Whittier · Land use · Apartment building
Where is an apartment building (multifamily housing) allowed in Whittier?
In Whittier, an apartment building (multifamily housing) is allowed in 7 base zones (R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, MU-1 and 2 more, 4 with a condition) and needs a conditional use permit in 1 (PQP, it with a condition) (Whittier use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, MU-1, MU-2 and MU-3
- Needs a permit: PQP
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Whittier Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where an apartment building (multifamily housing) can go
Whittier's code calls this use “Dwelling Unit, Multi-Family”. 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-2 Light Multiple Residential | Allowed — see note Note density: Dwelling units, the number of which shall be one dwelling unit for each three thousand square feet of total lot area | § 18.18.020 |
| R-3 Medium Multiple Residential | Allowed — see note Note density: Dwelling units, the number of which shall be determined as follows: a. On lots having seven thousand square feet or less of lot area, one dwelling unit for each two thousand fifty square feet of lot area, and b. On lots having more than seven thousand square feet of lot area, one dwelling unit for each one thousand seven hundred fifty square feet of total lot area | § 18.20.020 |
| R-4 Heavy Multiple Residential | Allowed — see note Note density: Dwelling units, the number of which shall be determined as follows: a. On lots having seven thousand square feet or less of lot area, one dwelling unit for each two thousand fifty square feet of lot area. If optional development standards are incorporated into the design of the project, the density for the lot may be computed on the basis of one dwelling unit for each one thousand six hundred fifty square feet of lot area. b. On lots having more than seven thousand but less than twenty thousand square feet of lot area, one dwelling unit for each one thousand four hundred square feet of total lot area. If optional development standards are incorporated into the design of the project, the density for the lot may be computed on the basis of one dwelling unit for each one thousand two hundred fifty square feet of lot area; and c. On lots having twenty thousand square feet or more of lot area, one dwelling unit for each one thousand two hundred fifty square feet of total lot area | § 18.22.020 |
| R-5 Very Heavy Multiple Residential | Allowed — see note Note density: Dwelling units, the number of which shall be determined as follows: a. On lots having ten thousand square feet or less of lot area, one dwelling unit for each one thousand two hundred square feet of lot area. b. On lots having more than ten thousand but less than twenty-five thousand square feet of lot area, one dwelling unit for each one thousand square feet of total lot area. c. On lots having twenty-five thousand square feet or more of lot area, one dwelling unit for each eight hundred square feet of total lot area | § 18.23.020 |
| MU-1 | Allowed | § 18.35.020 |
| MU-2 | Allowed | § 18.35.020 |
| MU-3 | Allowed | § 18.35.020 |
| PQP Public and Quasi-Public | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note table: Compatibility with surrounding development pattern required. Multi-Family Residences: Rental and Ownership | § 18.39.020 |
What else applies
- R-2 to R-5 cells come from the generic principal use 'Dwelling units' (S7 to S10); the density note is attached. Stand-alone residential is allowed in any MU zone (S20 C).
- State law: State laws such as AB 2011, SB 6 and the density bonus law can allow homes on some commercial sites, or more units than this table shows.
- Not covered here: Section 18.52.030 (conditional uses named by R-E, H-R, R-1 to R-5, C-O, C-1, C-2, C-3, M) is not in the packet; Section 18.34.060 (emergency shelter provisions) is not in the packet; Section 18.07 land use definitions are not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Whittier
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the PQP zone in Whittier?
Only with a conditional use permit. Whittier's use table lists it that way in PQP (Public and Quasi-Public) (§ 18.39.020). The code adds a condition: “Compatibility with surrounding development pattern required. Multi-Family Residences: Rental and Ownership”
Can I have an apartment building (multifamily housing) in the R-2 zone in Whittier?
Yes, with a condition. Whittier's use table lists it as allowed in R-2 (Light Multiple Residential) (§ 18.18.020). The code adds a condition: “Dwelling units, the number of which shall be one dwelling unit for each three thousand square feet of total lot area”
General information, not legal advice.
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