testimony, and all appropriate information
submitted with the Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of the Ordinance have occurred.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DOES HEREBY FIND, RESOLVE,
AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The recitals above are incorporated by reference
and adopted as findings by the City Council.
Section 2. CEQA. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is determined to be
categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines,
which applies to projects where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the
activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed Ordinance
does not involve physical changes to the environment but rather regulates the height of
residential developments. Since it does not result in any direct or indirect physical changes to
the environment, there is no possibility that it could have a significant environmental impact.
Section 3. General Plan. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is consistent with the
goals and policies of the Rolling Hills General Plan. The proposed Ordinance is consistent with
Housing Element Goal 2 “Maintain and enhance the quality of residential neighborhoods in
Rolling Hills,” in support of the following policies:
Policy 2.1: Encourage and assist in the maintenance and improvement of existing
homes to maintain optimum standards of housing quality and design.
Policy 2.3: Require compatible design to minimize the impact of residential
redevelopment on existing residences.
By imposing a less restrictive height limit on residential development on Williamsburg Lane, this
Ordinance will ensure future development is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and
environment.
Section 4. The Development Standard table in Section 17.16.060 of Title 17 of the
Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in
strikethrough, as follows:
Development Standard Zone District
RA-S-1 RA-S-2
4. Height Limitation One story, no greater than 25’ for lots on Williamsburg
Lane, and no greater than 21’ for all other lots in the
City. (mMezzanines and lofts are not permitted.) except
for sStables and barns which shall be no greater than
23’; (see Section 17.16.080)
Section 5. Section 17.16.080 of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby
amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows:
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17.16.080 - Height limitation.
A. General Limitation. A building or structure shall have no more than one story,
meaning that there shall be no story on top of another, except as specified in
subsection (B) below.
1. The maximum height permitted from the finished floor to the highest peak
of the structure shall be no greater than twenty-five (25) feet on lots located
on Williamsburg Lane, and no greater than twenty-one (21) feet on all other
lots in the City; and in no event shall the maximum height permitted for
stables and barns (inclusive of any loft or storage area) exceed twenty-three
(23) feet measured from the finished floor to the highest peak. For purposes
of this subsection (A)(1), the height measurement shall be exclusive of
projecting architectural features as defined in Section 17.12.160.
2. The maximum height permitted from finished floor of any building or
structure to finished grade is five feet. The difference between the finished
grade and the finished floor level across any elevation shall average no
more than two and one-half feet, with maximum difference of five feet.
B. Exceptions:
1. A one-story primary residence is permitted over a basement. For the
purpose of this section primary residence includes a garage attached to the
main residence by a solid wall.
2. Stables may have a loft, subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.18 of
this title.
3. A storage area, as defined in Section 17.12.190 "S" may be located above
or below a story.
Section 6. The City Council’s actions are made upon review of the Planning
Commission’s recommendation, the Staff Report, all oral and written comments, and the
documentary evidence presented on the Ordinance.
Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect 30 days following its adoption.
Section 8. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any
person or circumstance is held to be invalid, such invalidity has no effect on the other provisions
or application of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or
application, and to this extent, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council
declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any portion
thereof.
Section 10. Custodian of Records: The documents and materials associated with this
Resolution that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are