Palm Desert · Land use · Senior or assisted living
Where is senior housing or assisted living allowed in Palm Desert?
In Palm Desert, senior housing or assisted living is needs a conditional use permit in 4 (R-1, R-2, R-3 and PR) and not allowed in 5 (Palm Desert use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-1, R-2, R-3 and PR
- Not allowed: RE, R-1M, HPR, D and DE
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Palm Desert Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where senior housing or assisted living can go
Palm Desert's code calls this use “Assisted living”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| R-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| R-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| R-3 | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
| PR Planned residential district | Needs a conditional use permit | § 25.10.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3) and is allowed wherever homes are.
- Not covered here: Zone names are not stated in the packet (no zone list). Four matrices: S1 residential RE/R-1/R-2/R-3/R-1M/HPR/PR, S2 commercial/industrial OP/PC-1..PC-4/SI, S3 downtown D/D-O/DE/DE-O, S4 special P/OS.. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Palm Desert
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have senior housing or assisted living in the R-1 zone in Palm Desert?
Only with a conditional use permit. Palm Desert's use table lists it that way in R-1 (§ 25.10.030).
Can I have senior housing or assisted living in the RE zone in Palm Desert?
No. Palm Desert's use table does not allow it in RE (§ 25.10.030).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about senior housing or assisted living at an address in Palm Desert
Ask GoCodebook what the zoning at a specific address allows and get an answer that cites the section.
Ask your question