Arcadia — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Arcadia's zoning is codified in the City of Arcadia Development Code (Article IX, Division and Use of Land). The official Zoning Map and all zone boundaries are adopted by reference and changes to zone boundaries occur only by ordinance; disputes about where a boundary falls are resolved by the Director using the map scale or parcel/centerline rules (§ 9101.04.010, § 9101.04.030) . For quick orientation see the city's general Arcadia zoning & planning overview.(/us/california/arcadia)

This page summarizes what the Development Code actually says about zoning districts, where they apply, the most decision‑relevant dimensional standards, and the overlays that commonly change how base zoning works. It stays strictly on zoning (land use, zones, map, overlays, and development standards in the zoning code) — not building code, permits, or tenant law.

How the Code is organized (short)

• Base zones establish permitted uses and base development standards for every parcel (§ 9101.03.020) .
• Overlay zones add or supersede rules for specific areas (e.g., Architectural Design Overlay, Parking Overlay) (§ 9101.03.020.C) . See Arcadia Overlay Districts.(/us/california/arcadia/overlay-districts)
• Specific Plans (SP zones) control uses and standards inside their boundaries and, when silent, the most similar base zone applies (§ 9102.13.020–040) .

District-by-district breakdown

Below each district heading is: purpose, typical permitted uses (high-level categories), and the code's key dimensional standards or controls with the controlling § cited. For parcel- or project-specific questions, always verify with the Planning Department and the official Zoning Map.

Residential zones (overview)

• Purpose: provide a range of housing types and protect neighborhood character (§ 9102.01.010) .
• See Arcadia Development Standards for measurement rules and FAR/floor area definitions.(/us/california/arcadia/development-standards)

R-M (Residential Mountainous)

• Purpose: estate-type single-family lots in hillside/valley areas (§ 9102.01.040.A) .
• Typical uses: detached single-family dwellings, accessory uses compatible with residential (§ 9102.01.040.A) .
• Key standards: variable lot-area/width rules; front setbacks measured by averaging nearest developed lots; minimum interior side setbacks often 10–15 ft (see Table and Subsection details) (§ 9102.01.040, Fig. 2‑1) .

R-0 (Very Low Density Residential)

• Purpose: large lots for detached single‑family dwellings (§ 9102.01.040.B) .
• Typical uses: single‑family dwellings and accessory structures.
• Key standards: front setback is the greater of 35 ft or the average of two nearest developed lots; rear and side setbacks commonly 10 ft, height and encroachment planes in Subsection rules (§ 9102.01.040.A–C) .

R-1 (Low Density Residential)

• Purpose: detached single‑family dwellings (§ 9102.01.040.C) .
• Typical uses: single‑family homes and accessory dwelling units where allowed (see ADU policy) — check local ADU rules and state law (§ 9102.01.030 references ADU standards) ; for ADU rules, see Arcadia ADUs.(/us/california/arcadia/adu)
• Key standards: minimum front setback 25 ft (or average of adjacent developed lots, whichever is greater), minimum interior side setback 6–10 ft depending on lot width/conditions, height and encroachment planes specified in Subsection (§ 9102.01.040, Table and Figures) .

R-2 (Medium Density Residential)

• Purpose: 6–12 du/acre; attached/detached units, duplexes (§ 9102.01.040.D) .
• Typical uses: duplexes, small multiplexes, accessory uses.
• Key standards: minimum setbacks typically 25 ft front, 10 ft sides, 10 ft rear; maximum heights shown in zone table (commonly 30 ft in multifamily zones); density standards expressed as min/max units per acre and exceptions allowed for narrow lots (§ 9102.01.030, 9102.01.100) .

R-3 / R-3-R (High Density / Restricted High Density Residential)

• Purpose: medium- to high-density multiunit housing (up to ~40 units/acre in R-3) (§ 9102.01.040.E–F) .
• Typical uses: condominiums, apartments, townhomes.
• Key standards: maximum density and FAR, setback minima (25 ft front, 10 ft side/rear typical), maximum heights up to 30–40 ft depending on overlay and specific rules; objective multifamily design standards apply to qualifying projects (§ 9102.01.170) .

Commercial zones

C-O (Professional Office)

• Purpose: professional offices and compatible commercial (§ Table 1‑1 / 9102.03 table) .
• Typical uses: medical & professional offices, limited retail where allowed.
• Key standards: set out in commercial standards (see Subsection 9102.03 and development standards) .

C-G (General Commercial)

• Purpose: general retail and service commercial uses (§ Table 1‑1) .
• Typical uses: retail, restaurants (subject to use-specific regulations), services.
• Key standards: front setbacks can be reduced (Table), abutting residential requires encroachment plane and additional separation (§ 9102.03.040.A) .

C-R (Regional Commercial)

• Purpose: regional shopping centers; special building area rules apply (§ 9102.03.040 and 9102.03.050) .
• Typical uses: large retail, theaters, restaurants, medical/office (but non‑retail uses in a regional center are capped at 20% of gross leasable area) (§ 9102.03.050.A.1) .
• Key standards: many properties in C‑R must be built inside Building Areas on a Design Overlay Site Plan (Council Resolution on file) (§ 9102.03.040 Note 1, 9102.03.050) .

CBD (Central Business District)

• Purpose: downtown commercial core uses (refer to DMU/CBD regulations) (§ Table 1‑1) .

Mixed Use / Downtown zones

DMU (Downtown Mixed Use) and MU (Mixed Use)

• Purpose: combine residential and commercial uses, encourage pedestrian orientation (§ Table 1‑1) .
• Typical uses: ground-floor retail, upper‑floor housing, mixed-use developments.
• Key standards: ground-floor minimum ceiling heights for commercial (≥ 12 ft 6 in) (§ 9102.03.040.C) and parking/density standards differ from single‑use zones; see Downtown overlays and parking rules (Arcadia Parking).(/us/california/arcadia/parking)

Industrial

M-1

• Purpose: light industrial, manufacturing, and compatible commercial/industrial uses (§ Table 1‑1) .
• Typical uses: light manufacturing, warehousing, logistics (subject to use‑specific standards).
• Key standards: commercial/industrial additional development standards apply when abutting residential (45° encroachment plane, setbacks) (§ 9102.03.040) .

Specific Plans (SP)

• SP‑SA1 (Hale Medical Center), SP‑SP (Seabiscuit Pacifica), SP‑ALC (Arcadia Logistic Center). Each SP governs land use and development within its identified boundaries; where the SP is silent, the code provisions of the most similar zone apply, and the Director decides applicability (§ 9102.13.020–050) .

Special and Open Space zones

• S‑1 (Special Use – Santa Anita Racetrack): horse racing & commercial activities. PF (Public Facilities), OS‑OR (Open Space – Outdoor Recreation), OS‑RP (Open Space – Resources Protection), RR (Rail Right‑of‑Way) — see Table 1‑1 for descriptions and the specific zone subsections for controls (§ 9101.03.010 / Table 1‑1) .

Overlay zones (summary)

• Arcadia uses overlays to modify base zone rules. Notable overlays: P (Automobile Parking Overlay), D (Architectural Design Overlay), DO (Downtown Overlay), DTP (Downtown Parking Overlay), H (Special Height Overlay), RTE (Race Track Event Overlay), R‑F (Residential Flex Overlay), DMU (Downtown Mixed Use Overlay) — see Table 1‑1 and the overlay subsections for rules (§ 9101.03.020.C, overlay listings) . For the Architectural Design Overlay rules and how the Council establishes design standards see § 9102.11.010 . For more on overlays see Arcadia Overlay Districts.(/us/california/arcadia/overlay-districts)

Most decision‑relevant standards (quick reference table)

Retrieved passages

• Arcadia Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9107.21) High relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9103.01) High relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (CHAPTER 1.) Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9101.03) Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Arcadia Zoning Code (Section 9103.07) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Arcadia_ZoningCode.md

• Official Arcadia code library