Chapter 35 — WATER›Article 2 — Zoning Districts, Allowable Land Uses, and Zone-Specific Standards
South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.220 Residential Zoning Districts
South Pasadena Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · South Pasadena
Cite as: South Pasadena Municipal Code § 36.220 · Text as of 2026-10-04
36.220.010 Purpose of Division.¶
This division lists the uses of land that may be allowed within the residential zoning districts established by SPMC 36.200.020 (Zoning Map and Zoning Districts), determines the type of zoning approval/approval required for each use, and provides basic standards for site layout and building size.
(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023.)
36.220.020 Purposes of Residential Zoning Districts.¶
Different residential zoning districts are intended to provide for a variety of housing opportunities through new construction, and the maintenance of existing homes and neighborhoods. The purposes of the individual residential zoning districts and the manner in which they are applied are as follows:
A. RE (Residential Estate) district. The RE zoning district applies to areas appropriate for detached, single-family residential homes on large estate parcels. The allowable residential density is a maximum of three dwelling units per acre. The RE zoning district is consistent with the Very Low Density Neighborhood land use designation of the General Plan.
B. RS (Residential Single-Family) district. The RS zoning district is intended for areas appropriate for the development of detached, single-family homes. The allowable residential density is a maximum of five dwelling units per acre. The RS zoning district is consistent with the Low Density Neighborhood land use designation of the General Plan.
C. RM (Residential Medium Density) district. The RM zoning district applies to areas appropriate for a variety of housing types. Typical residential land uses include single-family bungalow courts, courtyard housing, townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, multiplexes, and other attached dwellings on smaller lots. The allowable residential density ranges from 5.1 to 30 dwelling units per acre, except that any property in the RM district that is also included on the Housing Element Table VI-52 or VI-53 shall require a minimum density of 20 dwelling units per acre. Up to 70 dwelling units per acre are allowed for properties located within the Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay District. The RM zoning district is consistent with the Medium Density Neighborhood land use designation of the General Plan.
D. RH (Residential High Density) district. The RH zoning district is intended for areas appropriate for high density attached dwelling units, including courtyard housing, townhouses, condominiums, and apartments. The allowable residential density ranges from 30.1 to 45 dwelling units per acre. Up to 70 dwelling units per acre are allowed for properties located within the Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay District. The RH zoning district is consistent with the High Density Neighborhood land use designation of the General Plan.
(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. No. 2386 § 5 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. No. 2387 § 5 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. No. 2388 § 6, 2024; Ord. No. 2403 § 4 (Exh. A), 2025.)
36.220.030 Residential Zoning District Land Uses and Permit Requirements.¶
A. General requirements. Table 2-2 identifies the uses of land allowed by this Zoning Code in each residential zoning district, and the zonings approval required to establish each use, in compliance with SPMC 36.210.030 (Allowable Land Uses and Permit Requirements).
Note: where the last column in the tables (“Specific Use Regulations”) includes a section number, the regulations in the referenced section apply to the use; however, provisions in other sections of this Zoning Code may also apply.
B. Altos de Monterey (AM) overlay district. Allowable land uses and permit requirements for parcels within the AM overlay district are established by SPMC 36.250.030.
are established by SPMC 36.250.030 TABLE 2-2. |
. P |
Pe |
rmitted Use |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALLOWED USES | CUP | Conditional | Use Permit req | uired | |
AND PERMIT |
AUP | Administrativ | e Use Permit re | quired | |
| REQUIREMENTS | — | Use | not allowed | ||
| FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS |
P | ERMI | T REQUIRED B | Y DISTRICT | Specific Use |
| LAND USE (1) |
RE | RS | RM | RH | Regulations |
| RECREATION,EDUCA | TION, | PUBLI | C ASSEMBLY & C | OMMUNITY FAC | ILITY USES |
| Clubs, lodges and fraternal organizations |
— | — | — | CUP | |
| Community center | — | — | — | CUP | |
| Private sport courts | AUP | AUP | AUP | AUP | |
| Community gardens | CUP | CUP | CUP | CUP | 36.350.230 |
| RESIDENTIAL USES |
|||||
| Accessory residential uses and structures |
P(2) | P(2) | P(2) | P(2) | 36.350.170 |
| Home occupation | P | P | P | P | 36.410.030 |
| Multifamily dwellings |
— | — | P | P | 36.350.180, 190 |
| Organizational house (sorority,convent,etc.) |
— | — | CUP | CUP | |
| Residential care facility, 6 persons or less |
P | P | P | P | |
| Residential care facility, 7 persons or more |
— | — | CUP | CUP | 36.350.050 |
| Residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) |
— | — | CUP | CUP | 36.350.050 |
| Accessory dwelling units |
P | P | P | P | 36.350.200 |
| Employee housing | P | P | P (but only if established in a legally existing single-family |
P (but only if established in a legally existing single-family |
36.350.265 |
| TABLE 2-2. | P | Per | mitted Use | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALLOWED USES | CUP | Conditional | Use Permit requ | ired | |
AND PERMIT |
AUP | Administrativ | e Use Permit re | quired | |
| REQUIREMENTS | — | **Use ** | not allowed | ||
| FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS |
P | ERMI | T REQUIRED B | Y DISTRICT | Specific Use Rlti |
| LAND USE (1) |
RE | RS | RM | RH | eguaons |
| residential structure) |
residential structure) |
||||
| Existing single-family dwelling |
P | P | P | P | |
| New single-family dwelling |
P | P | — | — | |
| Transitional and supportive housing |
P | P | P (multifamily types located in the RM district are subject to specific use regulations |
P (multifamily types located in the RH district are subject to specific use regulations |
|
| 36.350.180,190) | 36.350.180,190) | ||||
| SERVICE USES |
|||||
| Bed & breakfast inn (B&B) |
CUP | CUP | CUP | CUP | 36.350.070 |
| Child daycare center | — | — | CUP | CUP | 36.350.080 |
| Child day care—Small familydaycare home |
P | P | P | P | 36.350.080 |
| Child day care—Large familydaycare home |
P | P | P | P | 36.350.080 |
| Medical services— Extended care |
— | — | — | CUP | |
| Mortuaries and funeral | — | — | — | CUP | |
| homes | |||||
| Notes: (1) See Article 7 for land (2)Permit required dete |
use def rmined |
inition bySP |
s. MC 36.350.170. |
(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2197 § 2, 2009; Ord. No. 2246 § 3, 2013; Ord. No. 2251 § 5, 2013; Ord. No. 2253 § 3, 2013; Ord. No. 2372 § 2, 2023; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. No. 2381 § 4, 2023; Ord. No. 2388 § 7, 2024.)
36.220.040 Residential Zoning District General Development Standards.¶
A. General requirements. Subdivisions, new land uses and structures, and alterations to existing land uses and structures, shall be designed, constructed, and/or established in compliance with the requirements in Table 2-3, in addition to the applicable development standards (e.g., landscaping, parking and loading, etc.) in Article 3 (Site Planning and General Development Standards).
B. Altos de Monterey (AM) overlay district. Development standards for parcels within the AM overlay district are established by SPMC 36.250.030.
C. Design guidelines and standards. Land uses and structures proposed within the residential zoning districts shall comply with the City’s Design Guidelines to the extent required by the review authority and/or specific provisions of the Design Guidelines, objective design standards, and to the extent permitted by State law. Qualifying residential projects shall comply with the ministerial approval process established by SPMC 36.410.040(D)(4).
process established by SPMC TABLE 2-3. Develoment |
36.410.040(D)(4). RESIDENTIAL D ST **Requ ** |
ISTRICT GEN ANDARDS irement by Zo |
ERAL DEVEL ning District |
OPMENT (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| p | RE | RS | RM | RH |
| Feature | ||||
| Minimum lot size Area |
Minimum area and 12,500 sf |
width for parce 10,000 sf |
lsproposed in n 10,000 sf |
ew subdivisions. 10,000 sf |
| Width | 75 ft; 85 ft for a corner lot |
50 ft; 60 ft for a corner |
60 ft; 80 ft for a corner lot |
70 ft |
| lot | ||||
| Residential density |
Maximum number number of units all subdivision or land |
of dwelling unit owed will be det usepermit appr |
s allowed in a pr ermined by the oval,as applica |
oject.The actual City through ble. |
| Allowable density |
Maximum of 3 du/ |
Maximum of 5du/ |
5.1 to 30 du/ |
30.1 to 45 du/ |
| Setbacks | Minimum and, whe SPMC 36.300.030 into setbacks,and s |
re noted, maxim for setback mea pecific exceptio |
um setbacks re surement, allow ns to setbacks. |
quired. See ed projections |
| Front | 25% of lot depth, w of 25 ft, and a maxi requirement of35f |
ith a minimum mum t |
10 ft | 7.5 ft |
| Front exception | If 60 percent or mo on the same block f structures with fro different from the a required front setb average of the exist setbacks,provided than 45 feet shall b the RE district,and required elsewhere |
re of the lots ace have nt setbacks bove, the ack shall be the ing front that no more e required in 35 ft shall be . |
||
| Sides, each | 10% of lot width | 10% of lot width, 4 ft minimum |
4 ft An additional minimum 1 ft setback from the property line shall be provided for each story above the second story. |
4 ft; An additional 1 ft minimum setback from the property line shall be provided for each story above the second story. |
| TABLE 2-3. |
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT GEN STANDARDS Requirement by Zo |
ERAL DEVELO ning District( |
PMENT 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development Feature |
RE RS |
RM | RH |
| (i.e., 3-story building = 5 ft, 4-story building = 6 ft, etc.) |
|||
| Side, street side |
20% of lot width, to a maximum requirement of 15ft |
10 ft minimum | |
| Rear | 25 ft | 15 ft minimum; or 5 ft minimum abutting an alley |
15 ft minimum; or 5 ft minimum abutting an alley |
| Garage | An attached garage shall be set back a minimum of 10 ft from the front of the main structure |
N/A | |
| Accessory structures |
As required for primary structures,except that: • A structure of 120 sf or less may be placed within a required side or rear setback,but not a front setback or in front of the frontmost dwelling unit on the lot; • A detached garage or carport or other accessory residential structure shall be located at least 5 ft from a side and/ property line,except if the required side yard setback for the dwelling/ less than 5 ft, in which case the lesser side yard setback may be used for a detached garage or carport only. Such structures cannot be located in the front setback or in front of the frontmost dwelling unit on the lot; • Accessory structures shall be located at or beyond the required street-facing side yard setback for the dwelling/ Director determines that a lesser setback can be approved using the |
See SPMC 36.35 (Residential Us Residential Stru |
0.170 es—Accessory ctures) |
| TABLE 2-3. |
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT GEN STANDARDS Requirement by Zo |
ERAL DEVELOPMENT ning District(1) |
|---|---|---|
| Development Feature |
RE RS |
RM RH |
| Administrative Use Permit process detailed in SPMC 36.350.170(C) (3)(e); |
||
| • Private residential recreational facilities shall be located at least 5 ft from a side and/ property line and cannot be located in the front setback,or in front of the frontmost dwelling unit on the lot or in the street-facing side setback of a corner lot. See also SPMC 36.350.170 (Residential Uses—Accessory Residential Structures). |
||
| Building separation |
10 ft between structures on the same site. |
Minimum distances shall comply with Fire Code requirements but in no case shall be less than 10 ft. |
| Lot coverage | Maximum percentage of total lot ar structures. |
ea that may be covered by |
| 40% | N/A | |
| Floor area ratio requirement |
0.35 | N/ N/ |
| Height limit | Maximum allowable height of struc (see SPMC 36.340 (Hillside Protect areas). See SPMC 36.300.040 (Hei height measurement requirements. See also SPMC 36.350.170 (Residen Residential Structures). |
tures in other than hillside areas ion) for height limits in hillside ght Limits and Exceptions) for tial Uses—Accessory |
| Maximum height | 35 ft | 45 ft For properties located in the HO Overlay District,the maximum height is 55 feet (see SPCMC36.300.040(A). |
| Multiple story exception |
No portion of a structure shall encroach through a 45 degree angle projected perpendicularly from the front property line toward the rear property line.See Figure 2-1 in this division. |
N/A |
| TABLE 2-3. l |
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT GEN STANDARDS Requirement by Zo |
ERAL DEVELOPMENT ning District(1) |
|---|---|---|
| Deveopment |
RE RS |
RM RH |
| Feature | ||
| Building height in addition to the above limits may be authorized by design review (SPMC 36.410.040) to accommodate dormer windows and/ structures where appropriate to the architectural style of the dwelling. |
||
| Open Space(4) | ||
| Minimum total combined usable open space per residential unit (common and private combined) |
N/A | 200 sf per unit, minimum |
| Common open space required |
N/A | 50% minimum of the total required open space; 1,000 sf minimum Up to 25% of the required common open space may be indoor common open space such as fitness rooms, resident lounges and similar or typical facilities. Mail rooms and leasing offices and associated areas do not count toward the required open space. |
| Dimensions of private open space |
N/A | If individual balconies, ground floor patios, porches, or similar private open space are provided to meet the area requirements, such areas shall have minimum dimensions of 8 ft width and 6 ft depth. |
| Dimensions of common open space |
N/A | Common open space areas shall have a minimum dimension of 20 feet on any side. |
| Dimensions of outdoor common |
Outdoor common open space shall have a minimum |
TABLE 2-3. RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
| Develoment | **Requirement by ** | Zoning District(1) |
|---|---|---|
| p Feature |
RE RS |
RM RH |
| open space and landscaping requirement |
dimension of 20 feet in two directions. In addition, a minimum 20% of outdoor common open space shall be landscaped that may count toward the minimum site landscapingrequirement. |
|
| Landscaping | As required bySPMC 36.330(La |
ndscapingStandards) |
| Parking | As required by SPMC 36.310 (Pa development qualifies for an exce provisions of State law |
rking and Loading), unless such ption to providing parking under |
| Signs | As required bySPMC 36.320(Sig |
ns) |
Notes:
(1) Altos de Monterey exceptions. The standards and requirements for development within the Altos de Monterey (AM) overlay zoning district are different from those in this table; see SPMC 36.250.030.
(2) Up to 70 dwelling units per acre allowed for properties located within the HO Overlay District. See SPMC 36.220.050.
(3) Up to 70 dwelling units per acre allowed for properties located within the HO Overlay District. See SPMC 36.220.050.
(4) As it pertains to the RM and RH Zoning District, the development standards related to open space as set forth in SPMC 36.350.190(C) (Multifamily Project Standards) shall apply in the RM and RH Zoning District, except to the extent the standard has been modified by the specific provisions in this table.
Figure 2-1. Height Limit Adjacent to Street
(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2183 § 3, 2009; Ord. No. 2190 § 3, 2009; Ord. No. 2372 § 3, 2023; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. No. 2386 § 5 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. No. 2387 § 5 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. No. 2394 § 4 (Exh. A), 2025; Ord. No. 2403 § 4 (Exh. A), 2025.)
36.220.050 Development of Small Nonconforming Residential Parcels.¶
The following standards apply to new and remodeled single-family dwellings on legal nonconforming parcels with an area of less than 10,000 square feet, except that all standards, except subsection F of this section (Lot Coverage), do not apply to hillside parcels (as defined by SPMC 36.340 (Hillside Protection)). These standards are intended to minimize the impacts of single-family dwelling alteration, construction, expansion, and replacement by maintaining the existing residential neighborhood character that might otherwise result in overbuilding on a small single-family parcel.
A. Design compatibility. Proposed construction shall have exterior colors, forms, and materials that are consistent throughout and visually compatible with adjacent structures and the surrounding neighborhood. The size, mass, and scale of new dwellings shall also be visually compatible with adjacent structures and the surrounding neighborhood. New dwellings shall also comply with the City’s Residential Design Guidelines.
- B. Setbacks.
The front and rear setback shall be 20 feet, or 15 feet for houses with a front porch.
A second story shall be set back an additional five feet from the front of the house and three feet on both sides (which may be accommodated within a sloping roof), unless the architectural style requires a zero front or side second story setback, as determined by the Review Authority. In the latter case, the ground floor front setback shall be 25 feet.
C. Driveway width. Driveways shall be limited to a maximum paved width of 10 feet with two feet clear of obstructions on either side, or 40 percent of the parcel frontage, whichever is less. Driveway width at property lines shall be limited to 10 feet.
D. Front yard paving. No more than 45 percent of the total area of the front setback shall be paved for walkways, driveways, and/or other hardcover pavement.
- E. Reserved.
F. Lot coverage. The maximum lot coverage shall be 50 percent.
G. Parking. For dwellings with detached garages located behind the primary unit, the minimum parking requirement shall be two covered spaces. Attached garages shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from the front of the building, and shall include two enclosed spaces.
(Ord. No. 2108 § 1; Ord. No. 2166, § 3, 2007; Ord. No. 2183 § 4, 2009; Ord. No. 2190 § 5, 2009; Ord. No. 2379 § 5 (Exh. A), 2023.)
Division 36.230. Commercial Zoning Districts
Sections:
36.230.010 Purpose of Division.
36.230.020 Purposes of Commercial Zoning Districts.
36.230.030 Commercial District Land Uses and Permit Requirements.
36.230.040 Commercial District General Development Standards.
36.230.050 Mixed Use Overlay Development Standards.
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