Colton — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 1, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the City of Colton's zoning ordinance actually says about zoning: the official districts, how the Official Zoning Map is treated, where permitted uses and property development standards live, and the most decision-relevant numeric controls (setbacks, lot sizes, heights, FAR). The controlling rules are in Title 18 (zoning chapters) of Colton’s Municipal Code; the district list and map authority are in § 18.06.010 and § 18.06.020 . For site-level requirements you will repeatedly consult the district chapter (e.g., § 18.10 for V‑L, § 18.12 for R‑1, etc.) and the tables referenced by § 18.06.060 . See Colton Development Standards for the design and numeric tables that implement those district rules.

Key rules that govern Zoning in Colton (short)

• The City is divided into named zones: V‑L, R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, R‑4, C‑1, C‑2, C‑2/D, M‑U/D, M‑U/N, I‑P, M‑1, M‑2, O‑S/R, O‑S/Res, P‑I, R‑U, plus overlays SDA, R‑O, and SP (Specific Plan) as listed in § 18.06.010 .
• The Official Zoning Map is part of the ordinance and is kept on file with Community Development; map boundary uncertainty is resolved under § 18.06.040 (Director or Commission determination rules) .
• Allowed uses are coded in the zoning use tables referenced in § 18.06.060 (Permitted/Conditional/Not Permitted; Tables E, F, G) . If a use is not listed, the Director can evaluate “similar uses” under the Code’s similar‑use rules (see the Code’s similar‑use authority) .
• Parking, loading and vehicle standards are controlled by Chapter 18.36; the zoning chapters refer project parking to that chapter (e.g., commercial/industrial zone entries) — see Colton Parking and the ordinance citations below .
• Design review or Architectural & Site Plan Review is required in many zones and overlay areas; see the Code’s design‑review provisions and each zone’s design review triggers (for example, design review rules are discussed at § 18.26.160) . See Colton Design Review for procedure and thresholds.

District-by-district breakdown (Colton-specific)

The list below follows the districts named in § 18.06.010 . Where the local code provides a dedicated chapter it is cited; where a chapter or numeric standard was not present in the retrieved materials I note "Not found in retrieved materials."

V‑L (Very‑Low Density Residential)

• Purpose: Intended for large, single‑family lots in constrained terrain and natural‑resource areas (La Loma Hills, Pellissier Ranch, Reche Canyon). See § 18.10.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family detached residences and accessory buildings; the zoning refers to the use tables in § 18.06.060 (Table E) for full lists and § 18.10.030 .
• Key dimensional standards (where the Code gives numbers): minimum lot size 20,000 sq ft, front setback 35 ft, max lot coverage 20%, max height 2.5 stories / 35 ft (Table 18.10.050‑1) — see § 18.10.050‑1 .
• Where it applies: hillside and low‑density pockets identified by the Official Zoning Map; the map is part of the Title (see § 18.06.020) .

R‑1 (Low‑Density Residential)

• Purpose: Standard single‑family neighborhoods; clustering allowed by discretionary process where appropriate — § 18.12.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings and accessory uses per Table E (§ 18.06.060); multi‑unit uses are not the norm (see R‑2/R‑3 for multi‑family) .
• Key dimensional standards: min lot 7,200 sq ft, front setback 25 ft, max lot coverage 40%, max height 2.5 stories / 35 ft (Table 18.12.050‑1) — § 18.12.050‑1 .
• Where it applies: established residential tracts shown on Official Zoning Map (map authority § 18.06.020) .

R‑2 (Medium‑Density Residential)

• Purpose: Allows detached and attached units (townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, small condos) — § 18.14.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: residential types noted above; other uses (mobile home parks, schools) may be allowed with CUP; full use list in Table E (§ 18.06.060) .
• Key dimensional standards: min lot 7,200 sq ft, front setback 25 ft, max lot coverage 40%, max height 2.5 stories / 35 ft, density range roughly 8.1–16 DU/acre (Table 18.14.050‑1) — see § 18.14.050‑1 .
• Where it applies: neighborhood parcels that call for medium density housing (Official Map) .

R‑3 and R‑4 (Multiple‑Family Residential)

• Purpose: Intended for more intensive multifamily forms (apartments, condominiums, stacked flats, senior housing) — § 18.16.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: multifamily residential types (see Table E in § 18.06.060) .
• Key dimensional standards: min lot 7,200 sq ft, front setback 25 ft, max coverage up to 70%, max height 2.5 stories / 35 ft; densities commonly 16.1–22 DU/acre (Table 18.16.050‑1) — see § 18.16.050‑1 .
• Where it applies: multifamily corridors and sites as shown on Official Zoning Map .

C‑1 (Neighborhood Commercial)

• Purpose: Focused on neighborhood‑serving retail and services. (Detailed chapter content for C‑1 was not present in the retrieved materials; see "Information Gaps" below.) Not found in retrieved materials with a dedicated chapter extract.
• Typical permitted uses: See Table F / Table E references in § 18.06.060 for specific commercial uses .
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials. Verify with the jurisdiction.

C‑2 (General Commercial)

• Purpose: General commercial uses serving broader retail and service needs — see § 18.22 introductory language and property standards .
• Typical permitted uses: Commercial, retail, service uses per Table F (see § 18.06.060, Table F) .
• Key dimensional standards (examples): min lot area 10,000 sq ft, min lot width 80 ft, max FAR 1.0, max height three stories / 40 ft, front setback 20 ft (see § 18.22.060–§ 18.22.100) .
• Where it applies: thoroughfares and commercial corridors on the Official Zoning Map .

C‑2/D (General Commercial — Downtown Overlay)

• Purpose: Downtown version of general commercial with special form and placement rules; permitted uses referenced to Table F and the Downtown property standards (see 18.23.4.050 series) .
• Key dimensional standards (excerpt): min lot size 4,000 sq ft, max height three stories / 40 ft, street frontage/setback rules for plazas/dining — see 18.23.4.050‑1 .
• Design guidance: Downtown manual and transparency/ground‑floor rules apply to promote pedestrian character — see § 18.23 series .

M‑U/D (Mixed‑Use — Downtown)

• Purpose: Integrates civic, commercial, office and residential in downtown; pedestrian orientation and higher residential density are encouraged — § 18.23.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: Mixed commercial/residential per Table F (§ 18.06.060) .
• Key dimensional standards (selected): min lot 2,000 sq ft, max FAR for non‑residential 3.0, building height 3 stories / 45 ft (up to 4 stories / 55 ft with CUP), flexible street setbacks for plazas and pedestrian spaces — see § 18.23.050‑1 .
• Design review: specific downtown design review and Colton Downtown Design Manual apply (see § 18.23.120) .

M‑U/N (Mixed‑Use — Neighborhood)

• Purpose and standards: M‑U/N chapter text was not fully included in the retrieved file extracts; permitted uses are referenced to Table F (§ 18.06.060). Not found in retrieved materials for full numeric standards — verify with the jurisdiction .

I‑P (Industrial Park)

• Purpose and standards: See Chapter 18.24 — industrial park lot rules mirror industrial standards (min lot 15,000 sq ft, FAR 0.5, max height 3 stories / 40 ft, front setback 20 ft) — see § 18.24.060–§ 18.24.090 .
• Typical permitted uses: light industrial, office‑park uses (permits referenced to Table G in § 18.06.060) .

M‑1 (Light Industrial)

• Purpose: Light industrial, warehousing and uses less intensive than M‑2 — see § 18.26 .
• Typical permitted uses: see Table G (§ 18.06.060) .
• Key dimensional standards (examples): min lot 15,000 sq ft, min width 100 ft, FAR 0.5, max height three stories / 40 ft (Table in § 18.26.060–§ 18.26.090) .
• Parking and landscaping: commercial/industrial landscaping minimums and Chapter 18.36 parking requirements apply .

M‑2 (Heavy Industrial)

• Purpose: Heavy manufacturing, distribution, resource uses that aren't compatible near residences; buffering recommended — § 18.28.010 .
• Typical permitted uses: heavy industrial and manufacturing per Table G (§ 18.06.060) .
• Key numeric controls: setbacks and landscaping rules (front setback 20 ft; side/rear 15 ft where abutting street; landscaping 15% coverage) — see § 18.28.100–§ 18.28.130 .

O‑S/R and O‑S/Res (Open Space — Recreational / Resources)

• Purpose: Open space, recreation and resource conservation zones are listed at § 18.06.010 but full chapter text for both overlays was not in the retrieved extracts. Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction .

P‑I (Public / Institution)

• Purpose: Public, institutional uses; detailed chapter content not included in the retrieved extracts. Not found in retrieved materials; confirm with the City map and chapter text .

R‑U (Railroad / Utility / ROW)

• Purpose: Right‑of‑way, rail, and railroad‑related uses; the designation is listed in § 18.06.010. Full standards were not present in the retrieved extracts. Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the jurisdiction .

Overlay zones

• SDA (Sensitive Development Area) — established only with an underlying zone (e.g., R‑1/SDA); development in SDA must be reviewed via Conditional Use Permit and the Commission must make findings listed in § 18.30.020–§ 18.30.030 (approval conditions include conformance with General Plan, mitigation of impacts, meeting Title requirements) .
• PC (Planned Community overlay) — intended to allow flexible design and mixed housing types and is applied in combination with an underlying zone; design review for most development in PC is required (see § 18.32.010–§ 18.32.030) .
• SP (Specific Plan overlay) — listed in § 18.06.010; specific plan chapters apply where mapped. Chapter 18.34 exists for Specific Plan overlay but full text was not in the retrieved excerpts. Verify with the City for any active specific plans . See Colton Overlay Districts for procedural notes.

Quick reference table — Decision‑relevant standards (selected zones)

Notes: permitted use symbols (P, C, N) and the full use lists are in the use tables referenced by § 18.06.060 (Tables E, F, G) .

How the ordinance treats uses, exceptions and process — practical guidance

• Allowed vs. conditional: The Code classifies uses as Permitted (P), Conditionally Permitted (C), or Not Permitted (N) in the tables referenced by § 18.06.060; always check the table that corresponds to your district (Table E for most residential, Table F for downtown/mixed‑use, Table G for industrial) .
• If your exact business/use is not listed, the Director can evaluate a "similar use" against the listed uses; that procedure and findings criteria are in the Code (Director comparison and appeal to Commission) — see the Code’s similar‑use language .
• Setbacks/height/coverage: each zone chapter has a property development table. For residential zones consult the R‑1/R‑2/R‑3 chapter tables (for example § 18.12.050‑1, § 18.14.050‑1, § 18.16.050‑1) .
• Parking, trash, mechanical screening and landscaping are required in nearly all non‑single‑family projects and are cross‑referenced to Chapter 18.36 and Chapter 18.18/18.22 (commercial/industrial landscaping) — check those chapters early in design and see Colton Parking and Colton Landscaping and Screening .
• Design review: many zones (downtown, mixed‑use, planned community overlay, some multifamily thresholds) require Architectural & Site Plan Review — see § 18.26.160 and zone‑specific design‑review triggers (e.g., § 18.23.120 for downtown) . See Colton Design Review.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a zoning‑conforming project)

• Confirm the parcel’s mapped zone on the Official Zoning Map and the effective map copy held by Community Development (map is part of the Title; § 18.06.020) .
• Verify that the proposed use is Permitted (P) in the district use table or prepare a Conditional Use Permit if the use is C per § 18.06.060 .
• Confirm dimensional compliance: lot size, lot width, setbacks, coverage, building height from the district’s Property Development Standards table (e.g., § 18.12.050‑1 for R‑1) . See Colton Development Standards.
• Provide required parking per Chapter 18.36; attach circulation/turning templates if industrial or large commercial . See Colton Parking.
• Prepare landscape plan meeting the zone’s landscaping rules and the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance references (where applicable) . See Colton Landscaping and Screening.
• Determine if Design Review / Architectural & Site Plan Review applies and route the plans to the decision body (see § 18.26.160 and zone chapters) . See Colton Design Review.
• Check overlays or specific plans mapped on the parcel (SDA, PC, SP or Downtown overlays); overlays add findings or different standards (see § 18.30, § 18.32) . See Colton Overlay Districts.
• If proposing an ADU/JADU, follow the ADU-specific rules and the Code’s non‑discrimination on nonconforming conditions (see Code ADU chapter § 18.48.150 and state ADU law) . See Colton ADUs and California ADU law.
• Review signage, historic preservation and nonconforming‑use rules if applicable (Chapters 18.50, historic chapters, and nonconforming uses chapter) — see Colton Signage, Colton Historic Preservation, Colton Nonconforming Uses.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Colton’s zoning splits the city into named districts (R‑, C‑, M‑, O‑, and overlays) listed in § 18.06.010; each district chapter contains the purpose, where permitted uses are referenced back to the use tables (§ 18.06.060), and a property‑development table with the numeric rules (setbacks, lot size, height). Always check the Official Zoning Map and the specific district chapter for exact numeric standards and whether overlays or design‑review requirements apply — and consult the City for parcel‑specific verification § 18.06.020 / § 18.06.040 .

Source References

• § 18.06.010 — Designation of Land Use Zones (official district list)
• § 18.06.020 — Official Zoning Map (map is part of the Title)
• § 18.06.040 — Uncertainty as to boundaries (Director/Commission rules)
• § 18.06.060 — Uses permitted, use classification and Tables E/F/G referencing (Permitted/Conditional/Not Permitted)
• § 18.10.010 / § 18.10.050‑1 — V‑L zone purpose and property standards (V‑L numeric table)
• § 18.12.010 / § 18.12.050‑1 — R‑1 zone purpose and property standards (R‑1 numeric table)
• § 18.14.010 / § 18.14.050‑1 — R‑2 purpose and standards
• § 18.16.010 / § 18.16.050‑1 — R‑3/R‑4 purpose and standards
• § 18.22.060–090 — C‑2 numeric standards (lot, FAR, height)
• § 18.23.050‑1 — M‑U/D downtown mixed‑use property standards (lot, FAR, height, transparency)
• § 18.24.060–090 — I‑P (Industrial Park) property standards
• § 18.26.060–110 — M‑1 (Light Industrial) standards, setbacks, FAR and height
• § 18.28.010–130 — M‑2 (Heavy Industrial) purpose and standards
• § 18.30.020–030 — SDA (Sensitive Development Area overlay) review and CUP requirements
• § 18.32.010–030 — PC Planned Community Overlay (intent, map designation, design review)
• ADU rules / legalization and nonconforming ADU provisions — Chapter 18.48 excerpts (e.g., § 18.48.150 content)
• Parking cross‑references in the zone chapters: "See Chapter 18.36" (appears in commercial/industrial zone sections)

Also consult these internal pages used above:

• Colton Development Standards
• Colton Parking
• Colton Design Review
• Colton Overlay Districts
• Colton ADUs
• California Building Standards Code

If a zone chapter or specific numeric item you expect to find is not quoted above, see the "Information Gaps" section next.

Information Gaps

• Full chapter text and numeric tables for C‑1, M‑U/N, O‑S/R, O‑S/Res, P‑I, and R‑U were not present in the retrieved file excerpts. The Code lists those zones at § 18.06.010 but the zone‑specific chapters or numeric tables were not available in the provided material for all districts; verify those zones and numeric standards with the City Records or the Official Zoning Map .
• Complete text of the Specific Plan overlay chapter (18.34) and any active Specific Plan appendices were not in the supplied extracts — check with Community Development. Not found in retrieved materials.
• The use‑tables (full Tables E, F, G content) were referenced by § 18.06.060 but the full enumerated lists were not included in the excerpts we searched; consult the full Tables E/F/G in the municipal code for exact permitted/conditionally permitted uses (§ 18.06.060) .

Retrieved passages

• CFC § 5 (Section 18.58.030) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 66321 (§ 66321) Medium relevance show source text
• CPC § 2 (section 65852.2) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 3) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Section 18.10.030) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Section 18.12.030) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Chapter 18.04) High relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (Chapter 18.04) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text
• Colton Zoning Code (§ 2) Medium relevance show source text
• CMC § 1 (§ 1) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• **§ 18.06.010** — Designation of Land Use Zones (official district list) (§ 18.06.010)
• **§ 18.06.020** — Official Zoning Map (map is part of the Title) (§ 18.06.020)
• **§ 18.06.040** — Uncertainty as to boundaries (Director/Commission rules) (§ 18.06.040)
• **§ 18.06.060** — Uses permitted, use classification and Tables E/F/G referencing (Permitted/Conditional/Not Permitted) (§ 18.06.060)
• **§ 18.10.010 / § 18.10.050‑1** — V‑L zone purpose and property standards (V‑L numeric table) fileciteturn1file6turn2file2 (§ 18.10.010)
• **§ 18.12.010 / § 18.12.050‑1** — R‑1 zone purpose and property standards (R‑1 numeric table) fileciteturn2file16turn2file4 (§ 18.12.010)
• **§ 18.14.010 / § 18.14.050‑1** — R‑2 purpose and standards fileciteturn2file10turn2file11 (§ 18.14.010)
• **§ 18.16.010 / § 18.16.050‑1** — R‑3/R‑4 purpose and standards (§ 18.16.010)
• **§ 18.22.060–090** — C‑2 numeric standards (lot, FAR, height) (§ 18.22.060)
• **§ 18.23.050‑1** — M‑U/D downtown mixed‑use property standards (lot, FAR, height, transparency) (§ 18.23.050)
• **§ 18.24.060–090** — I‑P (Industrial Park) property standards (§ 18.24.060)
• **§ 18.26.060–110** — M‑1 (Light Industrial) standards, setbacks, FAR and height (§ 18.26.060)
• **§ 18.28.010–130** — M‑2 (Heavy Industrial) purpose and standards (§ 18.28.010)
• **§ 18.30.020–030** — SDA (Sensitive Development Area overlay) review and CUP requirements (§ 18.30.020)
• **§ 18.32.010–030** — PC Planned Community Overlay (intent, map designation, design review) (§ 18.32.010)
• ADU rules / legalization and nonconforming ADU provisions — Chapter 18.48 excerpts (e.g., **§ 18.48.150** content) (Chapter 18.48)
• Parking cross‑references in the zone chapters: "See Chapter 18.36" (appears in commercial/industrial zone sections) (Chapter 18.36)
• Colton Development Standards
• Colton Parking
• Colton Design Review
• Colton Overlay Districts
• Colton ADUs
• California Building Standards Code
• Colton_ZoningCode.md

• Official Colton code library