Chapter 17.26 — ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONES
Rancho Cucamonga Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Rancho Cucamonga
§ 17.26.010. Chapter purpose. ¶
This chapter establishes the framework of zones within the city and their relationships to the city's general plan land use designations.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
§ 17.26.020. Zones established. ¶
A. Zone purpose. Zones are established in order to classify, regulate, designate, and distribute the uses of land and buildings; to regulate and restrict the height, setbacks and bulk of buildings; to regulate the area of yards and other open spaces around buildings; and to regulate the density of population. The city is divided into zones that are grouped into two categories: (1) base zones and (2) overlay zones. These zones are listed and described in Table 17.26.020-1 (Rancho Cucamonga Zones), along with the general plan land use designation that they implement.
B. Base zones. The base zone is the primary zone that applies to a property. Every parcel throughout the city has a base zone that establishes the primary land use type, density, intensity, and site development regulations. Base zones are grouped into five categories as follows:
Residential Zones.
Form-Based Zones.
Industrial Zones.
Open Space Zones.
Special Purpose Zones.
C. Overlay zones. The Overlay Zones supplement base zones for one or more of the following purposes:
To allow more flexibility from the standard provisions of the underlying base zone.
To protect unique site features or implement location-specific regulations.
To specify a particular standard or guideline for an area.
D. Subzones. Subzones are subsets of the primary zone. Subzones align with the primary zone development standards and uses requirements except where otherwise noted in this title.
E. In the event of a conflict between the regulations of the Base Zone and the Overlay Zone, the provisions of the Overlay Zone shall apply.
| TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES | |
|---|---|
| Zone Symbol |
Zone Name/Description |
| Residential Zones and Subzones | |
| VL | Very Low Residential. Designates areas for semi-rural residential use, with a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of up to two units per gross acre. Limited neighborhood serving businesses in small buildings may be allowed on select corner parcels to provide goods and services for daily needs and community gathering spots. |
| VL-EH 14000 | Very Low Residential – Etiwanda Highlands 14000. Designates areas for semi-rural residential use, with a minimum lot size of 14,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of up to two units per gross acre. |
| VL-EH 9000 | Very Low Residential – Etiwanda Highlands 9000. Designates areas for semi-rural residential use, with a minimum lot size of 9,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of up to two units per gross acre. |
| L | Low Residential. Designates areas for single-family residential use, with a minimum lot size of 7,200 square feet and a maximum residential density of six units per gross acre. |
| L-ESP | Low Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan. Designates areas for single-family residential use, with a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of six units per gross acre. |
| LM | Low Medium Residential. Designates areas for low medium density single-family or multiple-family use with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby single-family detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of eight units per gross acre. |
| LM-TV | Low Medium Residential – Terra Vista. Designates areas for low medium density single-family or multiple-family use with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby single-family detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of eight units per gross acre. |
| LM-ESP South | Low Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan South. Designates areas for low medium density single-family or multiple-family use with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby single-family detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of eight units per gross acre. |
| LM-ESP | Low Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan. Designates areas for low medium density single- family or multiple-family use with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby single-family detached neighborhoods, including a minimum lot size of 7,200 square feet and a maximum residential density of eight units per gross acre. |
| M | Medium Residential. Designates areas for medium density multiple-family use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development, with a maximum residential density of 14 units per gross acre. |
| M-TV1 | Medium Residential – Terra Vista 1. Designates areas for medium density multiple-family use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development, including a minimum lot size of 3,500 square feet and a maximum residential density of 14 units per gross acre. |
| TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES | |
| --- | --- |
| Zone Symbol |
Zone Name/Description |
| M-ESP South | Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan South. Designates areas for medium density multiple- family use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development, including a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet and a maximum residential density of 14 units per gross acre. |
| M-ESP | Medium Residential – Etiwanda Specifc Plan. Designates areas for medium density multiple-family use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development, including a minimum lot size of 7,200 square feet and a maximum residential density of 14 units per gross acre. |
| MH | Medium High Residential. Designates areas for medium high density multiple-family use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development with a maximum residential density of 24 units per gross acre. |
| MH-TV | Medium High Residential – Terra Vista. Designates areas for medium high density multiple-family use, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development, including a minimum lot size of one acre and a maximum residential density of 24 units per gross acre. |
| H | High Residential. Designates areas for a variety of high density multiple-family housing, and mixed-use buildings, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development with a maximum residential density of 30 units per gross acre. Limited context-sensitive neighborhood commercial uses may be allowed in select locations to provide goods and services for daily needs and community gathering spots. |
| H-TV | High Residential – Terra Vista. Designates areas for a variety of single family attached/detached housing, multiple-family housing, and mixed-use buildings, with site development regulations that assure development compatible with nearby lower density residential development, with a maximum residential density of 30 units per gross acre. |
| Form-Based Zones (See Article VIII) |
| TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES | |
|---|---|
| NE2 | Neighborhood Estate 2. Low density and intensity residential development on large lots within interconnected neighborhoods. Context sensitive retail and services uses are allowed in key locations. |
| NG3 | Neighborhood General 3. Medium density and intensity development along certain segments and nodes of major corridors in proximity to smaller-scale residential neighborhoods. Buildings promote walkability and contribute to active, vibrant environments while being context-sensitive by transitioning scale when adjacent to lower density neighborhoods. Uses provide a range of daily needs within walkable suburban neighborhoods, with some transitional auto-oriented development in outlying areas. |
| CE1 | Center 1. Active, vibrant town centers that promote walkability with neighborhood-serving commercial and retail uses in proximity to medium density residential development. Buildings front streets and provide a vibrant, safe street environment for pedestrians and cyclists. |
| ME1 | Mixed Employment 1. Medium intensity development focused on walkable professional offce and employment uses. Buildings front streets and transition areas from auto-oriented offce parks to mixed- use, vibrant hubs of activity. |
| ME2 | Mixed Employment 2. Medium to high intensity development focused on professional offce, creative industrial and maker spaces, and employment uses along active, walkable streets. Buildings front streets and corridors with tall ground foors that support a mix of uses, entrances, and facades. |
| CO1 | Corridor 1. Medium intensity mixed-use development that transitions existing auto-oriented corridors and places to vibrant areas that promote walkability. Building and entrance/ facade types are diverse, contributing to a mix of distinct places along major corridor areas. Buildings front streets and transition in scale to surrounding neighborhoods with some auto-oriented development along secondary streets. |
| CO2 | Corridor 2. Medium to high intensity mixed-use development along active, walkable corridors and at key intersections. Buildings front streets and transition in scale to surrounding neighborhoods with some transitional auto-oriented development along secondary streets. |
| CE2 | Center 2. Mixed-use urban areas with pedestrian-friendly commercial and residential hubs and infll development along vibrant public spaces that promote walkability. Buildings transition in scale (i.e., step up or step down) to surrounding neighborhoods, centers, and districts. Developments support safe streets for pedestrians and cyclists. |
| Industrial Zones | |
| NI | Neo-Industrial. Designates areas to support a complementary mix of uses such as, research and development, light and custom manufacturing, engineering and design services, breweries, and maker spaces, as well as accessory offce, retail and limited residential uses to compliment the primary use; supportive amenities and services; and convenient transit access. This zone encourages light industrial |
| TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES | |
| --- | --- |
| Zone Symbol |
Zone Name/Description |
| activities with low environmental impacts and supports the growth of creative industries, incubator businesses, and innovative design and manufacturing. The zone can allow for small scale, context sensitive warehousing, distribution and manufacturing to support small business development. |
|
| IE | Industrial Employment. Designates areas reserved for manufacturing, processing, construction and heavy equipment yards, warehousing and storage, e-commerce distribution, light industrial research parks, automobile and vehicle services, and a broad range of similar clean industrial practices and processes that typically generate more truck traffc, noise, and environmental impacts than would be compatible with offce and residential uses. This zone prohibits non-industrial uses, except for accessory offce and commercial uses (such as restaurants or convenience stores) that support the employees of the primary industrial use, and on-site caretaker units. |
| Open Space Zones | |
| OSC | Open Space Conservation. Designates areas primarily to protect environmentally sensitive land. The use regulations, development standards, and criteria encourage preservation of existing conservation areas and protection of natural resources. |
| HR | Hillside Residential. Designates areas for maintaining natural open space character through protection of natural landforms; minimizing erosion; providing for public safety; protecting water, fora, and fauna resources; and establishing design standards to provide for limited development in harmony with the environment. Allowed density is a maximum of two units per net buildable acre as determined through the Hillside Development Review process. |
| P | Parks. Designates areas primarily for public parks, public schools, and public facilities. The use regulations and development standards provide for low intensity development and encourage educational and recreational activities. |
| FC/UC | Flood Control/Utility Corridor. Designates areas necessary for food control facilities for protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare as well as utility corridors in which land uses compatible to both the utility function and surrounding, existing, or proposed land uses are allowed. |
| Special Purpose Zones | |
| SP | Specifc Plan. Designates areas for master planning through the adoption of a specifc plan with unique land use and development standards for a particular project areas with a minimum of 100 acres. |
| Overlay Zones |
| TABLE 17.26.020-1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA ZONES AND SUBZONES | |
|---|---|
| SH | Senior Housing. Designates areas available for affordable rental housing units to serve the city's senior citizens. Zone provisions ensure high quality project design and establish incentives for ongoing affordability for this target group. This zone can be combined with any residential base zone that meets the overlay zone qualifcations. |
| E | Equestrian. Designates areas for the keeping of equine, bovine, and cleft-hoofed animals. Further, this zone protects the ability to maintain such animals, promotes a "rural/farm" character in an urban setting, and recognizes and encourages the educational and recreational values derived from raising and maintaining such animals. This zone may be combined with any residential base zone that meets the overlay zone qualifcations. |
| H | Hillside. Designates sloped areas subject to special hillside development regulations. Generally, this zone applies to areas with a slope greater than or equal to eight percent. This zone may be combined with any residential base zone that meets the overlay zone qualifcations. |
| LW | Large Warehouse. Designates area where large industrial buildings with a gross foor area over 450,000 square feet are permitted. |
| CS | Cucamonga Station Area. Designates an area around the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station for modifed FAR and density standards. (see articleVIII). |
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022; Ord. No. 1015 § 3, 2023)