Fillmore Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Fillmore’s land-use rules are codified primarily in Title 6, Chapter 6.04 of the Municipal Code, which is adopted as the City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance and implements the General Plan through zoning districts, standards and review procedures (§ 6.04.0201; § 6.04.0210) . The code establishes a discrete set of residential, commercial, industrial, public/open-space and overlay zones (e.g., RPD-R, RPD-L, RPD-M, RPD-M/H, RPD-H, CN, CBD, CO, CH, MPD, O-S, P-F, and the SFIP overlay) and a single official zoning map controls district boundaries (§ 6.04.0220) . Citywide standards for setbacks, height, lot coverage and parking live in a combination of the district development tables (Table II‑1) and cross‑cutting chapters like Off‑Street Parking (§ 6.04.34) and Landscaping (§ 6.04.28) (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.34; § 6.04.28) . The Community Development Director and Planning Commission share review authority, with specific application paths defined for administrative approvals, development permits, conditional use permits, variances and appeals (§ 6.04.0215; § 6.04.66; § 6.04.70; § 6.04.64; § 6.04.80) .

How Fillmore's code is organized

• Title and purpose: the ordinance is titled the City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance (Title 6, Chapter 6.04) and describes its purpose and relationship to the General Plan (§ 6.04.0201; § 6.04.0210) .
• Articles and functional chapters: the code divides into articles for General Provisions; Zoning Districts and Standards (including the district development tables); General Regulations (landscaping, parking, signs, loading); Use‑specific chapters; Procedures (development permits, hearings and appeals); and enforcement/administration (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.28; § 6.04.34; § 6.04.38; § 6.04.32; § 6.04.66; § 6.04.80) .
• Finding and decision rules: application processing, notice and hearing procedures are grouped in the procedures/hearings article (see § 6.04.8005 – § 6.04.8035) which governs director/commission/council decisions and appeals (§ 6.04.8005; § 6.04.8010; § 6.04.8020) .
• Navigation tip: district development standards (e.g., Table II‑1) contain the numeric rules (setbacks, heights, lot areas) and are cross‑referenced by use chapters and the general regulations; for variances or design exceptions the code points you to the procedures articles (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.64; § 6.04.66) .

Zoning district families

Fillmore’s ordinance lists the actual district names and short descriptions in the district establishment clause (§ 6.04.0220) . The principal district families are:

• RPD-R (Residential‑Rural), RPD-L (Residential‑Low), RPD-M (Residential‑Medium), RPD-M/H (Residential‑Medium/High), RPD-H (Residential‑High) — residential density and dimensional rules for these zones are summarized in Table II‑1 and applied citywide as minimum standards (§ 6.04.0415; Table II‑1) .
  • Example numeric controls from Table II‑1: front setbacks range by zone (e.g., 20 ft in RPD‑R, 18 ft in RPD‑L/M, 15 ft in RPD‑M/H, 10 ft in RPD‑H); maximum main building height is generally 35 ft / 2 stories for most RPDs and 40 ft / 3 stories for RPD‑H where allowed (§ 6.04.0415; Table II‑1) .
• Commercial family: CN (Commercial Neighborhood), CBD (Central Business District), CO (Commercial Office), CH (Commercial Highway) — each has its own Table / subsection; the CBD has tailored downtown development rules (see CBD Development Standards and cross‑reference to the Downtown Specific Plan) (§ 6.04.0615; CBD development subsections) .
• Industrial/Manufacturing: MPD (Manufacturing/Industrial) — MPD contains additional operational and site‑planning standards including hours, outdoor storage screening, and retail incidental limits; typical maximum height is 50 ft (with corridor exceptions) and lot coverage limits appear in its table (§ 6.04.0801; MPD standards) .
• Public/Open Space and other: O‑S (Open Space), P‑F (Public Facilities), and overlay zones such as SFIP (South Fillmore Industrial Park Overlay) are also listed and mapped (§ 6.04.0220) .

(When you need the district map, the ordinance requires the Official Zoning Map on file with the City Clerk and the Community Development Department (§ 6.04.0220) .)

Citywide development standards

• Development tables: the numeric rules for density, lot area, setbacks, lot/structural coverage, distances between structures, and maximum building heights live in the district development tables (Table II‑1 and district‑specific tables); these are the starting point for any project (§ 6.04.0415; Table II‑1) .
• Setbacks and height: setbacks are measured from property lines and differ by district; see Table II‑1 for RPD zones (e.g., rear setbacks as low as 5 ft in some high‑density zones, side setbacks commonly 10 ft) and the CBD/CO/CH tables for commercial zones (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.0615) .
• Lot coverage / FAR: the code controls structural parcel coverage as a percent (e.g., 40% to 60% depending on RPD district, 60% in CN, 100% allowed in core CBD) in the district tables rather than a single citywide FAR number (see Table II‑1 and the CBD/mpd tables) (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.0615) .
• Parking and loading: off‑street parking rules and required space counts are located in the Off‑Street Parking Standards chapter; consult that chapter early because many use and conditional approvals are conditioned on compliance with § 6.04.34 and the related loading standards § 6.04.32 (§ 6.04.34; § 6.04.32) . The code also cross‑references landscaping requirements for parking setbacks (§ 6.04.28) .
• Design and materials: the ordinance requires site plan and design review for many commercial and larger developments (site plan review criteria in the CO/BP/CBD chapters and general design‑review procedures) and explicitly cross‑references design review during variances and other discretionary approvals (§ 6.04.1205; § 6.04.6620) .

Link: For quick navigation to the numeric and rule pages see the Fillmore Development Standards page and the Fillmore Parking page when preparing a submittal.

Specific plans & overlays

• Downtown / CBD: the CBD development standards are tied to the Downtown Specific Plan (the code references “core area” rules and Figure 1.6 of the Downtown Specific Plan) and special front‑floor rules for core streets are enforced through the CBD subsections (§ 6.04.0615; CBD notes referencing the Downtown Specific Plan) .
• South Fillmore Industrial Park Overlay: the SFIP overlay is explicitly listed in the district establishment clause and operates as an overlay zone mapped on the official zoning map (§ 6.04.0220) .
• How overlays & specific plans work in practice: overlay or specific‑plan provisions modify the base district rules and the code requires consistency with any adopted guidelines or specific plan; deviations then require a development permit or variance per the procedures chapters (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.66; § 6.04.64) .
• Link: consult the Fillmore Overlay Districts page and the Fillmore Historic Preservation page (if you are working in the downtown historic core, the Downtown Specific Plan references special storefront and ground‑floor use rules) (§ 6.04.0615) .

Building permits & review

• Administrative vs. discretionary approvals: the Community Development Director has explicit authority to approve a range of ministerial and minor discretionary actions (occupancy clearances, sign permits, home occupations, temporary use permits, minor modifications/variances, residential projects up to three dwelling units, small non‑residential projects under thresholds) as enumerated in § 6.04.0215 (§ 6.04.0215) . Larger or discretionary projects use the Development Permit process (§ 6.04.66) or Conditional Use Permit process (§ 6.04.70) and are heard by the Planning Commission or City Council depending on the table of decision authority (§ 6.04.66; § 6.04.70; § 6.04.5001) .
• Application processing & notices: processing, investigation, written reports and hearing procedures are laid out in the procedures article; the Director prepares a written report and recommendations to the Commission, and decisions have formal notices and appeal rights (§ 6.04.8010; § 6.04.8020; § 6.04.8025) .
• Design review & site plan review: certain districts require site plan review by the Commission (for example some CO/BP/BP‑type uses and commercial developments) and the code explicitly cross‑references design review procedures for development, variances and conditional uses (§ 6.04.1205; § 6.04.6620; § 6.04.64) . Link to the Fillmore Design Review page when preparing materials.
• Typical submittal checklist: expect to supply plans demonstrating compliance with the district Table II‑1 standards (setbacks, height, lot coverage), parking calculations per § 6.04.34, landscaping/irrigation plans per § 6.04.28, and signage plans per § 6.04.38; if you seek a variance, the variance procedures and required findings are in § 6.04.64 (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.34; § 6.04.28; § 6.04.38; § 6.04.64) .

State housing law in Fillmore

• ADUs / JADUs: within the materials provided there is no clearly labeled local ADU ordinance text located in the retrieved zoning chapters; the Fillmore code’s general accessory‑use and accessory‑structure rules appear in the district and accessory‑use subsections but a discrete ADU chapter was not found in the retrieved materials (Not found in retrieved materials — verify with the Community Development Department). The statewide ADU rules remain controlling where local code is silent or inconsistent; consult California ADU law and the California Building Standards Code for the building/safety requirements (state ADU statutes summarized in the California ADU handbook and Title 24) (state references in provided files: California ADU handbook; California Building Standards Code) . Link to Fillmore ADUs for local guidance and to the California Building Standards Code for Title 24 rules.
• SB 9 and ministerial four‑unit/lot split provisions: the local zoning code provides the city's explicit review and discretionary procedures (development permits, variances) but the retrieved code excerpts do not include a local ordinance specifically implementing or restricting SB 9 lot splits or ministerial duplex conversions; confirm with the City for any adopted SB 9 implementation rules (Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the city) (§ 6.04.0225; § 6.04.66 give director authority to find similar uses but do not substitute for specific SB 9 implementing ordinance) .
• Density bonus and housing incentives: the code explicitly references the availability of a density bonus for qualifying congregate housing and cross‑references a density bonus subsection (see Subsection 6.04.0415(2.6) referenced in congregate housing rules) and therefore accommodates state density bonus mechanics where consistent with local development standards (§ 6.04.2125; § 6.04.0415(2.6) reference) .
• Rent control / eviction limits: the retrieved zoning code files do not show local rent‑control or tenant protection ordinances; housing‑specific procedural references are limited to development and land‑use (Not found in retrieved materials; verify with the City and County clerk) (verify local housing/rent ordinances) .

Practical orientation / how to use this in a project

1. Identify the property’s base zone on the Official Zoning Map and confirm the district in § 6.04.0220 and the district development table that controls your parcel (§ 6.04.0220; § 6.04.0415) .
2. Pull the precise numeric standards from Table II‑1 or the district table for your zone (setbacks, max height, lot coverage) and note any overlay/specific plan callouts (CBD/Downtown Specific Plan or SFIP) (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.0615; § 6.04.0220) .
3. Prepare parking, landscaping and signage plans per the Off‑Street Parking, Landscaping, and Sign Standards chapters (§ 6.04.34; § 6.04.28; § 6.04.38) . Link to the Fillmore Parking page and the Fillmore Landscaping and Screening and Fillmore Signage pages as you assemble materials.
4. Decide permit path early: if the Community Development Director can approve (see § 6.04.0215 list of director powers) you may avoid a Commission hearing; otherwise prepare for a Development Permit or Conditional Use Permit and the hearing/notice process (§ 6.04.0215; § 6.04.66; § 6.04.70; § 6.04.8005) . Link to the Fillmore Variances and Exceptions page if you expect to seek dimensional relief.
5. Expect design review/site plan criteria: projects requiring a variance, conditional use or certain development permits will be evaluated against the code’s site‑plan and design criteria (§ 6.04.1205; § 6.04.6620) .

Information Gaps

• No discrete, labeled local ADU/JADU chapter or section was located in the retrieved zoning chapter excerpts; the local rules governing accessory dwellings (if any) should be confirmed with the City’s Community Development Department (Not found in retrieved materials) .
• No explicit SB 9 implementation or objective‑standards chapter was found in the provided excerpts; check with the City for any recent ordinances implementing state lot‑split/ministerial provisions (Not found in retrieved materials) .
• For historic‑district standards, the code references downtown/specific‑plan rules but a standalone historic‑preservation chapter was not found in the retrieved excerpts; verify whether a separate historic preservation ordinance exists (Not found in retrieved materials) .

Source References

• City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance (Title 6, Chapter 6.04) — see introductory and district establishment provisions at § 6.04.0201; § 6.04.0210; § 6.04.0220; district standards and Table II‑1 at § 6.04.0415; CBD and district tables at § 6.04.0615; MPD at § 6.04.0801; director authority at § 6.04.0215; procedures at § 6.04.8005 — .
• Development tables and RPD district numeric standards (Table II‑1) and related development standards — § 6.04.0415 and Table II‑1 — .
• Off‑street parking, loading and related cross‑references — § 6.04.34; § 6.04.32 — .
• Design/site plan review and site criteria (CO/BP/CBD examples) and variance cross‑references — § 6.04.1205; § 6.04.6620; § 6.04.64 — .
• California ADU law and summaries used for statewide compliance guidance — California ADU handbook (provided in files) and state Title 24 references — .