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Title 21 — Development Code

Chapter 21.12 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONING DISTRICTS

Fountain Valley Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Fountain Valley

§ 21.12.010. Purpose.

This chapter determines which land uses are allowed in each of the special purpose zoning districts established by Section 21.04.020 (Zoning districts established) of this title, what land use permit is required to establish each use, and the basic development standards that apply to allowed land uses in each district.

(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

§ 21.12.020. Special purpose zoning districts (PI, P/OS, SP).

The purposes of the individual special purpose zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows:

  • (1) PI (Public Institutional) District. The PI zoning district is applied to areas suitable for public, civic, government, education, cultural or quasi-public services. The PI zoning district is consistent with the public facilities land use designation of the general plan.

  • (2) P/OS (Parks and Open Space) District. The P/OS zoning district is applied to areas appropriate for active and passive recreational uses, including parks and natural preservation areas. The P/OS zoning district is consistent with the parks and open space land use designation of the general plan.

  • (3) Specific Plan (SP) Zoning District. The SP zoning district is intended to address specific areas within the community that warrant a comprehensive set of land use policies and standards designed for the unique features of an area. The SP zoning district is consistent with the specific plan designation of the general plan.

Sites within the SP district shall be developed according to standards adopted within the applicable specific plan to address specific site constraints and opportunities, including buffering, traffic, noise and other land use compatibility impacts.

(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

§ 21.12.030. Special purpose district land uses and permit requirements.

Table 2-8 identifies the uses of land allowed by this title in each special purpose zoning district, and the land use permit required to establish each use, in compliance with Section 21.06.030 (Allowable land uses and permit requirements) of this title.

Note: where the last column in the table ("Specific Use Regulations") includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use; however, provisions in other sections of this title may also apply.

Table 2-8
SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT LAND USE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
Allowed Uses and Permit
Requirements for Special
Purpose Land Use
P
CUP
TUP
Permitted Use
Conditional Use Permit required
Temporary Use Permit
Use not allowed
LAND USE (1) PERMIT REQUIRED BY DISTRICT Specifc Use
Regulations
PI P/OS
AGRICULTURE AND OPEN
SPACE USES
Hiking and bicycle trails P
Nature preserves P
RECREATION, EDUCATION AND
PUBLIC ASSEMBLY USES
Convention and exhibition centers CUP
Golf course, private P
Libraries and museums CUP
Municipal facilities P P
Schools, colleges and universities CUP
Schools, private CUP
Temporary off-site storage TUP
Temporary outside storage TUP
Outdoor recreational facilities P
Assembly uses CUP
RESIDENTIAL USES
Caretaker housing CUP
SERVICES
Day care centers CUP 21.30.020
Medical services - hospitals and
related medical services
Wireless telecommunications
facilities
CUP (2) CUP (2) 21.28

Notes:

  • (1) See Article VI for land use definitions. See Section 21.02.020 regarding uses not listed.

  • (2) Wireless telecommunications facilities may also be permitted by an administrative permit subject to the provisions in Chapter 21.28 .

  • (Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000; Ord. 1523 § 7, 2017; Ord. 1615, 10/1/2024)

§ 21.12.040. Special purpose district general development standards.

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-9, in addition to any other applicable requirements of this chapter, and the development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Chapters 21.16 through 21.30 of this title.

TABLE 2-9

TABLE 2-9
SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Development Feature Requirement by Zoning District
PI P/OS
Minimum lot size Determined by the Commission through development review
process, consistent with the General Plan.
Setbacks required Minimum setbacks required. See Section21.18.090for setback
measurement, allowed projections into setbacks, and exceptions
to required setbacks.
Front
Sides (each)
Rear
Determined by the Commission through development review
process, consistent with the General Plan.
Height limit
Landscaping As required by Chapter21.20(Landscaping)
Parking As required by Chapter21.22(Parking and Loading)
Signs As required by Chapter21.24(Signs)

(Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

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Contents — Fountain Valley Zoning Code
Fountain Valley Zoning Code
  1. Title 21 — Development Code
    Overview
    1. Chapter 21.01 — ENACTMENT AND APPLICABILITY OF TITLE
    2. Chapter 21.02 — INTERPRETATION OF TITLE PROVISIONS
    3. Chapter 21.04 — ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONING DISTRICTS—ADOPTION OF …
    4. Chapter 21.06 — DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
    5. Chapter 21.08 — RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
    6. Chapter 21.10 — COMMERCIAL AND MANUFACTURING ZONING DISTRICTS
    7. Chapter 21.12 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONING DISTRICTS
    8. Chapter 21.14 — OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICTS
    9. Chapter 21.15 — MIXED-USE ZONING DISTRICTS
    10. Chapter 21.16 — GENERAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
    11. Chapter 21.17 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM
    12. Chapter 21.18 — GENERAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND USE STANDARDS
    13. Chapter 21.20 — LANDSCAPING
    14. Chapter 21.22 — PARKING AND LOADING
    15. Chapter 21.24 — SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
    16. Chapter 21.25 — SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
    17. Chapter 21.26 — TRIP REDUCTION AND TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT
    18. Chapter 21.28 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
    19. Chapter 21.29 — GROUP HOMES
    20. Chapter 21.30 — STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIC LAND USES
    21. Chapter 21.32 — APPLICATIONS, PROCESSING AND FEES
    22. Chapter 21.34 — AMENDMENTS
    23. Chapter 21.36 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
    24. Chapter 21.38 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
    25. Chapter 21.39 — DEVELOPER MITIGATION FEES
    26. Chapter 21.40 — DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
    27. Chapter 21.42 — HOME OCCUPATION PERMITS
    28. Chapter 21.44 — PRECISE PLAN OF DESIGN
    29. Chapter 21.46 — SPECIFIC PLANS
    30. Chapter 21.48 — TEMPORARY USE PERMITS
    31. Chapter 21.50 — VARIANCES
    32. Chapter 21.52 — ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
    33. Chapter 21.56 — NONCONFORMING USES, STRUCTURES AND PARCELS
    34. Chapter 21.58 — PUBLIC HEARINGS
    35. Chapter 21.60 — APPEALS
    36. Chapter 21.62 — REVOCATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS
    37. Chapter 21.64 — ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS
    38. Chapter 21.66 — APPLICABILITY AND ADMINISTRATION OF SUBDIVISIO…
    39. Chapter 21.68 — SUBDIVISION DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS
    40. Chapter 21.70 — TENTATIVE MAP FILING AND PROCESSING
    41. Chapter 21.72 — PARCEL MAPS AND FINAL MAPS
    42. Chapter 21.74 — CONDOMINIUMS AND CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS
    43. Chapter 21.76 — LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS AND PARCEL MERGERS
    44. Chapter 21.78 — DEDICATIONS, EXACTIONS AND MITIGATION FEES
    45. Chapter 21.79 — PARKLAND DEDICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND FEES
    46. Chapter 21.80 — IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND AGREEMENTS
    47. Chapter 21.82 — SURVEYS AND MONUMENTS
    48. Chapter 21.84 — CONDITIONS, COVENANTS OR RESTRICTIONS
    49. Chapter 21.90 — DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY

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