Diamond Bar Municipal Code Ch. 22.08 Residential Zoning Districts

This chapter provides regulations for development and new land uses in the residential zoning districts established by section 22.06.020 (Zoning districts established).

(Ord. No. 02(1998), § 2, 11-3-98)

The purposes of the individual residential zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows.

(1) RR (rural residential) district. The RR zoning district identifies hillside areas intended for rural living, including the keeping of animals, with supporting accessory structures. The maximum allowed density for new residential subdivisions within this zoning district will be one dwelling unit per gross acre, or lower densities where required by chapter 22.22 (Hillside Management). The RR zoning district is consistent with the rural residential land use category of the general plan.

(2) RL (low density residential) district. The RL zoning district is intended primarily for parcels developed with existing detached single-family dwellings. The maximum allowed density for new residential subdivisions within this zoning district will be three dwellings per gross acre. The RL zoning district is consistent with the low density residential land use category of the general plan.

(3) RLM (low/medium density residential) district. The RLM zoning district is intended primarily for existing subdivided areas developed with detached single-family dwellings. The maximum allowed density for new residential subdivisions within this zoning district will be five dwellings per gross acre. The RLM zoning district is consistent with the low density residential land use category of the general plan.

(4) RM (medium density residential) district.The RM zoning district is intended for areas developed with existing planned townhome, condominium, apartment, mobile home, and other multifamily residential projects. The maximum allowed density for new residential projects within this zoning district will be 12 dwellings per gross acre. The RM zoning district is consistent with the medium density residential land use category of the general plan.

(5) RMH (medium/high density residential) district. The RMH zoning district is intended for areas of existing and planned townhome, condominium, apartment, other multifamily residential projects, and mobile home parks. The maximum allowed density for new residential projects within this zoning district will be 16 dwellings per gross acre. The RMH zoning district is consistent with the medium high density residential land use category of the general plan.

(6) RH (high density residential) district. The RH zoning district is intended for areas of existing and proposed high density condominium and apartment projects, other high density residential projects, and mobile home parks. The maximum allowed density for new residential projects within this zoning district will be 20 dwellings per gross acre. The RH zoning district is consistent with the high density residential land use category of the general plan.

(7) RH-30 (high density residential-30 dwelling units per acre) district. The RH-30 zoning district is intended for high-density condominium and apartment developments. The maximum allowed density for new residential projects within this zoning district will be 30 dwellings per net acre and the minimum density will be 20 dwelling units per net acre. The RH-30 zoning district is consistent with the high density-30 residential land use category of the general plan. When the RH-30 designation is applied to property pursuant to Government Code Section 65583.2(h), subsequent review of any complete development application submitted in the same housing element planning period shall comply with the requirements of Government Code Sec. 65583.2(i).

(Ord. No. 02(1998), § 2, 11-3-98; Ord. No. 06(2013), § 3(Exh. A), 9-3-13; Ord. No. 07(2013), § 3(Exh. A), 9-17-13)

Table 2-3 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Development Code in each residential zoning district, and the land use permit required to establish each use, in compliance with section 22.06.040(c) (Zoning district regulations).

Note: Where the last column in the tables ("See Standards in Section") includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use; however, provisions in other sections of this Development Code may also apply.

TABLE 2-3 ALLOWED USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS

KEY TO PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

Notes:

(1) See article VI for definitions of each of the land uses listed.

(2) See chapter 22.48 for development review requirements for all uses.

(3) Radio and television antennas and wireless telecommunications antenna facilities shall be permitted pursuant to the standards contained within Ordinance No. 04(1999).

(4) The land use category for a group home shall be determined based upon the predominant operating characteristics of the use. Only one land use category shall be applied to a use at a time.

(5) Zoning clearance is not required for family day care homes.

(Ord. No. 02(1998), § 2, 11-3-98; Ord. No. 04(1999), § 2, 3-2-99; Ord. No. 04(2005), § B, 3-15-05; Ord. No. 03(2010), § 3, 5-18-10; Ord. No. 06(2013), § 3(Exh. A), 9-3-13; Ord. No. 07(2013), § 3(Exh. A), 9-17-13; Ord. No. 03(2017), § 2, 5-2-17; Ord. No. 03(2021), § 1, 12-7-21; Ord. No. 03(2024), § 2, 7-16-24)

Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-4, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in article III (Site Planning and General Development Standards).

TABLE 2-4 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

Requirement by Zoning District

Notes:

(1) Minimum area for parcels proposed in new subdivisions, except as otherwise provided by section 22.08.050 (Minimum lot area), and chapter 22.22 (Hillside Management). Condominium, townhome, or planned development projects may be subdivided with smaller parcel sizes for ownership purposes, with the minimum lot area requirement determined through the subdivision review process, provided that the overall development site complies with the lot area requirements of this chapter.

(2) Maximum number of dwellings allowed for each specified unit of land. The approval of a conditional use permit within areas subject to section 22.22.040 (Hillside management—Density) may result in fewer dwelling units being allowed than the maximum density shown. See also chapter 22.18 (Affordable Housing Incentives/Density Bonus Provisions) for possible density bonuses.

(3) Front setbacks listed are minimums. For single-family detached tract development, a minimum five-foot setback variation for adjacent residential units is required.

(4) See section 22.68.030(b)(2) for nonconforming side setbacks and distance separations to dwelling units.

(5) Maximum allowable height for structures. See section 22.16.060 (Height measurement and height limit exceptions).

(Ord. No. 02(1998), § 2, 11-3-98; Ord. No. 02(2000), 4-4-00; Ord. No. 04(2001), § 3, 11-20-01; Ord. No. 06(2013), § 3(Exh. A), 9-3-13; Ord. No. 07(2013), § 3(Exh. A), 9-17-13; Ord. No. 01(2021), § 1, 7-20-21; Ord. No. 03(2024), § 3, 7-16-24)

The minimum area for each parcel proposed in a subdivision, and the maximum density of residential development, is determined by section 22.08.040 (Residential zoning district general development standards).

(Ord. No. 02(1998), § 2, 11-3-98)