What is housing density? Housing density or residential density refers to the number of homes per unit of land. It is typically reported in dwelling units per acre (or du/ac). The typical single family neighborhood in Los Angeles is about 5-8 houses per acre.

» See what different types of density look like

How is density measured? In the Los Angeles zoning code density is measured as dwelling units per square feet of land. In the R3 apartment/condominium zone the maximum density is one unit of housing per 800 square feet of land. This is about 54 units/acre.

*Actual maximum density may be lower due to height or FAR requirements
1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft.

Housing vs. population density. Housing density should not be confused with population density, which represents the number of people per unit of land, and is commonly reported as persons per square mile. Sometimes the population density is much higher than one would expect from the type of housing in the area. This usually means that people are overcrowded. Population densities may also vary by time of day, as in a downtown area which may have a lot of workers but few residents.

When comparing densities of different areas, it is important to understand the nature of the area being measured. For example, the building density in Manhattan around Wall Street is extremely dense, but very few of the buildings are residential and very few people live there.

* lot area per unit (sq. ft.)

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