Earlier editions: 2026-09
Title 20 — ZONING›Part 1 — ENACTMENT AND APPLICABILITY
Merced Municipal Code Ch. 20.06 Zoning Districts and Map
Merced Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Merced
Cite as: Merced Municipal Code Chapter 20.06 · Text as of 2026-10-04
20.06.010 - Purpose.¶
This chapter identifies the zoning districts that apply to land within the Merced city limits and establishes the official Merced zoning map.
(Ord. No. 2465, § 2(Exhs. A., B.), 9-19-2016)
20.06.020 - Zoning districts.¶
A. Base Zoning Districts. Merced is divided into zoning districts that implement the general plan land use map as shown in Table 20.06-1.
TABLE 20.06-1 BASE ZONING DISTRICTS
| Zoning District Symbol | Name of Zoning District | General Plan Land Use Designations |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Zoning Districts | Residential Zoning Districts | Residential Zoning Districts |
| R-R | Rural Residential | Rural Residential (RR) |
| R-1 | Low Density Residential | Low Density Residential (LD) |
| R-2 | Low Medium Density Residential | Low Medium Density Residential (LMD) |
| R-3 | Medium Density Residential | High Medium Density Residential (HMD) |
| R-4 | High Density Residential | High Density Residential (HD) |
| R-MH | Mobile Home Residential | Mobile Home Park Residential (RMH) |
| Commercial Zoning Districts | Commercial Zoning Districts | Commercial Zoning Districts |
| C-C | Regional/ |
Regional/ |
| C-G | General Commercial | General Commercial (CG) |
| C-T | Thoroughfare Commercial | Thoroughfare Commercial (CT) |
| C-N | Neighborhood Commercial | Neighborhood Commercial (CN) |
| C-SC | Shopping Center Commercial | Neighborhood Commercial (CN) |
| C-O | Office Commercial | Commercial/ |
| B-P | Business Park | Business Park (BP) |
| Industrial Zoning Districts | Industrial Zoning Districts | Industrial Zoning Districts |
| I-L | Light Industrial | Industrial (IND) |
| I-H | Heavy Industrial | Industrial (IND) |
| Downtown Zoning Districts | Downtown Zoning Districts | Downtown Zoning Districts |
| D-COR | Downtown Core | Regional/ |
| D-O | Downtown Office | Regional/ |
| D-CM | Downtown Commercial | Regional/ |
| Urban Village Zoning Districts | Urban Village Zoning Districts | Urban Village Zoning Districts |
| R-IV | Inner Village Residential | Village Residential (VR) |
| R-OV | Outer Village Residential | Village Residential (VR) |
| C-V | Village Commercial | Neighborhood Commercial (CN) or Regional/ |
| P-OS | Parks and Open Space | Open Space-Park/ |
| P-F | Public Facility | Open Space-Park/ |
| P-PK | Public Parking District | Open Space-Park/ |
| A-G | Agriculture | Agricultural (AR) |
| Other Zones | Other Zones | Other Zones |
| U-T | Urban Transition | N/A |
| P-D | Planned Development | N/A |
B. Overlay Zones. The zoning ordinance and zoning map include the overlay zones shown in Table 20.06-2. Overlay zones impose additional regulations on properties beyond what is required by the underlying base zoning district. See Chapter 20.22 for regulations that apply to overlay zones.
Table 20.06-2 Overlay Zones
| Zoning District Symbol | Name of Overlay Zones |
|---|---|
| /HSR | High Speed Rail |
| /AE | Airport Environ |
| /UR | Urban Residential |
(Ord. No. 2465, § 2(Exhs. A., B.), 9-19-2016)
20.06.030 - Zoning map.¶
A. Adoption. The city council hereby adopts the Merced zoning map ("zoning map"), which establishes the boundaries of all base zoning districts and overlay zones provided for in the zoning ordinance.
B. Incorporation by Reference. The zoning map, including all legends, symbols, notations, references, and other information shown on the map, is incorporated by reference and made a part of the zoning ordinance.
C. Location. The zoning map is kept, maintained, and updated by the development services department, and is available for viewing by the public at the department and on the official City of Merced website. The digital version of the zoning map for the City of Merced is maintained online by the Merced County Association of Governments.
D. Replacement of Official Zoning Map. In the event the official zoning map becomes damaged, destroyed, lost or difficult to interpret because of the nature or number of changes and additions, the city council may, by resolution, adopt a new official zoning map which shall supersede the prior official zoning map. The new official zoning map may correct drafting or other errors or omissions in the prior official zoning map, but no such correction shall have the effect of amending the original zoning ordinance or any subsequent amendment thereof. The new official zoning map shall be identified by the signature of the mayor, attested by the city clerk, and bear the seal of the city under the following words: "This is to certify that this Official Zoning Map supersedes and replaces the Official Zoning Map adopted (insert date of previous map adoption) of the City of Merced, California."
(Ord. No. 2465, § 2(Exhs. A., B.), 9-19-2016)
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