1.040 Applicability of the Zoning Ordinance.

This Zoning Ordinance applies to all land uses, subdivisions, and development within the City of Petaluma, as follows.

A. New land uses or structures, changes to land uses or structures. It shall be unlawful, and a violation of this Zoning Ordinance for any person to establish, construct, reconstruct, alter, or replace any use of land or structure, except in compliance with the requirements of Section 3.020 (General Requirements for Development and New Land Uses), and Chapter 22 (Nonconforming Uses and Structures). No Planning Permit, Building Permit or Grading Permit shall be issued by the City unless the proposed construction complies with all applicable provisions of this Zoning Ordinance.

B. Subdivisions. Any subdivision of land proposed within the City after the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance shall be consistent with the minimum lot size and dimensions requirements of Chapter 4 (Zones Districts) and all other applicable requirements of this Zoning Ordinance.

C. Minimum requirements. The provisions of this Zoning Ordinance shall be minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, and general welfare. When this Zoning Ordinance provides for discretion on the part of a City official or body, that discretion may be exercised to impose more stringent requirements than set forth in this Zoning Ordinance, as may be determined by the review authority to be necessary to promote appropriate land use and development, environmental resource protection, and the other purposes of this Zoning Ordinance.

• D. Conflicting requirements:

1. Zoning Ordinance requirements. If different requirements within this Zoning Ordinance conflict, the provisions of Chapters 6, 15, 16, and 17 (Floodway/Flood Plain, Preservation of the Cultural and Historic Environment, Hillside Protection, and Tree Preservation) control over the provisions of Chapter 4.

2. Zoning Ordinance and Municipal Code provisions. If a conflict occurs between requirements of this Zoning Ordinance and requirements of the Petaluma Municipal Code, or other regulations of the City, the most restrictive shall apply.

3. Development agreements or specific plans. If a conflict occurs between the requirements of this Zoning Ordinance and standards adopted as part of any development agreement or applicable specific plan, the requirements of the development agreement or specific plan shall apply.

4. Private agreements. This Zoning Ordinance applies to all development and land uses regardless of whether it imposes a greater or lesser restriction on the development or use of structures or land than a

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

Ch. 1 Purpose and Applicability of Zoning Ordinance | Petaluma Implementing Zoning Ordinance

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private agreement or restriction (for example, CC&Rs), without affecting the applicability of any agreement or restriction.

• E. Other requirements may apply. Nothing in this Zoning Ordinance eliminates the need for obtaining any other permit required by the City, or any permit, approval or entitlement required by another special district or agency, or the regulations of any State or Federal agency.