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Part 8 — VARIANCE

Baldwin Park Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · Baldwin Park

§ 153.210.400 INTENT AND PURPOSE.

California Gov’t Code § 65906 establishes the authority of the city to grant exception to development standards and provisions of this chapter in cases where, because of special circumstances applicable to a particular property, the strict application of this code deprives such property of privileges enjoyed by other property in the vicinity and under identical land use zoning districts.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

§ 153.210.410 APPLICABILITY.

(A) Deviation from chapter. A variance application shall be filed whenever any deviation from the provisions of this chapter is proposed, except those minor deviations identified for an administrative adjustment in § 153.210.360.

(B) Authorized application. Variances may not be approved for uses or activities not otherwise expressly authorized by this chapter. A variance may not substitute for a Zoning Code text/map amendment or a conditional use permit. (Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

§ 153.210.420 PROCEEDINGS.

Applications for a variance shall be processed in accordance with these regulations.

(A) City Planner recommendation. The City Planner shall review the application, consider pertinent facts and recommend the approval, approval with modifications or denial of the application for the variance to the Planning Commission.

(B) Planning Commission decision. The Planning Commission shall conduct a public hearing, consider the determinations detailed in § 153.210.430 and resolve to approve, conditionally approve or deny the permit by not less than a majority of a quorum.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

§ 153.210.430 DETERMINATION.

The Planning Commission may impose conditions and/or require guarantees for the variance to ensure compliance and to prevent adverse or detrimental impacts to the surrounding neighborhood. Variances shall be granted only when the Planning Commission determines that the proposed development or activity complies with all of the following findings.

(A) Special circumstances. There are special circumstances applicable to the property, including size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, that do not generally apply to other properties in the same district.

(B) Similar privileges. The strict application of this chapter deprives such property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity and other identical zoning classification.

(C) Consistent privileges. The granting of the variance does not constitute a grant of special privileges inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and zone in which the property is situated. (Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

§ 153.210.440 RECORD OF PERMIT.

The authorized signature of the Planning Commission, or the Appeal Authority if the permit was appealed, on a designated form, or a stamp approval on a set of plans, shall signify approval, conditional approval or denial of a variance.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12)

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Contents — Baldwin Park Zoning Code
Baldwin Park Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 10 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 15 — ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT OF CODE VIOLATIONS
  3. Chapter 30 — CITY COUNCIL
  4. Chapter 31 — CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES
  5. Chapter 32 — COMMISSIONS, AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES
  6. Chapter 33 — PERSONNEL SYSTEM
  7. Chapter 34 — FINANCE; PURCHASING
  8. Chapter 35 — TAXATION
  9. Chapter 36 — EMERGENCY ORGANIZATIONS
  10. Chapter 37 — PROPERTY
  11. Chapter 39 — DECORUM AT COUNCIL MEETINGS
  12. Chapter 40 — CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND PENALTIES
  13. Chapter 50 — SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
  14. Chapter 51 — SEWERS
  15. Chapter 52 — STORM WATER AND URBAN RUNOFF POLLUTION PREVENTION
  16. Chapter 53 — CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
  17. Chapter 70 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  18. Chapter 71 — TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
  19. Chapter 72 — STOPPING, STANDING AND PARKING
  20. Chapter 74 — PARKING SCHEDULES
  21. Chapter 90 — ABANDONED VEHICLES
  22. Chapter 91 — ALARM SYSTEMS
  23. Chapter 92 — ANIMAL CONTROL
  24. Chapter 93 — FIRE PREVENTION; FIREWORKS
  25. Chapter 94.5 — SMOKEFREE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING
  26. Chapter 95.5 — SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE OF VEHICLES
  27. Chapter 96 — PUBLIC PARKS
  28. Chapter 97 — STREETS, SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC PLACES
  29. Part 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  30. Part 2 — UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
  31. Part 1 — ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
  32. Part 2 — DEFINITIONS
  33. Part 3 — ORGANIZATION AND ENFORCEMENT
  34. Part 4 — EXISTING BUILDINGS AND BUILDING SERVICE EQUIPMENT
  35. Part 5 — PERMITS
  36. Part 6 — APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
  37. Part 7 — PERMIT ISSUANCE
  38. Part 8 — FEES
  39. Part 9 — INSPECTIONS
  40. Part 10 — CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
  41. Part 11 — ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF THE CALIFORNIA BUILDING CO…
  42. Part 12 — ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS OF THE
  43. Part 13 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE
  44. Part 14 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE
  45. Part 15 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE
  46. Part 16 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-UBRAN INTERFACE …
  47. Part 17 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE
  48. Part 18 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE
  49. Part 19 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA REFERENCED STANDARDS CODE
  50. Part 20 — ADOPTION OF THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE WITH LOS ANGELE…
  51. Part 1 — PERMITTED USES AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
  52. Part 2 — SMALL-LOT SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS
  53. Part 3 — HOUSING INCENTIVES
  54. Part 4 — MOBILE HOME PARKS
  55. Part 5 — URBAN DEVELOPMENT UNITS AND URBAN LOT SPLITS
  56. Part 1 — ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES
  57. Part 2 — ALCOHOL SALES
  58. Part 3 — GAME ARCADES AND INTERNET CAFES
  59. Part 4 — ANIMAL KEEPING
  60. Part 5 — BILLIARD AND POOL HALLS
  61. Part 6 — CHILD DAY CARE FACILITIES AND LARGE-FAMILY DAY CARE H…
  62. Part 7 — DRIVE-THROUGH ESTABLISHMENTS
  63. Part 8 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
  64. Part 9 — HOTELS AND MOTELS
  65. Part 10 — CANNABIS RETAILERS
  66. Part 11 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLI…
  67. Part 12 — SERVICE STATIONS
  68. Part 13 — SOLAR PANELS
  69. Part 14 — VEHICLE STORAGE
  70. Part 15 — PUBLIC TELEPHONES
  71. Part 16 — EMERGENCY SHELTERS
  72. Part 17 — MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS AND SERVICES
  73. Part 18 — MEDICAL AND ADULT CANNABIS CULTIVATION, MANUFACTURIN…
  74. Part 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  75. Part 2 — DESIGN REVIEW
  76. Part 3 — ZONING CLEARANCE
  77. Part 4 — SIGN PERMIT
  78. Part 5 — TEMPORARY USE PERMIT
  79. Part 6 — ZONING CODE INTERPRETATION
  80. Part 7 — ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUSTMENT
  81. Part 8 — VARIANCE
  82. Part 9 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
  83. Part 10 — HISTORIC DESIGNATION
  84. Part 11 — HISTORIC STRUCTURE WORK PERMIT
  85. Part 12 — HISTORIC STRUCTURE DEMOLITION PERMIT
  86. Part 13 — WIRELESS FACILITY ENCROACHMENT PERMIT
  87. Part 14 — SPECIFIC PLAN
  88. Part 15 — ZONING CODE TEXT AND ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS
  89. Part 16 — GENERAL PLAN TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENTS
  90. Part 17 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
  91. Part 18 — DOWNTOWN OVERLAY
  92. Part 19 — DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY)
  93. Part 20 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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