Dixon — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Dixon’s local zoning is codified as Title 18, the Dixon Zoning Code and divides the city into base zoning districts and overlays that implement the General Plan. The Code establishes permitted/conditional uses, dimensional and design standards, and procedural chapters for amendments, variances, and Planned Development overlays (§ 18.01.010; § 18.03.010) . The Official Zoning Map showing district boundaries is adopted by Council and maintained by the City Clerk (§ 18.03.020) .

Division below summarizes the actual Dixon districts, the standards that matter to decisions, and practical guidance grounded in the Code. Where the Code gives table names or section numbers I cite the controlling § and the retrieved file reference; where a parcel- or site-specific interpretation is required I mark it “Verify with the jurisdiction.”

District-by-district breakdown

Notes on sources: the Code establishes base districts in Table 18.03.010 and develops district purpose, uses, and standards across Chapters 18.04 (Residential), 18.05 (Commercial & Mixed Use), and 18.06 (Industrial) — cited in each subsection below .

Residential Low Density — RL

• Purpose: Provide low-density neighborhood character; primarily single-family detached housing up to 9 dwelling units per acre (§ 18.04.010) .
• Typical permitted uses: Single-family homes, compatible accessory uses; certain accessory or second units are governed by supplemental rules under the RL standards (see SB9 / two-unit and accessory unit provisions) (§ 18.04.020; § 18.04.040) .
• Key dimensional standards (decision-relevant): minimum rear setbacks that vary by lot depth, maximum lot coverage 45%, and minimum open space 200 sf per unit (Table 18.04.030) — see § 18.04.030 for the full matrix and measurement rules (lot coverage rules cross-reference § 18.02.030.G) .
• Where it applies: areas mapped as RL on the Official Zoning Map; when a parcel contains more than one district the Director determines boundary application (§ 18.03.020) .

Residential Medium Density — RM

• Purpose: Provide medium-density housing options at 10–22 dwelling units/acre including townhomes, apartments, and compatible uses (§ 18.04.010) .
• Typical permitted uses: Duplexes, small multi-family, townhomes; accessory units where allowed by supplemental rules (§ 18.04.020) .
• Key dimensional standards: maximum lot coverage 60%, minimum open space 200 sf per unit, and the same tiered rear/setback rules by lot depth as RL (see Table 18.04.030, § 18.04.030) .
• Practical note: SB9 / urban lot split and two-unit rules are specifically called out for the RL District and include site exclusions and development standards — see § 18.04.040 (Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel eligibility) .

Downtown Mixed Use — DMX

• Purpose: Promote a pedestrian-oriented downtown with active ground-floor uses and a mix of commercial, cultural, entertainment, civic, and residential uses; allows residential densities up to 30 units/acre (§ 18.05.010) .
• Typical permitted uses: Retail, restaurants, entertainment, offices, limited community assembly (with use limits), and residential (often above ground floor) — refer to Table 18.05.020 for use-by-use P/A/C designations (§ 18.05.020) .
• Key dimensional standards: Maximum height 50 ft (see Table 18.05.030 § 18.05.030), front setback often 0 ft on primary corridors (active frontage requirements apply) — see Table 18.05.030 and the CMX/DMX Active Frontage rules in § 18.05.020 and § 18.05.030 .
• Where it applies: Downtown parcels designated DMX on the Official Zoning Map; note site-specific design review and active frontage rules that affect ground-floor layout (§ 18.05.020) .

Corridor Mixed Use — CMX

• Purpose: Mixed commercial/residential along major corridors; residential densities 12–28 du/acre; sites ≥ 2.5 acres must include at least one residential and one commercial use (§ 18.05.010; § 18.05.020.A) .
• Typical permitted uses: Large-format retail, shopping centers, offices, hotels, and housing; mixed-use vertical or horizontal; smaller sites may have single uses but active frontage and ground-floor rules apply (§ 18.05.020) .
• Key dimensional standards: Maximum height 40 ft (Table 18.05.030); front setback 10 ft except for garage conditions (Table 18.05.030) — see § 18.05.030 .
• Practical guidance: For sites ≥ 2.5 acres expect mandatory mixed uses and active frontage depth/height minimums (ground-floor commercial area min 40 ft or 25% of frontage; floor-to-ceiling ≥ 14 ft) — see § 18.05.020 .

Campus Mixed Use — CAMX

• Purpose: Employment-first mixed-use near highways and regional connections; residential allowed only as a secondary use (min 15 du/acre, max 30 du/acre and residential limited to 40% of site or project FAR) (§ 18.05.010) .
• Typical permitted uses: Light industrial, manufacturing, R&D, offices, hotels, and supportive retail and services; housing only as subordinate use controlled by PD or development plan (§ 18.05.010) .
• Key standard: CAMX development standards/land uses are set in the approved PD or equivalent mechanism — see § 18.05.020 and Planned Development overlay rules (§ 18.32.020) .
• Where it applies: Specific gateway/campus locations mapped as CAMX; most precise standards are project-specific via PD.

Neighborhood Commercial — CN; Regional Commercial — CR; Service Commercial — CS

• Purpose and uses:
  • CN: neighborhood-serving shopping and small retail clusters (§ 18.05.010) .
  • CR: regional-serving commercial (I‑80 frontage focus), full range retail and auto-oriented uses (§ 18.05.010) .
  • CS: service, repair, storage, contractor yards, nurseries, and uses not typical to shopping centers (§ 18.05.010) .
• Key dimensional standards (summary): See Table 18.05.030 — typical maxima: CR/CS up to 40 ft, CN up to 30 ft; front setbacks range from 0–20 ft depending on district and garage configuration; interior-side/rear adjacent to residential require 20 ft (§ 18.05.030) .
• Uses: Table 18.05.020 enumerates uses and whether they are Permitted (P), Administrative (A), or Conditional (C) in CN/CR/CS (§ 18.05.020) .

Industrial — IL (Light Industrial) and IG (General Industrial)

• Purpose: Provide sites for manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and industrial support uses (Chapter 18.06) .
• Key rules: Chapter 18.06 provides land use tables and development standards (setbacks, height, lot sizes) for industrial zones; specific uses and conditional use requirements appear in Table 18.06.020 and development standards in 18.06.030 (§ 18.06.010–030) .
• Practical guidance: Industrial sites typically have fewer frontage/active-use requirements but pay attention to buffering where adjacent to residential (interior-side/rear setbacks 20 ft where adjacent to an R district per the commercial standards matrix; the same adjacency rule applies citywide in many district tables) (§ 18.05.030) .

Public & Semi-Public — PF and PR

• Purpose: PF for schools, utilities, municipal facilities; PR for parks/recreation (Table 18.03.010) (§ 18.03.010) .
• Standards: Land use and development standards for PF/PR are in Chapter 18.07 (see § 18.07.010–030) .

Overlay Districts — GW, PD, SP

• GW (Groundwater Well Overlay): Regulates groundwater extraction well development and often requires a conditional use permit as set out in Chapter 18.08 (§ 18.08.010–040) .
• -PD (Planned Development Overlay): Noted on the map by appending “-PD” to the base zone; PDs are adopted by Council and require a PD Plan with detailed findings (Chapter 18.32, § 18.32.020–040) .
• -SP (Specific Plan Overlay): Specific Plan overlays are implemented where a specific plan has been adopted (Chapter 18.10) (§ 18.10.010–030) .
• Practical guidance: Overlay districts supersede or refine base standards for the parcel(s) where they are mapped; a PD or Specific Plan can set site-specific development standards (verify map and PD documents) (§ 18.32.020; § 18.10.020) .

Key decision table — selected development standards (quick reference)

(Full matrices and special-case rules — garage depth/setback exceptions, active frontage, and height exceptions — are in Table 18.04.030 and Table 18.05.030; see § 18.04.030 and § 18.05.030) .

Uses & permit triggers (high-level)

• The Code uses a P / A / C matrix in Table 18.05.020 and Table 18.04.020 to show permitted uses and whether Administrative or Conditional Use Permits are required; many potentially impactful uses (bars, outdoor entertainment, cannabis businesses) are conditional or specifically regulated (§ 18.05.020) .
• Where proximity limits or special conditions apply (for example distance buffers from schools for some uses), the tables note the requirements and cross‑reference other chapters (e.g., alcohol/cannabis rules) — see Table 18.05.020 and related notes (§ 18.05.020) .

Where to look next (internal guidance links)

• Development standards and measurement rules: see Dixon Development Standards (first mention) and the Code’s general site regulations in Chapter 18.11 (§ 18.11.010–110) for encroachments, height exceptions, screening and fences (§ 18.11) .
• Parking rules and required parking counts are enforced separately; start with Dixon Parking and cross-check Code chapters noted in use tables (§ 18.19 references appear in use notes) .
• Design expectations and review triggers: see Dixon Design Review and the Code’s design provisions in Chapter 18.11.040 (Design Standards - Residential and Mixed-Use Districts) (§ 18.11.040) .
• Overlays and project-level modifications: see Dixon Overlay Districts and Chapters 18.08, 18.32, 18.10 for GW, PD and SP overlays (§ 18.08, § 18.32, § 18.10) .
• Historic, signage, landscaping, and nonconforming specifics: consult Dixon Historic Preservation, Dixon Signage, Dixon Landscaping and Screening, and Dixon Nonconforming Uses for site-level constraints; the Code cross-references many of these topics (e.g., historic district exclusions for SB9) (§ 18.04.040) .
• If your project involves an ADU see Dixon ADUs and note ADU/second-unit-related exceptions and parking relaxations in the Code (see SB9 / two-unit and ADU allowances in § 18.04.040) .
• Building code compliance remains the State code; see the California Building Standards Code for construction-level requirements (Title 24) — zoning does not replace those requirements.

Checklist

• Confirm the base zoning district on the Official Zoning Map (City Clerk) and whether parcel is in more than one district (§ 18.03.020) .
• Verify permitted/conditional status for your proposed use in the applicable Table 18.04.020 or 18.05.020 and note any distance buffers or special notes (§ 18.04.020; § 18.05.020) .
• Check dimensional standards (height, setbacks, lot coverage, open space) in Table 18.04.030 or 18.05.030 and cross-check measurement rules (§ 18.04.030; § 18.05.030; § 18.02.030) .
• Review overlay applicability (GW, -PD, -SP) and any PD or Specific Plan documents that supersede base rules (Chapters 18.08, 18.32, 18.10) .
• Identify required permits (Building, Use Permit/Conditional Use Permit, Administrative Use Permit, Variance) and appeal/expiration rules (Chapters 18.21, 18.24, 18.28) .
• Compile design/landscaping/parking submittals per the Code and local checklists (see Dixon Development Standards, Dixon Parking, Dixon Landscaping and Screening) .
• If requesting deviations, prepare variance findings under § 18.28.060 and expect conditions of approval/appeals (§ 18.28) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Dixon’s zoning code (Title 18) lays out named zones — RL, RM, DMX, CMX, CAMX, CN, CR, CS, IL, IG, and public/overlay districts — each with specific allowed uses, setbacks, heights, and special overlay rules; check the Official Zoning Map and the district tables (Tables 18.04.030, 18.05.020, 18.05.030) to see what’s permitted and what triggers a use permit or special approval (§ 18.03.020; § 18.04.030; § 18.05.020; § 18.05.030) .

Information Gaps

• Official, parcel‑specific Zoning Map graphic and parcel mapping layers: the Code references the Official Zoning Map (§ 18.03.020) but the map image/parcel overlay was not included in the retrieved text file — Verify with City Clerk/Planning staff (§ 18.03.020) .
• Full parking table and precise parking ratios: parking is referenced in the Code and use table notes (e.g., ADU parking relaxations), but the full parking chapter/table and section numbers were not visible in the retrieved snippets — See Dixon Parking and verify with the Code’s parking chapter (code cross‑refs to § 18.19 appear in use notes) .
• Design review triggers and process in full: design standards appear in Chapter 18.11, but the procedural design review chapter or thresholds (if separate) were not fully detailed in the retrieved file — see Dixon Design Review and Chapter 18.11 (§ 18.11.040) for guidance .
• Parcel-specific constraints (floodplain, fire severity, conservation easements) are listed as exclusions for SB9 and other statewide provisions, but confirm with parcel maps and environmental layers before assuming eligibility (§ 18.04.040) .

Source References

• Title 18, Dixon Zoning Code (Title and purpose): § 18.01.010 – § 18.01.050 .
• Zoning Districts and Official Zoning Map: § 18.03.010; § 18.03.020 (Official Zoning Map) .
• Residential Districts (RL, RM): Chapter 18.04 — § 18.04.010 – § 18.04.040; Development Standards Table 18.04.030 (§ 18.04.030) .
• Commercial & Mixed Use Districts (DMX, CMX, CAMX, CN, CR, CS): Chapter 18.05 — § 18.05.010 – § 18.05.040; Tables 18.05.020 (land use regs) and 18.05.030 (development standards) .
• Industrial Districts: Chapter 18.06 (§ 18.06.010–030) .
• Overlays (Groundwater Well, Planned Development, Specific Plan): Chapters 18.08, 18.32, 18.10 (§ 18.08.010–040; § 18.32.020–040; § 18.10.010–030) .
• SB9 / Two-Unit / Urban Lot Split and ADU-related local rules (RL supplemental): § 18.04.040 (Supplemental Regulations) .
• Variances / conditions / appeals: Chapter 18.28 (Conditions of Approval § 18.28.060) .
• General site regulations, design standards, setbacks and encroachments: Chapter 18.11 (e.g., § 18.11.040, § 18.11.050) .
• Definitions and measurement rules (measuring height, yards, floor area): Chapter 18.02 and Chapter 18.35 (definitions) — see § 18.02.030 and the definitions in Chapter 18.35 .

Retrieved passages

• Dixon Zoning Code (Section 18.05.020.) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.05Commercial) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Section 21155) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (§18.02.030.G) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Section 18.21.120) High relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Section 18.05.020.A) Medium relevance show source text
• Dixon Zoning Code (Chapter 18.04Residential) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 21000 (§21000) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Title 18, Dixon Zoning Code (Title and purpose): **§ 18.01.010 – § 18.01.050** . (Title 18)
• Zoning Districts and Official Zoning Map: **§ 18.03.010**; **§ 18.03.020** (Official Zoning Map) . (§ 18.03.010)
• Residential Districts (RL, RM): **Chapter 18.04** — **§ 18.04.010 – § 18.04.040**; Development Standards Table **18.04.030** (§ **18.04.030**) . (Chapter 18.04)
• Commercial & Mixed Use Districts (DMX, CMX, CAMX, CN, CR, CS): **Chapter 18.05** — **§ 18.05.010 – § 18.05.040**; Tables **18.05.020** (land use regs) and **18.05.030** (development standards) . (Chapter 18.05)
• Industrial Districts: **Chapter 18.06** (§ **18.06.010–030**) . (Chapter 18.06)
• Overlays (Groundwater Well, Planned Development, Specific Plan): **Chapters 18.08, 18.32, 18.10** (§ **18.08.010–040**; § **18.32.020–040**; § **18.10.010–030**) .
• SB9 / Two-Unit / Urban Lot Split and ADU-related local rules (RL supplemental): **§ 18.04.040** (Supplemental Regulations) . (§ 18.04.040)
• Variances / conditions / appeals: **Chapter 18.28** (Conditions of Approval § **18.28.060**) . (Chapter 18.28)
• General site regulations, design standards, setbacks and encroachments: **Chapter 18.11** (e.g., § **18.11.040**, § **18.11.050**) . (Chapter 18.11)
• Definitions and measurement rules (measuring height, yards, floor area): **Chapter 18.02** and **Chapter 18.35** (definitions) — see § **18.02.030** and the definitions in Chapter **18.35** . (Chapter 18.02)
• Dixon_ZoningCode.md

• Official Dixon code library