Chapter 92.00 — Zoning Regulations
§ 92.02
Palm Springs Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Palm Springs
§ 92.02.00. "R-G-A" garden apartment and cluster residential zone. ¶
Two R-G-A (R-G-A(6) and R-G-A(8)) zones are designed to provide for the development of lowdensity multiple-family residential uses. (Ord. 1294, 1988)
§ 92.02.01. Uses permitted. ¶
- A. Uses Permitted.
Buildings, structures and land shall be used and buildings and structures shall hereafter be erected, altered or enlarged only for the following uses. All uses shall be subject to the standards in Section 92.02.03.
Single-family dwellings in accordance with Section 92.01.00 (R-1-C);
Multiple-family dwellings;
Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the permitted uses and located on the same lot therewith;
Accessory dwelling units, subject to the requirements of Section 93.23.14;
Day care, small or large;
Home occupations subject to the provisions of Chapter 5.22 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code;
Hotels which exist on the effective date of this Zoning Code;
Manufactured housing on permanent foundations as allowed in Section 65852.3 of the California Governmental Code and Section 18551 of the California Health and Safety Code; provided, the following criteria are met. In cases where one or more of these criteria cannot be met, such housing shall be subject to approval of the planning director pursuant to the provisions of Section 94.04.00, Architectural review:
a. Roofing materials shall comply with the Uniform Building Code and Uniform Building Code Standards as adopted by the city of Palm Springs and shall be limited to those customarily utilized in the desert,
b. Siding materials shall comply with the Uniform Building Code and Uniform Building Code Standards as adopted by the city of Palm Springs and shall be limited to those customarily utilized in the desert,
c. The unit shall not be greater than 10 years of age at the time it is placed on the lot,
d. The design of the residence shall be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
- B. Similar Uses Permitted by Commission Determination.
The commission may, by resolution of record, permit any other uses which it may determine to be similar to those listed above and not more obnoxious or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare or to other uses permitted in the zone, as provided in Section 94.01.00.
C. Uses Permitted by Land Use Permit.
- Childcare centers; provided the subject site is located on a major or secondary thoroughfare.
D. Uses Permitted by Conditional Use Permit.
The following uses may be permitted, subject to approval of a conditional use permit, as provided in Section 94.02.00:
Public parks, recreational areas and public schools;
Private clubs, golf courses, tennis and swimming clubs;
Churches on sites of two acres or more;
Off-site parking areas, not as an accessory to uses permitted in this zone. The property proposed for off-site parking shall abut a commercial zone or on an alley which is the boundary with such zone, and extend not more than 150 feet from such boundary;
Assisted living facilities and convalescent homes, subject to the provisions of Section 94.02.00(H)(7); and provided, property on which such use is proposed is located 150 feet from any R-1 zone district;
Resort hotels, on parcels not less than 20 acres in area, subject to the requirements in Section 92.04.01(A)(2);
Accessory buildings and uses customarily incident to the permitted uses listed above and located on the same lot therewith;
Reserved;
Reserved;
Spas as an accessory use to a hotel subject to the following standards:
a. For hotels with under 50 rooms, the facility is to serve hotel guests only. Facilities located in hotels with more than 50 rooms and located on a major thoroughfare may be permitted to serve clients who are not hotel guests,
b. The hotel has a minimum of 15 guest rooms,
c. Staff shall be licensed and trained in the particular programs provided in accordance with Chapter 5.34 of the Municipal Code,
d. Such facility shall comply with Chapter 5.34 of the Municipal Code. (Ord. 1294, 1988; Ord. 1347, 1990; Ord. 1418, 1992; Ord. 1551, 1998; Ord. 1553, 1998; Ord. 1590 § 4, 2000; Ord. 1875 § 3, 2015; Ord. 2020 §§ 12, 13, 2020; Ord. 2076, 1/12/2023)
§ 92.02.02. Uses prohibited. ¶
All uses and structures not permitted in Section 92.02.01 are deemed to be specifically prohibited. The following classifications of uses shall not be permitted in this zone by commission determination.
A. Commercial uses;
B. Hospitals;
C. Restaurants, except when permitted as an accessory use to a use permitted by a conditional use permit;
D. Industrial uses;
E. Mobilehome parks. (Ord. 1294, 1988; Ord. 1553, 1998)
§ 92.02.03. Property development standards. ¶
The following property development standards shall apply to all land and buildings in R-G-A zones, except that any lot created in compliance with applicable laws and ordinances in effect at the time of its creation may be used as a building site.
- A. Lot Area.
Each lot shall have a minimum lot area of two gross acres.
- B. Lot Dimensions.
All lots hereafter created shall comply with the following minimum standards, and lots now held under separate ownership or of record may not be reduced below these standards.
Width.
a. Interior lots shall have a minimum width of 165 feet.
b. Corner lots siding on a local/collector street may have a minimum of 135 feet.
c. Corner lots siding on a major or secondary thoroughfare may have a minimum width of 121 feet.
Depth.
Same standards as width.
C. Density.
- R-G-A(6).
There shall be a minimum of 7,000 square feet of lot area for each dwelling unit. Any area over the required 7,000 square feet per unit qualifies for an additional unit.
- R-G-A(8).
There shall be a minimum of 5,000 square feet of lot area for each dwelling unit. Any area over the required 5,000 square feet per unit qualifies for an additional unit.
D. Building Height.
Buildings and structures erected in this zone shall have a height not greater than 15 feet, except as otherwise provided.
Exceptions.
Buildings and structures may have a height not to exceed 24 feet and two stories; provided that, the second story and the area of the buildings with a height over 15 feet does not exceed more than 50% of the enclosed ground floor area. The purpose of this section is to provide a variety of building heights for design purposes. All buildings that exceed 15 feet in height or one story shall be set back from all property lines a distance equal to or greater than its height and shall be set back from all single-family zones a minimum of 200 feet.
- E. Yards.
For general provisions, see Section 93.01.00. For properties which front on East Palm Canyon Drive, see Special setbacks, Section 93.01.02. The provisions as follows shall apply, except that setbacks required in Section 92.02.03(D)(2)(a) (Exceptions) as stated above shall take precedence.
- Front Yard.
No building shall be erected closer than 25 feet to either the front property line of the building site or the line of any future street as shown on official street plan or setback ordinance.
Side Yard.
a. One story buildings, including accessory buildings, and not exceeding 15 feet in height.
i. Each lot shall have a side yard on each side of not less than 10% of the width of the lot. Such side yard shall not be less than 10 feet and need not be more than 20 feet.
ii. On corner lots, each lot shall have a side yard on the street frontage of not less than 20% of the width of the lot. Such side yard shall not be less than 20 feet in width, and need not be more than 25 feet.
Rear Yard.
There shall be a rear yard of not less than 20 feet in depth.
- F. Distance Between Buildings.
Where one building is placed adjacent to and substantially parallel to another building, there shall be a minimum distance between the buildings of 15 feet for each 10 feet of building height. In no case shall one building be closer than 15 feet to any other building.
G. Coverage.
See Setback requirements and performance standards, Sections 92.02.03(E) and 92.02.04.
H. Walls, Fences and Landscaping.
Required Fences and Walls.
- a. Where a multiple-family dwelling, school, club or church abuts an R-1 zone, a masonry wall six feet in height and screen landscaping per approved plans shall be erected and maintained between such uses and the R-1 zone.
I. Off-street Parking.
The provisions of Section 93.06.00 shall apply.
- J. Off-street Loading and Trash Areas.
The provisions of Section 93.07.00 shall apply.
- K. Antennas.
The provisions of Section 93.08.00 shall apply.
- L. Signs.
The provisions of Section 93.20.00 shall apply.
- M. Public Art.
The provisions of Section 93.11.00 shall apply. (Ord. 1294, 1988; Ord. 1500, 1995; Ord. 1553, 1998)
§ 92.02.04. Performance standards. ¶
A minimum of 50% of the site area shall be landscaped and provided with an adequate irrigation system. The required landscaping may include recreation areas. (Ord. 1294, 1988)
§ 92.02.05. Property maintenance standards. ¶
All properties shall be subject to property maintenance standards established in Section 93.19.00. (Ord. 1294, 1988)
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