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Title 21 — Development Code

Chapter 21.06 — DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Fountain Valley Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Fountain Valley

§ 21.06.010. Purpose.

This chapter provides general requirements for the approval of proposed development and new land uses in the city. The land use permit requirements established by this title for specific land uses are in Chapters 21.08 through 21.14 of this title. (Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

§ 21.06.020. General requirements for development and new land uses.

All uses of land and/or structures shall be established, constructed, reconstructed, altered or replaced, in compliance with the following requirements:

  • (1) Allowable Uses. The use of land shall be identified by Chapters 21.08 (Residential Zoning Districts), 21.10 (Commercial and Manufacturing Zoning Districts) or 21.12 (Special Purpose Zoning Districts) of this title, as being allowable in the zoning district applied to the site. The director may determine whether a particular land use is allowable, in compliance with subsection (f) of Section 21.02.020 (Rules of interpretation—Allowable uses of land) of this title.

  • (2) Permit/Approval Requirements. All land use permits or other approvals required by Section 21.06.030 (Allowable land uses and permit requirements) of this chapter shall be obtained by the applicant before the proposed use is constructed, established or put into operation, unless the proposed use is exempt as provided in Section 21.06.040 (Exemptions from development and land use approval requirements) of this chapter.

  • (3) Development Standards. The use of land and/or structure shall comply with all applicable requirements of this title, including the zoning district standards of Chapters 21.04 through 21.14 of this title, and the provisions of Chapters 21.16 through 21.30 of this title.

  • (4) Conditions of Approval. The use of land and/or structure shall comply with any applicable conditions imposed by any previously granted land use permit or other approval.

  • (5) Legal Parcel. The use of land and/or structure shall only be established on a parcel of land which has been legally created in compliance with the Subdivision Map Act and Chapters 21.32 through 21.50 of this title, as applicable at the time the parcel was created.

  • (6) Development Agreements. The use and/or structures shall comply with any applicable development agreement approved by the city in compliance with Chapter 21.38 (Development Agreements) of this title.

  • (Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

§ 21.06.030. Allowable land uses and permit requirements.

The uses of land allowed by this title in each zoning district are identified in Chapters 21.08 , 21.10 and 21.12 of this title, together with the type of land use permit required for each use.

  • (1) Allowed Land Uses. Tables 2-2, 2-5 and 2-7 provide for land uses that are:

    • (A) Permitted subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this title and any building permit or other permit required by this code. These are shown as "P" uses in the tables; or

    • (B) Allowed subject to the approval of a conditional use permit (Chapter 21.36 ), and shown as "CUP" uses in the tables;

  • (2) Multiple Uses on a Single Site. Where a proposed project includes multiple land uses, and Tables 2-2, 2-5 and 2-7 require different land use permits for some of the uses, the project shall be authorized through the approval of the permit requiring the highest level of review. (For example, a structure proposed in the C2 district with a convenience store on the first floor (CUP

required) and offices on the second floor (permitted uses) shall be authorized through conditional use permit approval.)

  • (3) Uses Not Listed. Land uses that are not listed in Table 2-2, 2-5, 2-6 or 2-7, or are not shown in a particular zoning district are not allowed, except as otherwise provided by subsection (f) of Section 21.02.020 (Rules of interpretation—Allowable uses of land), or Section 21.06.040 (Exemptions from land use permit requirements) of this title.

  • (Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000; Ord. 1358 § 2, 2005)

§ 21.06.040. Exemptions from land use permit requirements.

The land use permit requirements of this title do not apply to the activities, uses of land and/or structures identified by this section.

  • (1) Governmental Facilities. Facilities of the city, state, federal government or special districts (e.g., school district, sanitation district) on land owned or leased by a governmental agency, for governmental operations, to the extent that the facilities are exempted by state or federal law.

  • (2) Interior Remodeling. Interior alterations that do not increase the number of rooms or the gross floor area within the structure, or change the approved use of the structure.

  • (3) Repairs and Maintenance. Ordinary repairs and maintenance, if:

    • (A) The work does not result in any change in the approved land use of the site or structure, addition to or enlargement/expansion of the land use and/or structure;

    • (B) The exterior repairs in the commercial and manufacturing districts that employ the same materials, colors and design as the original construction; and

(C) The exterior repairs, including painting, are being performed on a single-family residence. (Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

§ 21.06.050. Temporary uses.

Requirements for establishing a temporary use (e.g., construction yards, seasonal sales lots, special events, temporary office trailers, etc.) are in Chapter 21.48 (Temporary Use Permits) of this title. (Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

§ 21.06.060. Additional permits and approvals may be required.

An allowed land use that has been granted a land use permit, or is exempt from a land use approval, may still be required to obtain city permits or approvals before the use is constructed, or otherwise established and put into operation. Nothing in this chapter shall eliminate the need to obtain any permits or approvals required by other provisions of this code or any applicable county, state or federal agency regulations.

All necessary permits shall be obtained before starting work or establishing new uses. (Ord. 1308 § 5, 2000)

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Contents — Fountain Valley Zoning Code
Fountain Valley Zoning Code
  1. Title 21 — Development Code
    Overview
    1. Chapter 21.01 — ENACTMENT AND APPLICABILITY OF TITLE
    2. Chapter 21.02 — INTERPRETATION OF TITLE PROVISIONS
    3. Chapter 21.04 — ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONING DISTRICTS—ADOPTION OF …
    4. Chapter 21.06 — DEVELOPMENT AND LAND USE APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
    5. Chapter 21.08 — RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
    6. Chapter 21.10 — COMMERCIAL AND MANUFACTURING ZONING DISTRICTS
    7. Chapter 21.12 — SPECIAL PURPOSE ZONING DISTRICTS
    8. Chapter 21.14 — OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICTS
    9. Chapter 21.15 — MIXED-USE ZONING DISTRICTS
    10. Chapter 21.16 — GENERAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
    11. Chapter 21.17 — INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM
    12. Chapter 21.18 — GENERAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT AND USE STANDARDS
    13. Chapter 21.20 — LANDSCAPING
    14. Chapter 21.22 — PARKING AND LOADING
    15. Chapter 21.24 — SIGNS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
    16. Chapter 21.25 — SIGNS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
    17. Chapter 21.26 — TRIP REDUCTION AND TRAVEL DEMAND MANAGEMENT
    18. Chapter 21.28 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
    19. Chapter 21.29 — GROUP HOMES
    20. Chapter 21.30 — STANDARDS FOR SPECIFIC LAND USES
    21. Chapter 21.32 — APPLICATIONS, PROCESSING AND FEES
    22. Chapter 21.34 — AMENDMENTS
    23. Chapter 21.36 — CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
    24. Chapter 21.38 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
    25. Chapter 21.39 — DEVELOPER MITIGATION FEES
    26. Chapter 21.40 — DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
    27. Chapter 21.42 — HOME OCCUPATION PERMITS
    28. Chapter 21.44 — PRECISE PLAN OF DESIGN
    29. Chapter 21.46 — SPECIFIC PLANS
    30. Chapter 21.48 — TEMPORARY USE PERMITS
    31. Chapter 21.50 — VARIANCES
    32. Chapter 21.52 — ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
    33. Chapter 21.56 — NONCONFORMING USES, STRUCTURES AND PARCELS
    34. Chapter 21.58 — PUBLIC HEARINGS
    35. Chapter 21.60 — APPEALS
    36. Chapter 21.62 — REVOCATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS
    37. Chapter 21.64 — ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS
    38. Chapter 21.66 — APPLICABILITY AND ADMINISTRATION OF SUBDIVISIO…
    39. Chapter 21.68 — SUBDIVISION DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS
    40. Chapter 21.70 — TENTATIVE MAP FILING AND PROCESSING
    41. Chapter 21.72 — PARCEL MAPS AND FINAL MAPS
    42. Chapter 21.74 — CONDOMINIUMS AND CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS
    43. Chapter 21.76 — LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS AND PARCEL MERGERS
    44. Chapter 21.78 — DEDICATIONS, EXACTIONS AND MITIGATION FEES
    45. Chapter 21.79 — PARKLAND DEDICATIONS, RESERVATIONS AND FEES
    46. Chapter 21.80 — IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND AGREEMENTS
    47. Chapter 21.82 — SURVEYS AND MONUMENTS
    48. Chapter 21.84 — CONDITIONS, COVENANTS OR RESTRICTIONS
    49. Chapter 21.90 — DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY

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