San Fernando Municipal Code § 106-5 Official zoning map

This chapter may be cited as the "San Fernando Zoning Ordinance."

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

This chapter is enacted pursuant to the California Planning and Zoning Law, title 7, division 1, chapter 4 (Government Code §§ 65800—65912). This chapter shall be administered by the city council (hereafter referred to as the "council"), planning and preservation commission (hereafter referred to as the "commission"), community development director or designee (hereafter referred to as the "director"), and the planning division of the community development department (hereafter referred to as the "division") as provided in article V (Administration) of the SFMC.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

The purpose of this chapter is to serve the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare by establishing land use districts designed to obtain the physical, environmental, economic and social advantages resulting from planned use of land in accordance with the general plan of the city and by establishing those regulations for the development and use of land and improvements within the various districts which will ensure that the growth and development of the city shall be orderly, attractive and efficient for the maximum benefit of its citizens.

Relationship to the City of San Fernando General Plan. This chapter provides the legislative framework to enhance and implement the goals, policies, plans, principles and standards of the San Fernando General Plan.

Relationship to the California Environmental Quality Act. When a project is determined to be subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the application shall be reviewed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the CEQA (Public Resources Code §§ 21000 et seq.), the CEQA Guidelines (Government Code §§ 15000 et seq.) and any environmental guidelines adopted by the city.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

(a) Organization of regulations. This Code consists of six articles:

(1) Article I: General Provisions

(2) Article II: Base and Overlay Zones

(3) Article III: General Regulations

(4) Article IV: Standards for Specific Land Uses and Activities

(5) Article V: Administration

(6) Article VI: Definitions

(b) Types of regulations. This Code contains five types of regulations controlling the use and development of property:

(1) Use regulations. These regulations specify land uses permitted, conditionally permitted, or specifically prohibited in each zoning district, and include special requirements, if any, applicable to specific uses. Use regulations for base zoning districts and for overlay districts are in article II of this Code. Certain regulations that are applicable in some or all districts, and performance standards which govern special uses, are in article III.

(2) Development standards. These regulations control the height, bulk, locations, and appearance of structures. Development regulations for base zoning districts and for overlay districts are in article II of this Code. Certain development regulations that are applicable to some or all districts are in article III. These include regulations for specific uses, development and site regulations, performance standards, parking, and signage.

(3) Administrative regulations. These regulations contain detailed procedures for the administration of this Code, and include common procedures, processes, and standards for discretionary entitlement applications and other permits. Administrative regulations are in article V.

(4) Definitions. Article VI provides definitions and articulates use classifications and terms and definitions used in this Code.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

(a) In order to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, the city is divided into five zone types (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Specific Plan and Overlay zones) with nine zone districts and three overlay zones identified as:

(b) The zones listed in subsection (a) of this section and the boundaries of such zones are shown upon the official zoning map of the city, and the map and all the notations, references and other information shown thereon shall be as much a part of this chapter as if the matters and information set forth by the map were all fully described in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

Cross reference— 1 Buildings and building regulations, ch. 18; environment, ch. 34; manufactured homes and trailers, ch. 46; planning, ch. 62; streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 74; subdivisions, ch. 78; telecommunications, ch. 86; vegetation, ch. 98.

A. Property affected. The sections of this chapter shall apply, to the extent permissible under other laws, to all property within the city, whether such property is in public or private ownership, except streets, alleys and walkways which are dedicated for public use.

B. Persons affected. The sections of this chapter shall apply, to the extent permissible under other laws, to all persons, agencies and organizations, both public and private, except that in circumstances where an overriding public interest is found to be served by an action or development undertaken by a public agency, the commission or council may waive the requirements of this chapter to the extent deemed necessary.

C. Activities affected by new or changed development or use. Each section of this chapter shall apply, to the extent permissible under other laws, to all actions, activities or development initiated subsequent to the effective date of such section, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) The division or leasing of land.

(2) Construction, alteration, remodeling, expansion, replacement or relocation of any building, structure or other facility or portion thereof.

(3) The use and occupancy of land, buildings, structures or other facilities.

(d) Other permits and requirements. Nothing in this chapter eliminates the need for obtaining any other permits required by the city, or any permit or approval required by other provisions of the SFMC or the laws, rules or regulations of any city department or any county, regional, state, or federal agency.

If any provision of this chapter, and the application thereof, to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter, and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

The sections of this chapter, insofar as they are substantially the same as previous provisions of the San Fernando Municipal Code or any other ordinance repealed, amended or superseded upon the enactment of the ordinance from which this chapter derives, shall be construed as restatements and continuations of the previous provisions, and not as new enactments.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)

Neither the sections of this chapter nor any approval pursuant thereto authorizes the establishment or maintenance of any use or circumstances which constitutes a public or private nuisance.

(Ord. No. 1732, § 3(Exh. A), 5-5-2025)