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Title 17 — Development Code

Chapter 17.26 — ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONES

Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Rancho Cucamonga

§ 17.26.010. Chapter purpose.

This chapter establishes the framework of zones within the city and their relationships to the city's general plan land use designations.

(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

§ 17.26.020. Zones established.

  • A. Zone purpose. Zones are established in order to classify, regulate, designate, and distribute the uses of land and buildings; to regulate and restrict the height, setbacks and bulk of buildings; to regulate the area of yards and other open spaces around buildings; and to regulate the density of population. The city is divided into zones that are grouped into two categories: (1) base zones and (2) overlay zones. These zones are listed and described in Table 17.26.020-1 (Rancho Cucamonga Zones), along with the general plan land use designation that they implement.

  • B. Base zones. The base zone is the primary zone that applies to a property. Every parcel throughout the city has a base zone that establishes the primary land use type, density, intensity, and site development regulations. Base zones are grouped into five categories as follows:

    1. Residential Zones.

    2. Form-Based Zones.

    3. Industrial Zones.

    4. Open Space Zones.

    5. Special Purpose Zones.

  • C. Overlay zones. The Overlay Zones supplement base zones for one or more of the following purposes:

    1. To allow more flexibility from the standard provisions of the underlying base zone.

    2. To protect unique site features or implement location-specific regulations.

    3. To specify a particular standard or guideline for an area.

  • D. Subzones. Subzones are subsets of the primary zone. Subzones align with the primary zone development standards and uses requirements except where otherwise noted in this title.

  • E. In the event of a conflict between the regulations of the Base Zone and the Overlay Zone, the provisions of the Overlay Zone shall apply.

TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES
Zone
Symbol
Zone Name/Description
Residential Zones and Subzones
VL Very Low Residential. Designates areas for semi-rural residential use, with a minimum lot size of
20,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of up to two units per gross acre. Limited
neighborhood serving businesses in small buildings may be allowed on select corner parcels to provide
goods and services for daily needs and community gathering spots.
VL-EH 14000 Very Low Residential – Etiwanda Highlands 14000. Designates areas for semi-rural residential use,
with a minimum lot size of 14,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of up to two units per
gross acre.
VL-EH 9000 Very Low Residential – Etiwanda Highlands 9000. Designates areas for semi-rural residential use, with
a minimum lot size of 9,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of up to two units per gross
acre.
L Low Residential. Designates areas for single-family residential use, with a minimum lot size of 7,200
square feet and a maximum residential density of six units per gross acre.
L-ESP Low Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan. Designates areas for single-family residential use, with a
minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of six units per gross acre.
LM Low Medium Residential. Designates areas for low medium density single-family or multiple-family use
with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby single-family
detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and a maximum residential
density of eight units per gross acre.
LM-TV Low Medium Residential – Terra Vista. Designates areas for low medium density single-family or
multiple-family use with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby
single-family detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and a
maximum residential density of eight units per gross acre.
LM-ESP South Low Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan South. Designates areas for low medium density
single-family or multiple-family use with site development regulations that assure development
compatible with nearby single-family detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 5,000
square feet and a maximum residential density of eight units per gross acre.
LM-ESP Low Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan. Designates areas for low medium density single-
family or multiple-family use with site development regulations that assure development compatible
with nearby single-family detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 7,200 square feet
and a maximum residential density of eight units per gross acre.
M Medium Residential. Designates areas for medium density multiple-family use, with site development
regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development,
with a maximum residential density of 14 units per gross acre.
M-TV1 Medium Residential – Terra Vista 1. Designates areas for medium density multiple-family use, with site
development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential
development, including a minimum lot size of 3,500 square feet and a maximum residential density of
14 units per gross acre.
TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES
Zone
Symbol
Zone Name/Description
M-ESP South Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan South. Designates areas for medium density multiple-
family use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower
density residential development, including a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and a maximum
residential density of 14 units per gross acre.
M-ESP Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan. Designates areas for medium density multiple-family
use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density
residential development, including a minimum lot size of 7,200 square feet and a maximum residential
density of 14 units per gross acre.
MH Medium High Residential. Designates areas for medium high density multiple-family use, with site
development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential
development with a maximum residential density of 24 units per gross acre.
MH-TV Medium High Residential – Terra Vista. Designates areas for medium high density multiple-family use,
with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density
residential development, including a minimum lot size of one acre and a maximum residential density
of 24 units per gross acre.
H High Residential. Designates areas for a variety of high density multiple-family housing, and mixed-use
buildings, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower
density residential development with a maximum residential density of 30 units per gross acre. Limited
context-sensitive neighborhood commercial uses may be allowed in select locations to provide goods
and services for daily needs and community gathering spots.
H-TV High Residential – Terra Vista. Designates areas for a variety of single family attached/detached
housing, multiple-family housing, and mixed-use buildings, with site development regulations that
assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development, with a maximum
residential density of 30 units per gross acre.
Form-Based Zones (See Article VIII)
TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES
NE2 Neighborhood Estate 2. Low density and intensity residential development on large lots within
interconnected neighborhoods. Context sensitive retail and services uses are allowed in key locations.
NG3 Neighborhood General 3. Medium density and intensity development along certain segments and
nodes of major corridors in proximity to smaller-scale residential neighborhoods. Buildings promote
walkability and contribute to active, vibrant environments while being context-sensitive by transitioning
scale when adjacent to lower density neighborhoods. Uses provide a range of daily needs within
walkable suburban neighborhoods, with some transitional auto-oriented development in outlying areas.
CE1 Center 1. Active, vibrant town centers that promote walkability with neighborhood-serving commercial
and retail uses in proximity to medium density residential development. Buildings front streets and
provide a vibrant, safe street environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
ME1 Mixed Employment 1. Medium intensity development focused on walkable professional offce and
employment uses. Buildings front streets and transition areas from auto-oriented offce parks to mixed-
use, vibrant hubs of activity.
ME2 Mixed Employment 2. Medium to high intensity development focused on professional offce, creative
industrial and maker spaces, and employment uses along active, walkable streets. Buildings front
streets and corridors with tall ground foors that support a mix of uses, entrances, and facades.
CO1 Corridor 1. Medium intensity mixed-use development that transitions existing auto-oriented corridors
and places to vibrant areas that promote walkability. Building and entrance/ facade types are diverse,
contributing to a mix of distinct places along major corridor areas. Buildings front streets and transition
in scale to surrounding neighborhoods with some auto-oriented development along secondary streets.
CO2 Corridor 2. Medium to high intensity mixed-use development along active, walkable corridors and at
key intersections. Buildings front streets and transition in scale to surrounding neighborhoods with
some transitional auto-oriented development along secondary streets.
CE2 Center 2. Mixed-use urban areas with pedestrian-friendly commercial and residential hubs and infll
development along vibrant public spaces that promote walkability. Buildings transition in scale (i.e.,
step up or step down) to surrounding neighborhoods, centers, and districts. Developments support safe
streets for pedestrians and cyclists.
Industrial Zones
NI Neo-Industrial. Designates areas to support a complementary mix of uses such as, research and
development, light and custom manufacturing, engineering and design services, breweries, and maker
spaces, as well as accessory offce, retail and limited residential uses to compliment the primary use;
supportive amenities and services; and convenient transit access. This zone encourages light industrial
TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES
Zone
Symbol
Zone Name/Description
activities with low environmental impacts and supports the growth of creative industries, incubator
businesses, and innovative design and manufacturing. The zone can allow for small scale, context
sensitive warehousing, distribution and manufacturing to support small business development.
IE Industrial Employment. Designates areas reserved for manufacturing, processing, construction and
heavy equipment yards, warehousing and storage, e-commerce distribution, light industrial research
parks, automobile and vehicle services, and a broad range of similar clean industrial practices and
processes that typically generate more truck traffc, noise, and environmental impacts than would be
compatible with offce and residential uses. This zone prohibits non-industrial uses, except for
accessory offce and commercial uses (such as restaurants or convenience stores) that support the
employees of the primary industrial use, and on-site caretaker units.
Open Space Zones
OSC Open Space Conservation. Designates areas primarily to protect environmentally sensitive land. The
use regulations, development standards, and criteria encourage preservation of existing conservation
areas and protection of natural resources.
HR Hillside Residential. Designates areas for maintaining natural open space character through protection
of natural landforms; minimizing erosion; providing for public safety; protecting water, fora, and fauna
resources; and establishing design standards to provide for limited development in harmony with the
environment. Allowed density is a maximum of two units per net buildable acre as determined through
the Hillside Development Review process.
P Parks. Designates areas primarily for public parks, public schools, and public facilities. The use
regulations and development standards provide for low intensity development and encourage
educational and recreational activities.
FC/UC Flood Control/Utility Corridor. Designates areas necessary for food control facilities for protection of the
public health, safety, and general welfare as well as utility corridors in which land uses compatible to
both the utility function and surrounding, existing, or proposed land uses are allowed.
Special Purpose Zones
SP Specifc Plan. Designates areas for master planning through the adoption of a specifc plan with unique
land use and development standards for a particular project areas with a minimum of 100 acres.
Overlay Zones
TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES
SH Senior Housing. Designates areas available for affordable rental housing units to serve the city's senior
citizens. Zone provisions ensure high quality project design and establish incentives for ongoing
affordability for this target group. This zone can be combined with any residential base zone that meets
the overlay zone qualifcations.
E Equestrian. Designates areas for the keeping of equine, bovine, and cleft-hoofed animals. Further, this
zone protects the ability to maintain such animals, promotes a "rural/farm" character in an urban
setting, and recognizes and encourages the educational and recreational values derived from raising
and maintaining such animals. This zone may be combined with any residential base zone that meets
the overlay zone qualifcations.
H Hillside. Designates sloped areas subject to special hillside development regulations. Generally, this
zone applies to areas with a slope greater than or equal to eight percent. This zone may be combined
with any residential base zone that meets the overlay zone qualifcations.
LW Large Warehouse. Designates area where large industrial buildings with a gross foor area over
450,000 square feet are permitted.
CS Cucamonga Station Area. Designates an area around the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station for
modifed FAR and density standards. (see articleVIII).

(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022; Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)

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Contents — Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code
  1. Title 17 — Development Code
    Overview
    1. Chapter 17.02 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
    2. Chapter 17.04 — ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
    3. Chapter 17.06 — RULES AND INTERPRETATION
    4. Chapter 17.08 — ENFORCEMENT
    5. Chapter 17.12 — LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
    6. Chapter 17.14 — GENERAL APPLICATION PROCESSING PROCEDURES
    7. Chapter 17.16 — PLANNING DIRECTOR DECISIONS
    8. Chapter 17.18 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION DECISIONS
    9. Chapter 17.20 — PLANNING COMMISSION DECISIONS
    10. Chapter 17.22 — CITY COUNCIL DECISIONS
    11. Chapter 17.26 — ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONES
    12. Chapter 17.28 — ADOPTION OF ZONING MAP
    13. Chapter 17.30 — ALLOWED LAND USE BY BASE ZONE
    14. Chapter 17.32 — ALLOWED USE DESCRIPTIONS
    15. Chapter 17.34 — GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
    16. Chapter 17.36 — DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS BY BASE ZONE
    17. Chapter 17.38 — OVERLAY ZONES AND OTHER SPECIAL PLANNING AREAS
    18. Chapter 17.42 — ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
    19. Chapter 17.44 — CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS
    20. Chapter 17.46 — DENSITY BONUSES, INCENTIVES, AND CONCESSIONS
    21. Chapter 17.48 — FENCES, WALLS, AND SCREENING
    22. Chapter 17.50 — IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN BUILDING CODE
    23. Chapter 17.52 — HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT
    24. Chapter 17.54 — USES IN HISTORIC STRUCTURES
    25. Chapter 17.56 — LANDSCAPING STANDARDS
    26. Chapter 17.58 — OUTDOOR LIGHTING STANDARDS
    27. Chapter 17.60 — OUTDOOR SALES, STORAGE, DISPLAY, AND SEATING S…
    28. Chapter 17.62 — NONCONFORMING USES AND STRUCTURES
    29. Chapter 17.64 — PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS
    30. Chapter 17.66 — PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
    31. Chapter 17.68 — PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
    32. Chapter 17.70 — SIDEWALKS AND TRAILS
    33. Chapter 17.72 — SIGN REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY
    34. Chapter 17.74 — SIGN REGULATIONS FOR PRIVATE PROPERTY
    35. Chapter 17.76 — ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS AND FACILITIES
    36. Chapter 17.77 — TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
    37. Chapter 17.78 — TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT
    38. Chapter 17.80 — TREE PRESERVATION
    39. Chapter 17.82 — WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING
    40. Chapter 17.84 — UNDERGROUND UTILITIES
    41. Chapter 17.86 — ADULT BUSINESS USES
    42. Chapter 17.88 — ANIMAL REGULATIONS
    43. Chapter 17.89 — AUTOMOBILE SERVICE STATION
    44. Chapter 17.90 — CAR WASHING AND DETAILING
    45. Chapter 17.91 — DRIVE-IN AND DRIVE-THROUGH USES
    46. Chapter 17.92 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
    47. Chapter 17.93 — HOTELS
    48. Chapter 17.94 — COMMERCIAL CANNABIS USES AND CULTIVATION
    49. Chapter 17.96 — MOBILEHOMES
    50. Chapter 17.97 — LIVE/WORK UNITS
    51. Chapter 17.98 — PUBLIC UTILITIES AND USES
    52. Chapter 17.100 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY…
    53. Chapter 17.102 — SPECIAL REGULATED USES
    54. Chapter 17.104 — TEMPORARY USES
    55. Chapter 17.106 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES
    56. Chapter 17.108 — TELEVISION SATELLITE DISH AND ANTENNA REGULAT…
    57. Chapter 17.109 — BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES
    58. Chapter 17.110 — EMERGENCY SHELTERS
    59. Chapter 17.111 — VEHICLE SERVICE USES
    60. Chapter 17.112 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
    61. Chapter 17.114 — SPECIAL PLANNING AREA MAP AND DESCRIPTIONS
    62. Chapter 17.118 — PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY
    63. Chapter 17.120 — GENERAL DESIGN PROVISIONS
    64. Chapter 17.122 — DESIGN PROVISIONS BY DEVELOPMENT TYPE
    65. Chapter 17.123 — MULTI-FAMILY AND RESIDENTIAL MIXED-USE
    66. Chapter 17.124 — DESIGN PROVISIONS FOR PUBLIC ART
    67. Chapter 17.126 — INTRODUCTION
    68. Chapter 17.130 — ZONE AND BUILDING STANDARDS
    69. Chapter 17.132 — BUILDING ENTRANCES AND FACADES
    70. Chapter 17.134 — PUBLIC OPEN SPACE
    71. Chapter 17.136 — LAND USE STANDARDS
    72. Chapter 17.138 — LARGE SITE DEVELOPMENT
    73. Chapter 17.140 — UNIVERSAL DEFINITIONS
    74. Chapter 17.142 — ADULT BUSINESS DEFINITIONS
    75. Chapter 17.144 — DENSITY BONUS DEFINITIONS
    76. Chapter 17.146 — HISTORIC RESOURCES DEFINITIONS
    77. Chapter 17.148 — CANNABIS DEFINITIONS
    78. Chapter 17.150 — SIGN DEFINITIONS
    79. Chapter 17.152 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEFINITIONS
    80. Chapter 17.154 — FORM-BASED CODE DEFINITIONS

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