Skip to content

Chapter 13-52 — Zoning Amendments

Hercules Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Hercules

Sec. 13-52.100 Purpose.

The purposes of the zoning amendments Chapter are to:

  1. Provide a process to amend the text of the Zoning Ordinance.

  2. Provide a process to amend the Zoning Map.

  3. Ensure that zoning amendments conform to the General Plan and are internally consistent within the Zoning Ordinance. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 52.100.]

Sec. 13-52.200 Application.

An amendment to the Zoning Ordinance or Zoning Map may be initiated by the Community Development Director, by resolution of the Planning Commission, or by action of the City Council in the form of a request to the Commission that it consider the proposed change.

An amendment or change in the Zoning Map boundaries of any district may be initiated by the owner of the property within the area for which a change of district is proposed or the authorized agent of the owner. If the area for which a change of district is proposed is in more than 1 ownership, all the property owners or their authorized agents shall join in filing the application. An application for an amendment to the Zoning Map shall be filed with the Community Development Director as per Chapter 13-40, Administration, Applications and Fees.

An application for an amendment to the Zoning Map shall include the following data:

  1. Name and address of the applicant.

  2. Reason for the requested amendment.

  3. Requests for Zoning Map amendments shall also include the following:

A. Statement that the applicant is the owner of the property for which the change in district boundaries is proposed or the authorized agent of the owner.

  • B. Address and legal description of the property.

C. Accurate scale drawing of the site with names of owners of all properties within 300 feet of the property lines, and locations of existing and proposed streets, drainages and easements within or adjacent to the property. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 52.200.]

Sec. 13-52.300 Applicability.

The City Council may grant amendments to the Zoning Ordinance for the following:

  1. Change in Zoning Map boundaries of any zoning district.

  2. Change in Zoning Ordinance text of a zoning district regulation.

  3. Change in off-street parking or loading facilities requirement, general provision, exception, or other regulatory provision within the text of the Zoning Ordinance. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 52.300.]

Sec. 13-52.400 Required Findings.

The City Council may grant an amendment to the Zoning Map and Zoning Ordinance only if all the following findings are made:

  1. The proposed amendment is consistent with the General Plan.

  2. The proposed amendment would not be detrimental to the health, safety, welfare, and public interest of the City.

  3. The proposed amendment is internally consistent and does not conflict with the purposes, regulations and required findings of the Zoning Ordinance. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 52.400.]

Sec. 13-52.500 Hearings and Appeals.

The procedures for hearings and appeals are as per Chapter 13-44, Hearings, Appeals and Judicial Review. [Ord. 522 § 1, 2019; Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 52.500.]

Sec. 13-52.600 Change of Zoning Map.

A change in the zoning designation for a property or a zoning district boundary shall be indicated on the Zoning Map with a notation of the date and number of the ordinance amending the map. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 52.600.]

Sec. 13-52.700 Annexed Territory.

All territory which is annexed to the City shall be automatically classified in the residential single-family low density RS-L district, unless a different classification has been assigned through prezoning. The Planning

Commission may make a study of the territory to determine in which zoning district it should be classified in order to carry out the purposes of the Zoning Ordinance. If the Planning Commission finds that a change of district is required, it may initiate the change as prescribed in Section 13-51.200. The owner of the property or the authorized agent of the owner may file an application for a change in district as prescribed in Section 13-51.200. [Ord. 515 § 2, 2018; ZO § 52.700.]

==> picture [39 x 19] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [39 x 19] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [39 x 19] intentionally omitted <==

The Hercules Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 555, passed March 25, 2025.

Disclaimer: The City Clerk's Office has the official version of the Hercules Municipal Code. Users should contact the City Clerk's Offi f di d b

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
▸ Contents — Hercules Zoning Code
Hercules Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 13-1 — Title, Components and Purposes
  2. Chapter 13-10 — Public/Quasi-Public District
  3. Chapter 13-10 — Public/Quasi-Public District
  4. Chapter 13-11 — CP Commercial Public Mixed-Use District
  5. Chapter 13-11 — CP Commercial Public Mixed-Use District
  6. Chapter 13-12 — HTC Historic Town Center District
  7. Chapter 13-12 — HTC Historic Town Center District
  8. Chapter 13-13 — I-R Industrial Residential Mixed-Use District
  9. Chapter 13-13 — I-R Industrial Residential Mixed-Use District
  10. Chapter 13-14 — PC-I Planned Commercial Industrial Mixed-Use
  11. Chapter 13-14 — PC-I Planned Commercial Industrial Mixed-Use D…
  12. Chapter 13-15 — PC-R Planned Commercial Residential Mixed-Use …
  13. Chapter 13-15 — PC-R Planned Commercial Residential Mixed-Use …
  14. Chapter 13-16 — PO/RD Planned Office-Research and Development …
  15. Chapter 13-16 — PO/RD Planned Office-Research and Development …
  16. Chapter 13-17 — WC Waterfront Commercial District
  17. Chapter 13-17 — WC Waterfront Commercial District
  18. Chapter 13-18 — NTC New Town Center District
  19. Chapter 13-18 — NTC New Town Center District
  20. Chapter 13-2 — Organization, Applicability and Interpretation
  21. Chapter 13-2 — Organization, Applicability and Interpretation
  22. Chapter 13-20 — H Historic Overlay District
  23. Chapter 13-20 — H Historic Overlay District
  24. Chapter 13-21 — F Special Flood Hazard Area Overlay District
  25. Chapter 13-21 — F Special Flood Hazard Area Overlay District
  26. Chapter 13-22 — Refugio Creek Overlay District
  27. Chapter 13-23 — School-Park Overlay District
  28. Chapter 13-23 — School-Park Overlay District
  29. Chapter 13-24 — Special Study Area Overlay District
  30. Chapter 13-24 — Special Study Area Overlay District
  31. Chapter 13-25 — Scenic Road and Highway Overlay District
  32. Chapter 13-25 — Scenic Road and Highway Overlay District
  33. Chapter 13-26 — Zoning Regulations and Development Standards f…
  34. Chapter 13-26 — Zoning Regulations and Development Standards f…
  35. Chapter 13-27 — Zoning Regulations and Development Standards f…
  36. Chapter 13-27 — Zoning Regulations and Development Standards f…
  37. Chapter 13-28 — Central Hercules Plan Regulating Code
  38. Chapter 13-28 — Central Hercules Plan Regulating Code
  39. Chapter 13-29 — Zoning Regulations and Development Standards f…
  40. Chapter 13-29 — Zoning Regulations and Development Standards f…
  41. Chapter 13-30 — Property Development Standards
  42. Chapter 13-30 — Property Development Standards
  43. Chapter 13-31 — Performance Standards
  44. Chapter 13-31 — Performance Standards
  45. Chapter 13-32 — Off-Street Parking and Loading Facilities
  46. Chapter 13-32 — Off-Street Parking and Loading Facilities
  47. Chapter 13-34 — Sign Regulations
  48. Chapter 13-34 — Sign Regulations
  49. Chapter 13-35 — Specific Land Use Requirements
  50. Chapter 13-35 — Specific Land Use Requirements
  51. Chapter 13-36 — Two-Unit Development
  52. Chapter 13-36 — Two-Unit Development
  53. Chapter 13-40 — Administration, Applications and Fees
  54. Chapter 13-40 — Administration, Applications and Fees
  55. Chapter 13-41 — Certificates of Occupancy
  56. Chapter 13-41 — Certificates of Occupancy
  57. Chapter 13-42 — Design Review
  58. Chapter 13-42 — Design Review
  59. Chapter 13-43 — Enforcement
  60. Chapter 13-43 — Enforcement
  61. Chapter 13-44 — Hearings, Appeals and Judicial Review
  62. Chapter 13-44 — Hearings, Appeals and Judicial Review
  63. Chapter 13-45 — Minor Exceptions
  64. Chapter 13-45 — Minor Exceptions
  65. Chapter 13-46 — Minor Modifications
  66. Chapter 13-47 — Nonconforming Uses, Structures and Signs
  67. Chapter 13-47 — Nonconforming Uses, Structures and Signs
  68. Chapter 13-48 — Planned Development Plans
  69. Chapter 13-48 — Planned Development Plans
  70. Chapter 13-49 — Specific Plans
  71. Chapter 13-49 — Specific Plans
  72. Chapter 13-5 — Application of Zone District Regulations
  73. Chapter 13-5 — Application of Zone District Regulations
  74. Chapter 13-50 — Use Permits
  75. Chapter 13-50 — Use Permits
  76. Chapter 13-51 — Variances
  77. Chapter 13-51 — Variances
  78. Chapter 13-52 — Zoning Amendments
  79. Chapter 13-52 — Zoning Amendments
  80. Chapter 13-53 — Reasonable Accommodations for Persons with Dis…
  81. Chapter 13-53 — Reasonable Accommodations for Persons with Dis…
  82. Chapter 13-6 — Residential Districts
  83. Chapter 13-6 — Residential Districts
  84. Chapter 13-60 — Definitions
  85. Chapter 13-60 — Definitions
  86. Chapter 13-7 — P-M-H Mobile Home Park District
  87. Chapter 13-7 — P-M-H Mobile Home Park District
  88. Chapter 13-8 — Commercial Districts
  89. Chapter 13-8 — Commercial Districts
  90. Chapter 13-9 — Industrial District
  91. Chapter 13-9 — Industrial District

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.