Local zoning · Fillmore

Fillmore — Development Standards

Q: How tall can I build in Fillmore?

Height limits are district‑based: most RPD categories are 35 ft / 2 stories ; RPD‑H is 40 ft / 3 stories per the table in § 6.04.0415 ; MPD and BP have different maxima (MPD commonly 50 ft , with corridor exceptions at 35 ft ) — see §§ 6.04.0415 and 6.04.0815 .

Development Standards under the Fillmore local zoning and planning code, with the controlling citations.

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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page distills the City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance rules that control how land and buildings may be laid out and sized — setbacks, heights, lot coverage, density, and related development standards. These rules live in the City’s zoning chapter; start with the city's zoning menu for context at the Fillmore Zoning page and refer to the ordinance sections cited below for the controlling language. Key review triggers are development permits, design review, and variances when a project departs from the numeric standards.

How this page is organized

District-by-district breakdowns (dimensions, typical uses, where they apply).
A decision-focused table of the most-used standards and their code references.
Practical checklist and risks/ambiguities to verify with the City.

How to read the citations on this page

When I state a numeric standard I give the controlling ordinance § and the file excerpt used to prepare this page (for example: § 6.04.0415 ). Always verify parcel‑specific application with the Planning Department.

District-by-district standards

Notes before the district list: The ordinance groups residential districts under the RPD (Residential Planned Development) series and sets a consolidated Zoning District Development Standards chart in § 6.04.0415; commercial districts use the standards in § 6.04.0615; the industrial/manufacturing parks (MPD) standards are in § 6.04.0815; and specialized business park and mixed-use rules appear in the BP/MPD sections cited below. Variations or departures require a Development Permit or a Minor Variance/Variance per the ordinance (§ 6.04.66, § 6.04.60, § 6.04.64) .

To understand required off‑street parking and how parking counts affect layout, consult the city page for parking and the ordinance references to parking standards (§ 6.04.32 and § 6.04.34) .

RPD-R (Low-density single-family)

Purpose & typical uses: RPD-R is intended for large-lot, low‑density single family residential development (single‑family homes). See the general RPD purpose and allowed uses in § 6.04.0415 .
Key dimensional standards (from Table II‑1 in § 6.04.0415):
- Maximum units—net/acre: 1.02 units/acre (§ 6.04.0415) .
- Lot area per unit: 1.0 acre (§ 6.04.0415) .
- Front setback (main structure): 20 ft (§ 6.04.0415) .
- Rear setback: 20 ft (§ 6.04.0415) .
- Side setbacks (each): 10 ft (may be reduced with Fire Dept. approval; see § 6.04.0415 footnotes) .
- Structural parcel coverage: (Table notes; other RPD categories have 40–60% limits) (§ 6.04.0415) .
- Maximum height (main building): 35 ft or 2 stories, whichever is less (for RPD-R) (§ 6.04.0415) .
Where it applies: within residential neighborhoods designated for low-density in the zoning map (verify map with Planning).

RPD-L, RPD-M, RPD-M/H, RPD-H (Increasing density residential)

The ordinance presents a single table with per‑category numbers; practical highlights:

RPD-L (lower‑medium density): ~7 units/acre, 6,000 sq ft lot, front setback 18 ft, max coverage 40%, max height 35 ft/2 stories (§ 6.04.0415) .
RPD-M (medium): ~11 units/acre, lot area/unit 4,000 sq ft, front setback 18 ft, max coverage 40%, max height 35 ft/2 stories (§ 6.04.0415) .
RPD-M/H (medium‑high): ~15 units/acre, lot area/unit 2,900 sq ft, front setback 15 ft, max coverage 60%, max height 35 ft/2 stories (may be increased with Development Permit) (§ 6.04.0415 & development permit text) .
- The review authority can allow additional stories/heights in RPD‑M/H following a visual analysis and compatibility findings (additional height up to 50 ft / 3 stories may be allowed by approval) (§ 6.04.0415) .
RPD-H (high density): up to 35 units/acre, lot area/unit 1,250 sq ft, front setback 10 ft, rear setback 5 ft, max coverage 60%, max height 40 ft or 3 stories (§ 6.04.0415) .

Practical note: The table includes footnotes that allow limited reductions (e.g., lot area may be reduced where alley access exists; side setbacks may be reduced to 5 ft with Fire Department approval; see the footnotes in § 6.04.0415) .

CN (Neighborhood Commercial), CBD (Central Business District), CO (Office/Commercial), CH (Commercial Highway)

Purpose & typical uses: commercial/service/office uses with tailored standards for downtown and highway‑fronting parcels (§ 6.04.0615) .
Key dimensional standards (Table in § 6.04.0615):
- CN: Lot area 5,000 sq ft, front setback min 5 ft / max 15 ft, structure height max 35 ft / 2 stories, max coverage 60% (§ 6.04.0615) .
- CBD: downtown exemptions and 0–15 ft frontage rules exist (see CBD Development Standards noted in § 6.04.0615; many CBD standards are special cases tied to the Downtown Specific Plan) (§ 6.04.0615) .
- CO: office standards vary by subarea (Sespe Ave vs. North Central Ave — see the CO exceptions in § 6.04.0615) .
- CH: Lot area 20,000 sq ft, front setback min 10 ft, rear 20 ft, max coverage 50%, max height 35 ft (§ 6.04.0615) .

Practical note: the CBD and some CO areas have special ground-floor use and façade/street-front rules tied to the Downtown Specific Plan (see § 6.04.0615 subparts) .

MPD (Manufacturing/Planned Development)

Purpose & typical uses: industrial/manufacturing, research, supporting retail incidental to industrial uses; outside storage restricted and screened (§ 6.04.0815) .
Key dimensional standards (Table in § 6.04.0815):
- Lot coverage (maximum): 50% (§ 6.04.0815) .
- Maximum structure height: typically 50 ft / 2 stories, with corridor exceptions (along A Street max 35 ft) (§ 6.04.0815) .
- Where MPD abuts residential districts certain minimum setbacks must meet the Uniform Building Code or are increased to protect RPD uses (§ 6.04.0815) .

BP (Business Park) and other special commercial/industrial districts

Many BP/park standards (landscaping, ingress/egress, parking, signage) are spelled out in district sections such as § 6.04.1205–6.04.1218; landscaping plans and irrigation are required and parking/landscaping standards are enforced at site plan review (§ 6.04.1210, § 6.04.1218) .
Example BP dimensional points: front yard along Ventura Street references a 20 ft minimum landscaped setback (with limited allowance for a 12 ft deceleration lane within that area) (§ 6.04.1210) .

Quick reference table — most decision‑relevant standards

Standard / Use	Typical value(s)	Code Reference
RPD-H max density (units/acre)	35 u/ac	§ 6.04.0415
RPD-M/H front setback (main)	15 ft	§ 6.04.0415
RPD‑(R/L/M) height limit	35 ft / 2 stories	§ 6.04.0415
RPD‑H height limit	40 ft / 3 stories	§ 6.04.0415
CN front setback (min/max)	5 ft / 15 ft	§ 6.04.0615
CH lot area	20,000 sq ft	§ 6.04.0615
MPD lot coverage (max)	50%	§ 6.04.0815
Off‑street parking standards	See § 6.04.32 & § 6.04.34; parking required per use	§ 6.04.32; § 6.04.34
Development permit / variances required for departures	Development Permit: § 6.04.66; Minor Variance/Variance: §§ 6.04.60, 6.04.64	§ 6.04.66; §§ 6.04.60, 6.04.64

Practical guidance & interpretation (plain-English)

The City organizes residential dimension rules in a single chart (Table II‑1) so the first stop for any housing project is § 6.04.0415 (use, density, setbacks, lot coverage, heights) .
If your proposal increases units/density, consider the density bonus rules (local implementation of State density bonus law) found near the density bonus text in § 6.04.0417 (density bonus calculations and eligibility) .
For commercial projects downtown, check § 6.04.0615 and the Downtown Specific Plan/CBD Development Standards called out there — CBD standards can override or exempt some numeric limits to encourage downtown intensification and pedestrian orientation (§ 6.04.0615) .
Landscaping, screening and irrigation requirements are enforced during site plan review — the BP/MPD sections require an approved landscaping plan and a permanent irrigation system for required landscaping (§ 6.04.1210; § 6.04.1218) .
Off‑street parking requirements are applied by use via §§ 6.04.32 and 6.04.34; consult those sections early because parking ratios drive lot layout and can create the biggest conflicts with required open space/landscaping (§ 6.04.1218; § 6.04.34) .
For projects that do not meet the numeric standards, a Development Permit or a variance is the normal path; discretionary approvals require findings and design/compatibility analysis (§ 6.04.66, §§ 6.04.60/64; see also site plan review standards in the BP section) .

Along the way you should anticipate design review and site plan requirements—see the city’s Design Review guidance for procedural expectations and the ordinance’s statements about review authority (§ 6.04.0215) . The city’s online guidance can help you understand submittal requirements for landscaping and parking, so consult the Fillmore Design Review page and the Fillmore Parking page.

(Links: Fillmore Zoning; Fillmore Parking; Fillmore Design Review; Fillmore Overlay Districts; Fillmore Historic Preservation; Fillmore ADUs; California Building Standards Code)

Checklist — What an applicant must satisfy before plan approval

Confirm the parcel’s zoning designation and applicable overlay(s) (verify map) and read the district table in § 6.04.0415 or § 6.04.0615 as appropriate .
Show all required setbacks (front, rear, side) exactly as stated in the district table — these are measured from property lines (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.0615) .
Demonstrate compliance with height limits (include story count and roofline) and identify any requests for additional stories (RPD‑M/H special allowance language) (§ 6.04.0415) .
Provide lot coverage calculations and show accessory structure heights (accessory max 17 ft per RPD table) (§ 6.04.0415) .
Provide parking calculations and layout referencing §§ 6.04.32 / 6.04.34 (off‑street parking and loading) and include landscaping islands/trees per landscaping standards (§ 6.04.1218; § 6.04.34) .
Submit a landscaping plan meeting the BP/MPD/BP landscaping rules and irrigation requirements (§ 6.04.1210; § 6.04.1218) .
If deviating from a numeric standard, prepare findings for a Development Permit or Variance and reference the review criteria in § 6.04.66 and §§ 6.04.60/64 (§ 6.04.66; §§ 6.04.60/64) .
For projects in the downtown CBD or conservation/preservation areas, include a design compatibility narrative addressing the Downtown Specific Plan and Conservation/Preservation Area Guidelines (§ 6.04.0615; § 6.04.0415.F) .
Verify any density bonus or affordable housing conditions at project outset (see § 6.04.0417 for density bonus rules) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Issue	Why it matters	What to verify
Absence of an explicit FAR value in district tables	Projects that rely on FAR for massing controls may not find a FAR number in the ordinance — massing is controlled by setbacks, coverage and height instead	No explicit FAR was found in retrieved materials — verify with Planning if a FAR metric applies or if coverage/height rules control project massing (Verify with the jurisdiction). Not found in retrieved materials.
ADU-specific dimensional rules	State ADU law interacts with local standards; many cities adopt local ADU rules separate from the zoning district table	Local ADU standards were not present in the retrieved zoning snippets — consult the City’s ADU page and confirm local ADU objective standards (setbacks/height) (Verify with the jurisdiction). Not found in retrieved materials for local ADU rules.
CBD / Downtown exceptions and figures	Downtown Specific Plan and CBD Development Standards override or modify numeric limits; failing to check leads to wrong setbacks/use restrictions	Confirm whether the parcel sits in the Downtown Specific Plan area and apply the CBD special rules in § 6.04.0615 and the Downtown Specific Plan figures
Parcel-specific height/setback adjustments (A Street corridor, hillside rules)	Local corridor and hillside standards change allowable heights and setbacks	For MPD and hillside sites, check the corridor/hillside notes (A Street corridor max 35 ft; Hillside Development Standards elsewhere) — verify with Planning and reference § 6.04.0815 and § 6.04.26
Nonconforming/CH exceptions	CH zone has special rebuild/expansion provisions and conditional use flexibility	See nonconforming structure rules / CH exceptions (rebuilds and conditional use options) — check § 6.04.3050–3065 for process, and CH guidance in district text (Verify if parcel qualifies)

Information Gaps (what the ordinance excerpts here did not confirm)

Explicit Floor Area Ratio (FAR) values for any district — Not found in retrieved materials.
A complete, local ADU chapter specifying objective ADU setbacks/heights — Not found in retrieved Fillmore zoning excerpts here (state ADU guidance appears in a separate handbook file) .
Full mapping/parcel‑specific overlays and how they change a parcel’s development standards — verify with the Planning Department and the City’s zoning map (overlays are referenced but parcel application not shown in excerpts) .

Plain-English summary

Fillmore’s zoning ordinance sets most building mass limits by a table of per‑district numbers (net units/acre, lot sizes, front/rear/side setbacks, maximum lot coverage, and height). Default residential rules live in § 6.04.0415; commercial downtown rules are in § 6.04.0615; and industrial/manufacturing park standards are in § 6.04.0815. If you need a setback, height or coverage change, the ordinance channels you to the Development Permit / variance process and requires design and landscape materials to show compatibility and parking compliance (§ 6.04.66; §§ 6.04.60/64; §§ 6.04.32/34) .

Source References

City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance — Zoning District Development Standards, § 6.04.0415 (Table II‑1, RPD standards, setbacks, heights, lot coverage) .
City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance — Commercial district standards, § 6.04.0615 (CN, CBD, CO, CH tables and CBD/Downtown notes) .
City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance — MPD/industrial standards, § 6.04.0815 (lot coverage, heights, UBC references) .
City of Fillmore Zoning Ordinance — Business Park / BP district standards and site plan/landscaping rules, § 6.04.1205–6.04.1218 (landscaping, ingress/egress, environmental standards and off‑street parking tie‑ins) .
Development approvals and nonconforming structure rules (variances, development permits, rebuild of CH) — §§ 6.04.60, 6.04.64, 6.04.66, 6.04.3050–3065 (appeals, variances, amortization, nonconforming repairs) .
Density bonus/affordable housing implementation and definitions — § 6.04.0417 (density bonus percentages and rules) .
Off‑street parking and loading references — § 6.04.32 and § 6.04.34 (referenced in multiple district sections) .
Conservation/Preservation Area Guidelines and site design expectations — district guidance referenced in § 6.04.0415 (Conservation/Preservation Area Guidelines) .
State ADU guidance / handbook (used only where Fillmore text did not provide ADU specifics) — California ADU handbook (state guidance file) .

Sources

Retrieved passages

Fillmore Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance
Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 1597.465) High relevance
Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.38) High relevance
Fillmore Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance
Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.0225) High relevance
Fillmore Zoning Code (Section 6.04.66) High relevance
CBC § 6.04.28 (Section 6.04.28) High relevance
CBC § 5093 (Section 6.04.70) High relevance

Cited sections

Official Fillmore code library

Frequently asked questions

What can I build on an RPD lot in Fillmore?

Most RPD (Residential Planned Development) lots allow single‑family and other low/medium residential forms consistent with the RPD subcategory. The numeric limits (lots/unit, setbacks, lot coverage and height) are in § 6.04.0415 (Table II‑1); if your plan exceeds those numbers you will need a Development Permit or a Variance (§ 6.04.0415; § 6.04.66) .

What are Fillmore’s setback requirements?

Setbacks are district specific and measured from property lines. The residential RPD table in § 6.04.0415 gives front, rear and side setbacks per RPD‑R/L/M/M‑H/H (for example 20 ft front in RPD‑R, 10 ft front in RPD‑H); commercial setbacks are in § 6.04.0615 for CN/CBD/CO/CH .

How tall can I build in Fillmore?

Height limits are district‑based: most RPD categories are 35 ft / 2 stories; RPD‑H is 40 ft / 3 stories per the table in § 6.04.0415; MPD and BP have different maxima (MPD commonly 50 ft, with corridor exceptions at 35 ft) — see §§ 6.04.0415 and 6.04.0815 .

Is there a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) limit I must meet?

A discrete FAR value was not found in the extracted district tables. Fillmore controls building mass through setbacks, coverage, and height in the district tables rather than an explicit FAR in the excerpts provided. Verify with the Planning Department for parcel‑specific requirements (Not found in retrieved materials; see § 6.04.0415 table) .

Do I need design review in Fillmore?

Many projects that request discretionary approvals (Development Permits, site plans in BP/MPD and downtown CBD proposals) are subject to planning commission or other review. The ordinance sets review authority and site plan criteria (see § 6.04.0215 and the BP/MPD site plan standards in § 6.04.1205–1218) .

What parking rules apply to my project?

Off‑street parking and loading requirements are applied per use and are referenced throughout the district sections; consult § 6.04.32 and § 6.04.34 for the required ratios and design standards, and include landscaping islands and tree counts per the landscaping rules in the BP/MPD sections (§ 6.04.1218) .

Can I build an ADU and what setbacks apply?

The Fillmore excerpts provided here did not include a dedicated local ADU chapter. State ADU law allows objective standards (and state guidance limits some local restrictions), but you should check the City’s ADU guidance and confirm local ADU objective standards with Planning (Not found in retrieved materials; consult the City ADU page and state ADU guidance) .

How do downtown CBD rules change development standards?

The CBD has special development standards and some downtown parcels may have zero front setbacks or other exceptions for the “core area.” See § 6.04.0615 and the Downtown Specific Plan references called out in that subsection for the exact rules that apply to a parcel in the CBD .

What if my lot is in a hillside or conservation area?

Hillside Development Standards and Conservation/Preservation Area Guidelines are called out in the ordinance and can change minimum lot sizes, slope‑based setbacks, and design review expectations. See the Hillside standards reference and the Conservation/Preservation guidelines in § 6.04.0415 and § 6.04.26 (hillside) for specifics and plan requirements .

Where are the variance and appeals rules?

The variance and appeal procedures and the possibility of minor variances are set out in § 6.04.60, § 6.04.64, and the Development Permit procedures in § 6.04.66; appeals to council and recordation procedures are also in the ordinance (see the hearings/appeals text) . ---

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