[Still Thinking]

Currently, in five southern California counties, as well as in some areas of Los Angeles County, 30 houses per acre is being mandated.

That's 1452 square feet to a lot! That's less area than I have INSIDE my house, excluding the garage!!

[muawiyah]

I think something was lost in translation. You have your basic R-1, R-2, R-3, and so forth ~ "Residential" and how many lots per acre.

Then you'll get an R-5 built as R-8, which consolidates some of the land in a development as "common land", and maybe a park with a pool or something.

But R-30?

Don't think I've ever seen that one, but I have seen FAR 1, and FAR 2, and FAR 3, and on up. That's "Floor Area Ratio", and how many acres of floor space acceptable per 1 acre of land.

With your typical house having a footprint of 24X40 to 24X60, that R-30 zoning is more likely an FAR 3, with a small setback (open land around the structures).

That'd be pretty much like what we call Garden Apartments in the Eastern States and Florida Apartments in California.

BTW, the old Florida Apartments/Condos in California have been going the way of the dodo as they are taken down and replaced with 5 story buildings with elevators and separate parking. In the East they've been taking down older 5 story walk ups and replacing them with 3 story Florida Apartments (usually called LUXURY TOWNHOMES WITH GARAGE).

Overhanging all California residential development is the need to make buildings earthquake resistant. Consequently, depending on relative distance from a slip fault (and CA has lots of slip faults ~ many beaucoup) it may or may not be feasible to build above 1 story, or maybe 2, with affordable structures.

For most of the state it's not wise to go up more than 5 stories ~ end of that story. They do go up higher, but you should see the cost!