Agoura Hills — Development Standards

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the Agoura Hills zoning ordinance development standards that control setbacks, heights, lot coverage, density and FAR for the city's zoning districts and overlays. It is based on the City's Zoning Ordinance (Article IX, Title 17 printed/export excerpts supplied) and related ADU and overlay provisions; every numeric requirement below is tied to the controlling municipal code § shown. Verify parcel‑specific rules with the City — some standards vary by map designation (e.g., RS-10,000 vs RS-6,000) or overlay. See the city's zoning overview for context: Agoura Hills zoning & planning overview.

District-by-District development standards

Notes on formatting used below: each district name is bold, and numeric standards are bolded. The ordinance text cited is shown with the controlling § and the file citation returned from the code export.

RV (Residential Very Low Density)

• Purpose & typical uses: very low density single‑family and rural residential uses on large lots; applies where the map shows RV. See district list: RV = Residential very low density.
• Key dimensional standards (housing applications of up to two units subject to the supplemental part): minimum front yard: 25 ft, maximum impermeable site coverage: 25%, maximum height: 35 ft (2 stories). See § 9293.7 for the RV development standards and § 9293.2 for applicability of the two‑unit supplement.
• Where it applies: parcels mapped RV on the zoning map; housing projects with up to two units must also meet the 9293 supplement when applicable.

RS (Residential Single‑Family)

• Purpose & typical uses: single‑family detached dwellings; map designations include RS‑2‑15,000, RS‑3‑10,000, RS‑4‑8,000, RS‑5‑7,000, RS‑6‑6,000 to denote minimum lot sizes and densities.
• Key dimensional standards (where specifically listed): for lots ≥ 10,000 sq ft: front yard 25 ft, rear yard 25 ft, side yards combined 22 ft (min 10 ft on one side), street side 15 ft, max building coverage 35%, max height 35 ft / 2 stories (§§ 9243.3–9243.5). For lots < 10,000 sq ft: front yard 20 ft, rear yard 20 ft, side yards combined 18 ft (min 8 ft), street side 15 ft, max building coverage 50%, max height 35 ft / 2 stories (§ 9243.4–9243.5).
• Where it applies: parcels labeled RS (often with the minimum lot size affixed) on the zoning map; see § 9834 and density designation rules.

CS (Commercial Shopping Center)

• Purpose & typical uses: shopping center/commercial development (see the CS use table referenced in the code).
• Key dimensional standards: minimum project size 5 acres, minimum lot area 20,000 sq ft, minimum lot width 200 ft, max building coverage 50%, max height 35 ft, front yard 20 ft, side yard none except 20 ft when adjacent to residential, rear yard equal to the height of the tallest building in the project (see § 9323.1–9323.5).
• Where it applies: sites zoned CS on the zoning map.

CS‑MU (Commercial Shopping Center — Mixed Use) under the AH overlay

• Purpose & typical uses: mixed‑use projects (residential + non‑residential) when developed under the AH overlay. See AH overlay special rules.
• Key dimensional standards under the AH overlay: maximum non‑residential FAR 0.4, front/side/rear setbacks generally 20 ft (side yard may be none except 20 ft where adjacent to residential), non‑residential buildings within mixed use limited to 35 ft / 2 stories; parking landscaping and shared parking rules apply (§ 9526.1 A–F).
• Where it applies: properties where the base zoning is CS‑MU and the AH overlay applies.

Old Agoura Overlay (OA)

• Purpose & typical uses: special design and scale rules to preserve Old Agoura character. The OA overlay is one of the combining overlays listed on the zoning map.
• Key dimensional standards: for housing projects in OA, maximum residential floor area 8,000 sq ft (regardless of lot size); the ordinance provides FAR tables (Table 1) and exemptions from FAR calculations for certain garage and attic space; hillside slope adjustments reduce FAR (see § 9293.9 and subparts). The OA design standards (e.g., building coverage, height, setbacks) are also addressed in Old Agoura-specific sections (e.g., § 9553 for the Old Agoura special area).
• Where it applies: parcels mapped with the OA (Old Agoura design) overlay and the Old Agoura special area.

FC (Freeway Corridor) Overlay

• Purpose & typical uses: controls development adjacent to the Ventura (101) Freeway to manage visual impacts and buffers.
• Key dimensional standards: setback from freeway right‑of‑way is 1 ft per 2 ft of building height (min 20 ft for one‑story); for buildings taller than 20 ft a ratio of 2 ft setback per 1 ft height applies; a 6‑ft decorative wall or equivalent berming and landscaping are required along freeway frontage (§ 9544.1–9544.2).
• Where it applies: parcels within 660 ft north and south of the 101 freeway right‑of‑way, where the FC overlay is mapped.

RM, RH (Residential Medium / High Density)

• Purpose & typical uses: multi‑family residential development (duplexes, triplexes, apartments). The zoning map shows RM and RH.
• Key dimensional standards: specific RM/RH numeric standards (setbacks, lot coverage, exact densities, FAR) were not located in the supplied excerpts. The code contains objective multi‑family design standards that supplement district standards; new multi‑family projects must comply with the objective standards in § 9663.
• Where it applies: parcels mapped RM or RH on the zoning map. Verify exact numeric standards with the jurisdiction. Not found in retrieved materials for detailed RM/RH yard/setback tables.

PD, BP‑OR, BP‑M, CN, CRS, CR, P, SH, U, OW, OS‑R, OS‑DR, S

• Purpose & typical uses: these base districts are listed in the district table (e.g., PD planned development, BP‑M business park-manufacturing, CN neighborhood center, P parks, OS‑R open space restricted). The ordinance identifies these district codes but the specific dimensional standards for each were not fully available in the retrieved excerpts. See the district list at § 9832.
• Key dimensional standards & permitted uses: Not found in retrieved materials for many of these districts in the supplied excerpts. Where specific standards appear elsewhere in the code (e.g., BP, CN, PD chapters), consult those sections and the city zoning map. Verify with the City. Not found in retrieved materials for full breakdown.

Quick reference table — decision‑relevant standards

How these rules interact (practical guidance)

• Zoning district standards are the baseline: an RS parcel must meet the § 9243 yard and coverage rules unless modified by overlay or specific plan.
• An applicable overlay (for example Old Agoura OA or FC) can add or replace standards — overlay rules explicitly state they apply where mapped and may govern where conflicts occur. See § 9293.9 (Old Agoura) and § 9544 (FC overlay).
• Multi‑family developments must meet both the RM/RH district standards (where mapped) and the objective multi‑family design standards in § 9663; where conflict exists the objective standards in 9663 may govern for qualifying projects.
• ADUs are governed by the local ADU chapter; the City sets ADU setbacks, heights and size caps but must remain consistent with state ADU law where preemption applies — see the City ADU section § 9283.5 and state ADU law summaries. For accessory dwelling details including parking, see the city's ADU rules.

Practical next steps: confirm the parcel's exact zoning designation on the City zoning map (including any appended density or minimum‑lot figures such as RS‑(6)‑5,000), then pull the exact district section(s) noted above for numeric requirements and overlay map layers that may change setbacks/FAR.

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy

• Confirm parcel zoning and any overlay(s) on the zoning map (e.g., RS‑10,000, OA, FC) — see § 9832–9835.
• Meet district yard and coverage standards (e.g., § 9243.3–9243.5 for RS; § 9323.3–9323.5 for CS).
• If in an overlay (OA, FC, AH), comply with overlay-specific standards that may replace or supplement base district rules (e.g., § 9293.9, § 9544, § 9526.1).
• For multi‑family housing, follow the objective standards in § 9663 and applicable RM/RH district standards.
• For ADUs, follow the city ADU development standards (setbacks, heights, sizes, parking exceptions) in § 9283.5. Also check applicable state ADU statutes for preemption on some items.
• Provide required landscaping, parking, and public frontage improvements as required by project type and district (e.g., parking/landscaping requirements in § 9526.1.E–F, and parking chapter references).
• Confirm whether site plan review, architectural review, or conditional use permit is required (e.g., hillside areas, OA, major projects — see § 9652.5–9652.10).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Agoura Hills sets district‑specific yard, height, coverage, and (in some overlays) FAR rules in the Zoning Ordinance: typical single‑family lots in RS must meet 20–25 ft front setbacks and 35 ft height limits and coverage caps vary by lot size; RV lots have a 25 ft front setback and 25% impermeable coverage limit; commercial districts like CS generally limit height to 35 ft and require 20 ft front setbacks — overlays (Old Agoura, Freeway Corridor, AH) frequently add or replace those rules, so confirm the parcel map and read the exact § cited above.

Source References

• Agoura Hills Zoning Ordinance (Article IX) — District classifications and list of zoning district codes, § 9832.
• RS district lot and yard standards, § 9243.2–9243.6 (RS minimum lot sizes, setbacks, coverage, height).
• RV supplemental development standards and housing supplement applicability, § 9293.7 and § 9293.2.
• CS development standards (minimum project size, setbacks, height, landscaping), § 9323.1–9323.8.
• Old Agoura Overlay housing limits and FAR rules, § 9293.9 and Old Agoura special area rules § 9553.
• Freeway Corridor (FC) overlay development standards, § 9543–9545.
• AH overlay supplemental standards for CS‑MU and Agoura Village SP, § 9526.1–9526.2.
• ADU development standards (city chapter), § 9283.5.
• Objective multi‑family design standards (supplemental), § 9663.1–9663.3.
• Agoura Hills zoning & planning landing page for general navigation: Agoura Hills Zoning and Agoura Hills Land Use. (Use these pages to find map layers and forms.)

Retrieved passages

• Agoura Hills Zoning Code (§ 3) High relevance show source text
• Agoura Hills Zoning Code (section 9605.1) High relevance show source text
• Agoura Hills Zoning Code (section 9652.12.B.) High relevance show source text
• Agoura Hills Zoning Code (section 9652.5) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) High relevance show source text
• Agoura Hills Zoning Code (section 9524) High relevance show source text
• Agoura Hills Zoning Code (section 9301) High relevance show source text
• Agoura Hills Zoning Code (Chapter 4) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Agoura Hills Zoning Ordinance (Article IX) — District classifications and list of zoning district codes, **§ 9832**. (Article IX)
• **RS** district lot and yard standards, **§ 9243.2–9243.6** (RS minimum lot sizes, setbacks, coverage, height). (§ 9243.2)
• **RV** supplemental development standards and housing supplement applicability, **§ 9293.7** and **§ 9293.2**. (§ 9293.7)
• **CS** development standards (minimum project size, setbacks, height, landscaping), **§ 9323.1–9323.8**. (§ 9323.1)
• **Old Agoura Overlay** housing limits and FAR rules, **§ 9293.9** and Old Agoura special area rules **§ 9553**. (§ 9293.9)
• **Freeway Corridor (FC)** overlay development standards, **§ 9543–9545**. (§ 9543)
• AH overlay supplemental standards for **CS‑MU** and Agoura Village SP, **§ 9526.1–9526.2**. (§ 9526.1)
• ADU development standards (city chapter), **§ 9283.5**. (§ 9283.5)
• Objective multi‑family design standards (supplemental), **§ 9663.1–9663.3**. (§ 9663.1)
• Agoura Hills zoning & planning landing page for general navigation: Agoura Hills Zoning and Agoura Hills Land Use. (Use these pages to find map layers and forms.)
• AgouraHills_ZoningCode.md

• Official Agoura Hills code library