Garden Grove · Land use · Rooming or boarding house
Where is a rooming or boarding house allowed in Garden Grove?
In Garden Grove, a rooming or boarding house is allowed in 4 base zones (GGMU-1, GGMU-2, GGMU-3 and CC-3, all with a condition) and not allowed in 5 (Garden Grove use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: GGMU-1, GGMU-2, GGMU-3 and CC-3
- Not allowed: CC-1, CC-2, CC-OS, NMU and AR
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Garden Grove Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a rooming or boarding house can go
Garden Grove's code calls this use “Single Room Occupancy (SRO)”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| GGMU-1 Garden Grove Boulevard Mixed Use 1 | Allowed — see note Note comment: Shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.12.050 Single Room Occupancy Use Regulations and Development Standards. Note § 9.18.020.070.A: In the GGMU-1, CC-2, CC-3, NMU, and AR zones, stand-alone residential development shall not be permitted. All vertically integrated mixed use developments shall require a minimum commercial component as follows: | Chapter 9.18 — MIXED USE REGULATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS |
| GGMU-2 Garden Grove Boulevard Mixed Use 2 | Allowed — see note Note comment: Shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.12.050 Single Room Occupancy Use Regulations and Development Standards. | Chapter 9.18 — MIXED USE REGULATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS |
| GGMU-3 Garden Grove Boulevard Mixed Use 3 | Allowed — see note Note comment: Shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.12.050 Single Room Occupancy Use Regulations and Development Standards. | Chapter 9.18 — MIXED USE REGULATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS |
| CC-3 Civic Center Core | Allowed — see note Note comment: Shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.12.050 Single Room Occupancy Use Regulations and Development Standards. Note § 9.18.020.070.A: In the GGMU-1, CC-2, CC-3, NMU, and AR zones, stand-alone residential development shall not be permitted. All vertically integrated mixed use developments shall require a minimum commercial component as follows: | Chapter 9.18 — MIXED USE REGULATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: § 9.12.050 Single Room Occupancy Use Regulations and Development Standards.
- S2 also has a "Boarding/Lodging" row: R-2 C, R-3 C (Conditional Use). The SRO row there reads R-2 "—", R-3 "P". The two rows differ in both zones, so neither zone is given. Mixed-use table has no boarding/lodging row.
- Not covered here: PUD (planned unit development) zones and specific plans (Chapter 9.28: each specific plan has its own use list); Overlay zones (Emergency Shelter Overlay Zone) and any other zone whose use table is not in the packet; R-1 use table covers R-1 only; commercial/industrial table has no residential rows. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Garden Grove
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a rooming or boarding house in the CC-1 zone in Garden Grove?
No. Garden Grove's use table does not allow it in CC-1 (Civic Center East) (Chapter 9.18 — MIXED USE REGULATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS).
Can I have a rooming or boarding house in the GGMU-1 zone in Garden Grove?
Yes, with a condition. Garden Grove's use table lists it as allowed in GGMU-1 (Garden Grove Boulevard Mixed Use 1) (Chapter 9.18 — MIXED USE REGULATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS). The code adds a condition: “Shall comply with the provisions of Section 9.12.050 Single Room Occupancy Use Regulations and Development Standards. In the GGMU-1, CC-2, CC-3, NMU, and AR zones, stand-alone residential development shall not be…”
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a rooming or boarding house at an address in Garden Grove
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question