4.020 Purpose of Established Zones.

A. OSP (Open Space and Park) Zone. The OSP zone is applied to undeveloped areas and sites that are appropriate

for the preservation of natural resources, outdoor recreation, to be maintained in open space for the protection of

public health and safety, and existing city public parks. City parks located in this zone may include buildings,

structures, and uses that serve the community (e.g., Luchessi Community Center, Novak Center, Cavanaugh

Center, library, water resources building, etc.). The OSP zone is consistent with and implements the urban

separator, open space, and city park land use classiQcations of the general plan.

B. AG (Agriculture) Zone. The AG zone is applied to areas that are actively and primarily used for grazing, or the

production for sale of food and Qber. Areas subject to seasonal or historic Rooding and identiQed by FEMA as

areas warranting special consideration are included. The AG zone is consistent with and implements the

agriculture land use classiQcation of the general plan.

C. RR (Rural Residential) Zone. The RR zone is applied to areas of single dwelling development with a minimum lot

size of two acres. This zone would be applied primarily to areas at the western perimeter of the city along the

urban growth boundary that are developed with single dwellings at densities ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 units per

acre. This zone is intended to maintain a rural character and provide a transition to unincorporated rural and

agricultural lands. The RR zone is consistent with and implements the rural residential land use classiQcation of the

general plan.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

Ch. 4 Zone Districts and Allowable Land Uses | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance Page 2 of 38

D. R1 (Residential 1) Zone. The R1 zone is applied to areas of single dwelling development, primarily the western

hillsides, with densities ranging from 0.6 to 2.5 units per acre, and larger lots required for sloped sites. The R1

zone is consistent with and implements the very low density residential land use classiQcation of the general plan.

E. R2 (Residential 2) Zone. The R2 zone is applied to areas previously developed and intended for detached single

dwellings on individual lots, at densities ranging from 2.6 to 8.0 units per acre. The R2 zone is consistent with and

implements the low density residential land use classiQcation of the general plan.

F. R3 (Residential 3) Zone. The R3 zone is applied to the older neighborhoods surrounding the downtown that are

characterized by a variety of housing types and densities in a walkable context. Densities range from 6.1 to 12.0

units per acre. The R3 zone is consistent with and implements the diverse low density residential land use

classiQcation of the general plan.

G. R4 (Residential 4) Zone. The R4 zone is applied to areas intended for a variety of housing types ranging from

single dwellings to multi-unit structures. Densities range from 8.1 to 18.0 units per acre. The R4 zone is consistent

with and implements the medium density residential land use classiQcations of the general plan.

H. R5 (Residential 5) Zone. The R5 zone is applied to areas intended for the most urban housing types at densities

ranging from 18.1 to 30.0 units per acre, but where existing lower density housing is considered conforming. The

R5 zone is consistent with and implements the high density residential land use classiQcation of the general plan.

I. MH (Mobile Home) Zone. The MH zone is applied to existing mobile home parks throughout the city. The MH

zone is consistent with the mobile home land use classiQcation of the general plan.

J. C1 (Commercial 1) Zone. The C1 zone is applied to existing smaller-scale shopping centers with oT-street

parking, or clusters of street-front stores that serve the surrounding neighborhood. The C1 zone is consistent with

and implements the neighborhood commercial land use classiQcation of the general plan, which establishes a

maximum Roor area ratio of 0.8 for the classiQcation.

K. C2 (Commercial 2) Zone. The C2 zone is applied to existing community and regional shopping center sites. The

C2 district is consistent with and implements the community commercial land use classiQcation of the general

plan, which establishes a maximum Roor area ratio of 1.2 for the classiQcation.

L. MU1A, MU1B, MU1C (Mixed Use 1) Zone. The MU1 zone is applied to areas intended for pedestrian-oriented,

mixed-use development with ground-Roor retail or oSce uses adjacent to the downtown core, and in other areas

of the city where existing auto-oriented commercial areas are intended for improvement into pedestrian-oriented

mixed use development. The MU1 zone is consistent with and implements the mixed use land use classiQcation of

the general plan, which establishes a maximum Roor area ratio of 2.5 for both residential and nonresidential uses

within the classiQcation, and a maximum density of 30 units per acre for residential.

Note:

■ Mixed Use 1A ZoneThis zone is applied to parcels located along corridors such as East Washington Street,

Petaluma Boulevard North, Bodega Avenue and Lakeville Street. The parcels in these zones vary in size and

are typically located adjacent to residential zones.

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

Ch. 4 Zone Districts and Allowable Land Uses | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance Page 3 of 38

■ Mixed Use 1B ZoneThis zone is applied to larger parcels located primarily along major arterial roadways.

The larger parcel size should allow for a mix of uses on the site.

■ Mixed Use 1C ZoneThis zone is applied to smaller parcels located in West Petaluma. Most of these parcels

are located in residential areas and the intensity of the uses permitted in this zone is limited.

M. MU2 (Mixed Use 2) Zone. The MU2 zone is applied to the Petaluma downtown and adjacent areas that are

intended to evolve into the same physical form and character of development as that in the historic downtown

area. The MU2 zone is consistent with and implements the mixed use land use classiQcation of the general plan,

which establishes a maximum Roor area ratio of 2.5 for both residential and nonresidential uses within the

classiQcation, and a maximum density of 30 units per acre for residential.

N. BP (Business Park) Zone. The BP zone is intended for business and professional oSces, technology park

clusters, research and development, light industrial operations, and visitor service establishments, with retail as a

secondary use only. The BP zone is consistent with and implements the business park land use classiQcation of the

general plan, which establishes a maximum Roor area ratio of 1.5 for the classiQcation, although an FAR of 3.0 is

allowed if all required parking is structured.

O. I (Industrial) Zone. The I zone is applied to areas that are appropriate for a full range of manufacturing,

industrial processing, general service, warehousing, storage and distribution operations. Small restaurants and

service commercial are allowed as ancillary uses. The I zone is consistent with and implements the industrial land

use classiQcation of the general plan, which establishes a maximum Roor area ratio of 0.6 for the classiQcation.

P. CF (Civic Facility) District. The CF zone is applied to sites for proposed public utility facilities, government oSces,

community service uses and lands, and signiQcant sites owned and operated by the elementary, secondary, or

community college districts, as well as private and/or parochial schools. The zone implements and is consistent

with the public/semi-public, and education classiQcations of the general plan.

Q. FW (Floodway) Zone. The FW zone is applied to sites within the boundaries of the “Areas of Special Flood

Hazard” and identiQed as “Floodway” areas. See Chapter 6 for the requirements of the Roodway zone.

R. Planned Unit Districts and Planned Community Districts. The historic use of P.U.D.s and P.C.D.s for the

development of residential, industrial, and commercial properties in various zones in which the underlying P.U.D.

and/or P.C.D. uses are permitted is hereby recognized. Nonresidential P.C.D.s in existence as of May 19, 2008, and

residential P.U.D.s are recognized to be consistent with the intent of these regulations by the establishment of

their individual and respective P.U.D. and P.C.D. standards. Development and redevelopment of lands within

P.U.D.s and P.C.D.s, including modiQcation of P.C.D.s and/or addition of land to P.C.D.s, shall be in accordance with

the individual adopted standards for said P.U.D. or P.C.D. and other applicable zoning standards not otherwise

modiQed by the P.U.D. or P.C.D. adopted standards. The creation and modiQcation of P.U.D.s, and the modiQcation

and/or addition of land to P.C.D.s existing as of May 19, 2008, is regulated by Chapter 19 herein. The creation of

wholly new P.C.D.s, or the addition of land to a P.C.D. where the expansion area is not immediately adjacent, is not

permitted by this chapter. (Ord. 2764 § 3 (Exh. A), 2021.)

The Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance is current through Ordinance 2907, passed September 8, 2025.

Ch. 4 Zone Districts and Allowable Land Uses | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance Page 4 of 38