Duarte Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

The City of Duarte's land-use rules are codified in the City of Duarte Development Code (Title 19) and are the primary implementation tool for the General Plan; the Code is explicitly titled the "City of Duarte Development Code" (§ 19.02.010) . Duarte uses a conventional base-zone + overlay approach and a suite of discretionary and ministerial permits (e.g., Site Plan & Design Review, Conditional Use Permits, Planned Development Permits, Variances) to manage change (§ 19.06.010; § 19.122; § 19.114; § 19.118; § 19.126) . This page explains where the rules live, the actual district names used in Duarte, the citywide standards that apply, the main permit routes, how specific plans and overlays fit in, and how State housing law (ADUs, urban lot splits, density bonus) interacts with Duarte's code.

How Duarte's code is organized

• Code title and structure — The local zoning text is the City of Duarte Development Code (Title 19); the Title is organized into Articles and Chapters (e.g., Article 1: Enactment; Article 2: Zones; Article 3: Regulations for all zones; Article 7: Permit Processing; Article 8: Administration; Article 9: Definitions) (§ 19.02.010; Article list) .
• Where to find the major rules:
  • Zoning districts and use tables: Article 2 (Chapters 19.06, 19.10–19.26) — see the official Zoning Map and Table 1‑1 for district lists (§ 19.06.010) .
  • City‑wide objective standards (setbacks, height measurement, projections): Chapter 19.32 (Site Planning & General Development Standards) (§ 19.32.010; § 19.32.020; § 19.32.050; § 19.32.040) .
  • Parking rules: Chapter 19.38 (Off‑Street Parking Regulations and Design) — invoked across the Code for parking calculations and allocations (§ 19.38 referenced in multiple chapters) .
  • Design and architectural standards: Chapter 19.44 and the Site Plan & Design Review chapter 19.122 (§ 19.44; § 19.122.040–.070) .
  • Permit procedures and review authorities: Article 7 (permit processing), Chapter 19.112 (application processing), Chapters 19.114 (CUP/MUP), 19.118 (Planned Development), 19.126 (Variances), 19.122 (Site Plan & Design Review), 19.128 (Zoning Clearance), and 19.130 (permit implementation/time limits) (§ 19.112; § 19.114; § 19.118; § 19.126; § 19.122; § 19.128; § 19.130) .
• Administration: day‑to‑day decisions are made by the Director of Community Development (the Director), with the Architectural Review Board (ARB), Planning Commission, and City Council having layered roles and appeal authority (§ 19.140.020–.050) .

Zoning district families (actual Duarte map names)

Duarte’s code uses base zones and overlays. The Code lists the zones in Table 1‑1; the principal families are:

• Single‑family residential: R-1, R-1A, R-1B, R-1D, R-1E, R-1F (each has a published minimum lot size; e.g., R-1 = 6,500 sf, R-1B = 10,000 sf, R-1D = 20,000 sf for hillside) (§ 19.10.010; Table 1‑1) .
• Two‑ and multi‑family: R-2, R-3, R-4, and R‑MH (mobile home) with published density and height/coverage caps (see Chapter 19.10 and development standard tables) (§ 19.10.010; development tables) .
• Commercial: C‑P (Commercial‑Professional), C‑G (Commercial‑General), C‑F (Commercial‑Freeway) — the Code has separate use tables and permit requirements for each (§ 19.12.010; Table 2‑5) .
• Industrial / manufacturing: M (Light Manufacturing) (listed in Table 1‑1) (§ 19.06.010) .
• Institutional / special purpose / public: I (Institutional), PF/P‑F (Public Facilities), O (Open Space), SP (Specific Plan) — each has its chapter and development standards (e.g., PF development standards in § 19.18.030; O zone standards in § 19.20.020) (§ 19.24; § 19.18; § 19.20) .
• Overlays: Duarte uses overlays (for example the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO)) and Specific Plan (SP) zones that sit on top of base zones; overlay rules can supersede base‑zone rules where they conflict (§ 19.06.010; Chapter 19.26; Chapter 19.22) .

(If you want to see Duarte’s official list and map, consult Duarte Zoning and the code chapters referenced above.)

Citywide development standards — high‑level orientation

• Setbacks and measurements — Objective rules for yard measurement, projections and encroachments (eaves, porches, bay windows) and rules for when setbacks may be modified appear in § 19.32.020 (permitted projections) and § 19.32.050 (yards — measurement and requirements) . Consult the zone development tables for zone‑specific front/side/rear minimums (e.g., PF zone front setback 10 ft) (§ 19.18.030) .
• Height and FAR / lot coverage — Height measurement rules and exceptions are in § 19.32.040; most residential zones list maximum heights (commonly 35 ft / 2 stories for many residential zones; the Code's tables show exact numbers per zone and exceptions for hillside areas) (§ 19.32.040; zone tables) .
• Lot coverage / open space — Zone tables in Chapter 19.10 and related tables list maximum lot coverage and minimum private/common open space standards (see table excerpts in the R‑zone tables) (§ 19.10 and table content) .
• Parking — Off‑street parking standards and design requirements live in Chapter 19.38; commercial and condominium conversions must show parking allocations and layout compliant with Chapter 19.38 when applying (§ 19.38 referenced in Chapters 19.85 and elsewhere) . For project‑level parking review see the City's parking chapter and the specific zone tables that reference it.
• Accessory structures & fences — Standards for accessory buildings, garages, fences/walls and permitted projections are in Chapter 19.34 and Chapter 19.36 (§ 19.34.030; Chapter 19.36) .
• Design controls — Architectural and design standards are enforced through Chapter 19.44 and the Site Plan & Design Review procedures in Chapter 19.122; the ARB, Director and Planning Commission have roles depending on project type (§ 19.44; § 19.122.040–.070; § 19.140.050) .

For Duarte’s concise project‑level rules, see the Duarte Development Standards page and consult the cited Code sections above.

Specific plans & overlays

• Specific Plans: Duarte maintains multiple Specific Plans (the Code lists adopted Specific Plans in § 19.22.050, including Duarte Station Specific Plan, Town Center Specific Plan, and City of Hope Specific Plan) — each adopted Specific Plan governs land use and development rules inside its bounds; when a specific plan is silent, the Development Code fills gaps (§ 19.22.020–.050) .
• Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO): Duarte’s Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) is an example of an overlay that grants higher base densities and specific incentives on identified opportunity sites (see Chapter 19.26 — AHO purpose, eligibility, and development standards; density and height rules for AHO are spelled out in § 19.26.050) (§ 19.26.010–.070) .
• How overlays work: an overlay supplements the base zone and, when in conflict, overlay requirements control (see § 19.06.010 and the Specific Plan chapter) (§ 19.06.010; § 19.22.020) .

See Duarte’s Overlay Districts page for a quick map‑level look at overlays.

Building permits & review — the typical paths

• Simple ministerial review (Zoning Clearance → Building Permit): many routine changes proceed by a Zoning Clearance (Chapter 19.128) followed by building permits from the Building Division (Municipal Code Title 16); a Zoning Clearance is issued administratively by the Director if standards are met (§ 19.128.020–.030; § 19.110.030) .
• Site Plan & Design Review: projects that change site layout, architecture, or otherwise trigger design review require approval under § 19.122; the Director/ARB/Commission review depending on Table 7‑2 and the project's complexity (§ 19.122.040–.070; Table 7‑2) . For the City's published guidance see the Duarte Design Review resource.
• Discretionary permits (public hearing): larger or more impactful projects use public hearings and quasi‑judicial permits:
  • Conditional Use Permit (CUP) / Minor Use Permit — Chapter 19.114; the Commission is the usual reviewer; conditions may be imposed and CUPs run with the land but may lapse if unused (§ 19.114.050–.080) .
  • Planned Development Permit (PDP) — Chapter 19.118 allows tailored development standards (coverage, FAR, height, setbacks) when a higher quality or amenities justify adjustments; PDPs require a minimum site area (commonly 1 acre) and a Commission hearing (§ 19.118.010–.050) .
  • Variances / Administrative Variances — Chapter 19.126 allows exceptions to development standards when strict application causes hardship (the Commission approves variances; the Director can approve limited administrative variances) (§ 19.126.020–.030) .
• Timing, effective dates, and appeals — permit “effectiveness” rules, expiration and extension rules are in Chapter 19.130 and appeals are governed by the Articles on administration and hearings; many discretionary approvals become effective 15 days after decision unless appealed (§ 19.130.030; § 19.130.060) .
• Building & construction codes — technical building rules and inspections are enforced under Municipal Code Title 16 (Buildings & Construction) and the City references the California Building Code and local permit coordination in the Development Code (§ 19.110.030; Title 16) . For state technical code references see the California Building Standards Code link.

State housing law in Duarte — ADUs, urban lot splits / SB 9, density bonus, and rent rules

• ADUs & JADUs: Duarte implements State ADU/JADU rules through local ADU provisions found at § 19.60.160 (Accessory Dwelling Units). The Code lists permitted ADU types (detached, attached, converted), parking exceptions, design/owner‑occupancy requirements, deed‑restriction and recording requirements, and the ability to allow two detached ADUs in multifamily zones in some circumstances (§ 19.60.160; § 19.60 references) . For quick user guidance see Duarte ADUs.
  • Key Duarte ADU points you’ll find in § 19.60.160: one ADU (detached, attached, or converted) per single‑family lot; one JADU allowed; deed restriction and recording required; owner‑occupancy rules (noted phased requirement after Jan 1, 2025); parking exemptions where near transit; architectural compatibility and automatic roofing/solar/building code cross‑checks (§ 19.60.160) .
• Urban lot splits / SB 9: Duarte has provisions for urban lot splits and duplexes in single‑family zones (see Chapter 19.88 for Urban Lot Splits and § 19.10.035 for duplexes in R‑1 zones). The Code includes ministerial, objective standards and allows limited deviations where objective standards would physically preclude units (consistent with state law) (§ 19.10.035; Chapter 19.88; relevant duplex/urban lot split rules) .
• Density bonus: Duarte incorporates State Density Bonus rules (referenced and implemented via Chapter 19.64 and Duarte's Affordable Housing Overlay Chapter 19.26) and offers explicit overlay incentives and interplay with local density (State Density Bonus noted in Chapter 19.26) (§ 19.64 referenced; § 19.26.050) .
• Rent control / local rent limits: The Development Code files retrieved do not contain a local rent‑control ordinance or rent‑stabilization provisions; no explicit rent‑control/chapter was found in the Development Code excerpts provided — verify with the City Clerk / Municipal Code for rental‑housing regulation outside Title 19 (Not found in retrieved materials) .

Quick links for State housing law background: Duarte follows statutory cross‑references (Government Code references appear throughout the ADU and duplex/urban‑lot‑split provisions). For state ADU requirements, consult the State ADU guidance as a complement to local § 19.60.160 .

Practical orientation — what to do for common projects

• Small exterior remodel or interior repair: start with a Zoning Clearance (Chapter 19.128) and then Building Permits under Title 16; the Director issues zoning clearances if standards are met (§ 19.128.020–.030; § 19.110.030) .
• Add an ADU: check § 19.60.160 for allowable ADU type, parking exceptions, and deed‑restriction requirements; submit ADU plans with the Building Permit application (local ADU rules include owner‑occupancy and recording requirements) (§ 19.60.160) .
• New multi‑unit housing or density increase: review the base zone standards in Article 2, consider whether the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) or a State Density Bonus applies (§ 19.26 & § 19.64), and expect either ministerial processing (if eligible under AHO rules) or discretionary review and a Planned Development Permit if using adjusted standards (§ 19.26.070; § 19.118; § 19.64) .
• Projects needing design/architectural review: prepare materials required by Chapter 19.122 (Site Plan & Design Review) and expect conditions of approval, and a building permit will only be issued after compliance with the approved Site Plan (§ 19.122.060–.070) .

If you need a checklist for one of these paths, say which project and I’ll produce the step‑by‑step with the exact local § citations.

Information gaps / verification points

• Rent‑control or tenant‑protection rules were not located in the provided Development Code excerpts; confirm with the full Municipal Code or City Clerk whether any separate ordinance (outside Title 19) applies (Not found in retrieved materials) .
• For precise numeric values (zone‑by‑zone front/side/rear setbacks, lot coverage, exact parking ratios per use), consult the zone tables and Chapter 19.38 directly — the Code includes multiple tables (R‑zone tables, PF table 2‑12, etc.) that must be read for property‑specific numbers (§ 19.10 tables; § 19.18.030; § 19.38) .

Source References

• City of Duarte Development Code — Title and Purpose: § 19.02.010 and related Article list .
• Zoning districts and table of zones (Table 1‑1): § 19.06.010 (Zoning Map and Zones) .
• Residential zone definitions, minimum lot sizes, and R‑zone tables (Chapter 19.10): § 19.10.010; R‑zone tables (Accessory Dwelling cross‑refs to § 19.60.160) .
• Commercial zones (C‑P, C‑G, C‑F) and use tables: § 19.12.010; Table 2‑5 .
• Specific Plans and list of Duarte Specific Plans: § 19.22.010–.050; Table 2‑15 (adopted specific plans) .
• Site planning, setbacks/projections, yards, height measurement: § 19.32.010; § 19.32.020; § 19.32.040; § 19.32.050 .
• Site Plan & Design Review: Chapter 19.122 (standards, findings, conditions, issuance) — see § 19.122.040–.070 .
• Conditional Use Permits and Minor Use Permits: Chapter 19.114 (procedures, findings, conditions) — see § 19.114.050–.080 .
• Planned Development Permit: Chapter 19.118 (purpose, adjustments, findings, minimum site area) — see § 19.118.010–.050 .
• Variances and Administrative Variances: Chapter 19.126 — see § 19.126.020–.030; Table 7‑3 for administrative variance types .
• Zoning Clearances and ministerial review: Chapter 19.128 — see § 19.128.020–.040 .
• Permit implementation, time limits and effective dates: Chapter 19.130 — see § 19.130.020–.030 .
• ADUs / JADUs: § 19.60.160 (Accessory Dwelling Units) — detailed standards, parking exceptions, deed restriction and owner‑occupancy rules .
• Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO): Chapter 19.26 (purpose, opportunity sites, development standards, processing) — see § 19.26.010–.070 and § 19.26.050 for specific standards .
• Off‑street parking chapter and references: Chapter 19.38 referenced throughout (e.g., condominium, commercial allocation rules) (§ 19.38 referenced in § 19.85, § 19.12, etc.) .
• Administrative structure (Director, ARB, Planning Commission): Chapter 19.140 (administrative responsibility) — see § 19.140.020–.050 .
• Relationship to Building & Construction Title and other municipal permits: § 19.110.030 (Additional permits may be required; refers to Title 16) .