Chico Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how Chico regulates land use and development using its adopted land‑use ordinance (the City of Chico Land Use and Development Regulations, Title 19) and the Zoning Map. The municipal code sets district families (residential, commercial, industrial, downtown/transit‑oriented TND types), citywide standards (setbacks, heights, site coverage, parking), overlay tools (‑PD, airport, landmark), and the local permit/decision path (ministerial vs. discretionary). Read this as an orientation — the controlling rules and tables live in Title 19; specific projects require checking the cited sections and the Zoning Map held by Community Development. § 19.01.010

How Chico's code is organized

• The zoning regulations are adopted as the City of Chico Land Use and Development Regulations, Title 19 (short: “Regulations”) and are organized into divisions and chapters that group purpose, zoning districts, site standards, overlays, and administration. The title citation is § 19.01.010 .
• The City Council adopts a separate Zoning Map, which is incorporated by reference and implements the General Plan; map amendments follow Chapter 19.06. See § 19.01.040 for the Zoning Map adoption and interpretation rules. § 19.01.040
• The code separates (1) zoning districts and allowed uses (Division IV), (2) site planning and general development standards (Division V), and (3) administration, permits, and specific procedures (Division II and Chapters such as 19.16 and 19.30). The code repeatedly cross‑references Division V for standards (for example in commercial use tables). § 19.44.020

(First natural mentions of linked topics)

• The city’s numeric development and dimensional rules are summarized in the Chico Development Standards pages that mirror the tables and text in Title 19.
• When the text talks about vehicle requirements it points to the Chico Parking rules.
• Design‑level review follows the Chico Design Review framework referenced in the code.
• Overlay tools and mapped overlays are handled in the Chico Overlay Districts chapters.
• Accessory dwelling units are regulated consistent with local ADU code; see the Chico ADUs page.
• Building permits are issued in light of the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and local land‑use entitlements.
• State housing mandates and housing‑law changes are discussed under California housing laws.

Zoning district families (what the city actually uses)

Chico groups districts into families with specific map symbols and purposes. Key, commonly used district names and where the code describes them:

• Residential families: RS (Suburban Residential), R1 (Low Density Residential), R2 (Medium Density Residential), R3, R4, and RMU (Residential Mixed Use). The purpose and application of the residential districts are described in § 19.42.010 and the district list is tied to § 19.40.010. § 19.42.010

  • Example standards for these districts (minimum lot sizes, front/side/rear setbacks, site coverage, and typical height caps) are collected in the Residential Zone General Development Standards tables referenced in § 19.42.030 and the Table headers (Tables 4‑3A/B/C). § 19.42.030

• Commercial / Office families: CN (Neighborhood Commercial), CC (Community Commercial), DN (Downtown North), DS (Downtown South), CS (Commercial Services), CR (Regional Commercial). Each district’s intent and residential density ranges where mixed‑use is allowed are described in Chapter 19.44 and district narratives. § 19.44.020

• Manufacturing / Industrial: multiple manufacturing/industrial districts are defined with performance standards (noise, emissions, screening) in Chapter 19.46; see the performance rules in § 19.46.040. § 19.46.040

• Transect / TND and downtown building types: Transect‑style TND designations (NE, NG, NC, CORE, SD) and allowed building types, heights and frontage types are regulated in Chapters 19.82, 19.84, and 19.86 (see Table 6‑2, Table 6‑3 and Table 6‑4 for build‑to, height limits and allowed building types). See § 19.84.020 and § 19.86.010 for the TND structure and purpose. § 19.84.020

• Overlay and special zones: the code includes overlays such as ‑PD (Planned Development overlay), ‑AE / ‑AO (Airport/Airspace overlays), and ‑L (Landmark/historic overlay). Use and special standards for overlays are in Chapter 19.52 and the planned development permit rules are in Chapter 19.28 (see § 19.52.030, § 19.52.040, § 19.52.050, § 19.28.010). § 19.52.030

Citywide development standards (high‑level)

Chico separates use permissions (what may be on a site) from general development standards (how it can be built). Key places to look:

• Dimensional and lot standards: The residential tables (Tables 4‑3A/B/C) collect front / side / rear setbacks, maximum site coverage, maximum heights, and minimum lot sizes for the various residential districts; these tables are implemented via § 19.42.030 and supporting definitions in Chapter 19.04. Example rule highlights: typical primary housing heights are shown as 35 ft in many residential districts and accessory structures often have separate lower caps (15–25 ft) — see the tables in § 19.42.030 and associated notes. § 19.42.030

• Lot coverage & open space: site coverage caps (percent of site that can be built) and minimum usable open space rules are listed in the same residential tables and explained in Chapter 19.04 and the tables (see Tables 4‑3). § 19.42.030

• Parking, access, landscaping & screening: parking, driveway access, loading, landscaping and screening standards are collected in Division V (Site Planning and General Development Standards) and related sections such as Chapter 19.60 (which is referenced for access and fencing/screening). For an overview of where parking rules are applied in use tables, see § 19.44.020 (which cross‑references Division V). Consult the Chico Parking page for implementation details. § 19.44.020

• Planned Development flexibility: A site rezoned to ‑PD can get a planned development permit that may modify setbacks, heights and parking from otherwise applicable standards (but not General Plan density/intensity limits); planned development standards and required open space and maintenance obligations are in § 19.28.040 and § 19.28.050. § 19.28.040

• Design and discretionary review: design and site architecture review is implemented via the site design and architectural review chapter (Chapter 19.18) and is explicitly tied into planned development and project review requirements (see § 19.28.050). The Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board, Director, Zoning Administrator and other bodies administer review and approvals per § 19.01.060. § 19.28.050

Specific plans & overlays (where projects get special rules)

• Planned Development (the ‑PD overlay) can be added to any primary district and then a planned development permit governs the detailed development standards for that site; the PD overlay rules and permit triggers are in Chapter 19.28 and § 19.28.010–.050. § 19.28.010
• Airport overlays: ‑AE / ‑AO overlay zones set height limits, avigation easement and notice requirements around Chico Municipal and Ranchero Airports (see § 19.52.030 and the list of requirements for avigation easements/notice). § 19.52.030
• Historic/landmark overlay: the ‑L overlay requires compliance with Chapter 19.37 (certificate of appropriateness / demolition) in addition to the base district rules; see § 19.52.040. For local historic process details, consult the Chico Historic Preservation page. § 19.52.040

Building permits & review (the path from plan to permit)

• Land‑use entitlement vs. building permit: Title 19 governs land‑use entitlements and the Zoning Map; but building permits are required under Title 16 (Buildings and Construction) and must be obtained in addition to any land‑use permits. The code emphasizes that building permits do not replace required land‑use entitlements. See § 19.01.050 and references to Title 16. § 19.01.050
• Who decides: administration of Title 19 involves the City Council, Planning Commission, Community Development Director/Zoning Administrator, and boards identified in § 19.01.060. § 19.01.060
• Permit implementation and time limits: expiration, time extensions and permit implementation rules are in Chapter 19.30 (see cross‑references in § 19.01.050 and § 19.01.060). § 19.01.050
• Design review and project review: projects requiring discretionary review will be routed through design/site review and may require the Planning Commission; the planned development and project review sections specify review steps and environmental review guidelines (see § 19.28.050). § 19.28.050

State housing law in Chico (ADUs, JADUs, urban lot splits, SB‑9 and density tools)

Summary and where to look in the code:

• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior ADUs (JADUs): Chico’s code references a local ADU/JADU chapter and explicitly allows up to one detached ADU and one JADU in some residential zones (for example, RS district notes reference § 19.76.130). See § 19.76.130 for the local ADU/JADU rules and the RS zone notes in the residential tables for how ADUs are allowed. Local ADU rules must be applied consistent with State law — consult the Chico ADUs page and State ADU summary. § 19.76.130

• Urban lot splits and duplex/minor lot‑split tools: Title 19 includes provisions for urban lot splits and small‑lot subdivisions (see § 19.76.220 for Urban Lot Split and the small lot/PD references in the residential tables). These local tools are the place the city implements lot splits and related approvals; see § 19.76.220. § 19.76.220

• SB 9 / ministerial two‑unit and lot‑split mandates: The uploaded local code contains provisions for duplexes, urban lot splits and small‑lot subdivisions, but I did not find an explicit cross‑reference to "SB 9" by statute number in the retrieved materials; verify ministerial SB‑9 implementation or objective standards with Community Development. See the urban lot split rules in § 19.76.220 for local lot‑split mechanics. § 19.76.220

• Density bonus & affordable unit incentives: the code contains local density/density‑bonus related notes in the multifamily/residential tables (e.g., multi‑family may be permitted up to higher densities when a percentage of units are deed‑restricted as affordable); see the notes accompanying Tables 4‑3 and related district text in § 19.42.030 and descriptive district sections. § 19.42.030

• Interaction with State law: Title 19 repeatedly cross‑references that local regulations must be applied consistent with General Plan and State requirements; for detailed State mandates (ADU law, Title 24 building standards, etc.) consult the California ADU law, California housing laws, and the California Building Standards Code. The uploaded ADU guidance summary highlights recent state ADU constraints on local limits (for example, maximum ADU sizing and parking limits) that local code must follow. § 19.76.130

Practical orientation — where to look first for common tasks

• “What zone is my property?” — check the Zoning Map on file with Community Development and the map adoption/policy rules in § 19.01.040. § 19.01.040
• “What uses are allowed?” — consult the allowed‑use tables in Division IV for the relevant district (example: commercial uses and required entitlements are listed in § 19.44.020 and Table 4‑6). § 19.44.020
• “What setback/height/coverage applies?” — open the Residential Zone General Development Standards tables and the TND building height tables referenced in § 19.42.030, § 19.84.020. § 19.42.030
• “Will my project require design review or a use permit?” — check the project review rules in the planned development and project review chapter and the design review chapter (Chapter 19.18), and the administrative authority list in § 19.01.060. § 19.28.050

Information Gaps / Verify with the City

• The uploaded code excerpts show local ADU, urban lot split and planned development mechanics, but I did not find an explicit contemporary SB‑9 “objective standards” implementation statement in the retrieved files. Confirm the City’s current ministerial SB‑9 procedure and objective standards with Community Development. See § 19.76.220 for the local urban lot split rules that are most relevant. § 19.76.220

Source References

• City of Chico — City of Chico Land Use and Development Regulations (Title 19, Zoning / Regulations) — relevant chapters and sections cited above (examples: § 19.01.010, § 19.01.040, § 19.01.050, § 19.28.040, § 19.28.050, § 19.42.030, § 19.44.020, § 19.52.030, § 19.76.130, § 19.76.220) — uploaded code excerpts.
• State ADU and housing summaries cited for context (uploaded ADU handbook excerpt).