Gilroy — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Gilroy’s Zoning Ordinance is codified as Chapter 30 of the Gilroy City Code and is the local rulebook that translates the General Plan into specific permitted uses, dimensional controls, and processes for each mapped zone. The ordinance establishes base zoning districts (residential, commercial, industrial, open space, special use) as well as combining and overlay districts (for example PUD, HS, HN, MA) and declares the official zoning map part of the ordinance (§ 30.1.10; § 30.3.20; § 30.3.40).

IMPORTANT: zoning rules in Chapter 30 govern land use and basic siting/bulk/height rules; they reference other ordinance articles and city policies for detailed building envelopes, parking, signs and design controls—see the code cross‑references below. Always verify a parcel’s zone on the official zoning map and consult the cited sections for parcel‑specific rules (§ 30.3.40; § 30.3.50).

How to read this page

• District summaries below are Gilroy‑specific and cite the controlling code sections.
• For numeric site standards (setbacks, lot size, height, density) Chapter 30 refers to consolidated site/building requirement tables—see the referenced sections. For detailed front/side/rear yard values see § 30.11.20(c) and the commercial table at § 30.19.20.
• Related rules you will likely need: Gilroy Development Standards, Gilroy Parking, Gilroy Design Review, Gilroy Overlay Districts, Gilroy ADUs, California Building Standards Code. (Those links point to city pages referenced in the ordinance context.)

District-by-district breakdown

Note: where the ordinance points to a consolidated table or a specific article I cite that controlling section rather than quoting the table in full. For parcel‑specific rules, Verify with the jurisdiction.

A1 — A1 (Agricultural) district

• Purpose: Preserve lands for agricultural uses until urbanization; interim agricultural activities are expected. Statement of intent in § 30.4.10.
• Typical permitted uses: agricultural uses and residential uses identified in the residential use table (see § 30.11.10(c)). Conditional uses via conditional use permit as described in § 30.50.30.
• Key dimensional standards: minimum lot size and other lot/yard/height requirements are established in the residential site and building requirement table at § 30.11.20(c) (see that table for exact front/side/rear setbacks and height).
• Where it applies: mapped on the official zoning map; lands not assigned a district are treated as A1 under interpretation rules (§ 30.3.50).

RR — RR (Rural Residential) district

• Purpose: Low‑density residential on larger lots; intended to bridge agricultural and urban residential densities (§ 30.4.10).
• Uses and standards: See the residential uses table (§ 30.11.10(c)) and residential site/building table § 30.11.20(c) for minimum lot sizes, setbacks and height.

R1 — R1 (Single‑Family Residential) district

• Purpose: Areas for single‑family dwellings; implements low‑density residential policy. (R1 rules are applied via the residential tables referenced in § 30.11.20(c)).
• Uses: Single‑family dwellings are principally permitted; accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are allowed subject to Article LIV rules (§ 30.11.15(a)).
• Dimensional standards: Consult the residential site/building requirement table § 30.11.20(c) for minimum lot size, front/side/rear setbacks and maximum height.

R2 — R2 (Two‑Family / Duplex) district

• Purpose & uses: Allows duplex/low‑density multifamily forms when consistent with table and policies; residential use table and Article XI govern allowed housing types. See § 30.11.15(f) for duplex/triplex/fourplex rules on corner lot and ADU‑related allowances.
• Dimensional standards: As set in § 30.11.20(c).

R3 — R3 (Medium‑Density Residential) district

• Purpose: Primarily multifamily housing such as garden apartments and condominiums; target density ~8–16 du/net acre (§ 30.7.10).
• Uses: Permitted and conditional uses are governed by the residential use table § 30.11.10(c); conditional uses require a Conditional Use Permit (§ 30.50.30).
• Density: Maximum density expressed as one dwelling unit per 2,722 sq. ft. (i.e., about 16 du/acre) per § 30.7.40.
• Site design: Multifamily design must follow adopted multifamily residential design policy (§ 30.7.50).

R4 — R4 (High‑Density Residential) district

• Purpose: Higher density residential; site/building requirements point to the consolidated residential table (§ 30.8.30).
• Density: Minimum/maximum site area per unit is specified in § 30.8.40 (site area between 1,452 and 2,178 sq. ft. per dwelling unit).
• Additional: Multifamily developments must follow the adopted multifamily design policy and site clearance rules (§ 30.8.50).

RH — RH (Residential Hillside) district

• Purpose: Special controls to protect hillside character, limit visibility and protect slopes (§ 30.9.10).
• Uses: Residential uses per the residential table § 30.11.10(c); other uses via PUD approval (see § 30.50.50).
• Key dimensional / visibility controls: Maximum height generally limited to 30 ft, and structures must not be silhouetted on skyline; in certain ridge proximity the limit is 15 ft (§ 30.9.30(b)). Hillside projects are subject to PUD approval or architectural/site review per § 30.9.70.

ND — ND (Neighborhood District / Specific Plan areas)

• Purpose: Neighborhood or specific plan districts use a master plan or specific plan; base standards are often replaced by the adopted master plan for that neighborhood (see § 30.11.20(c) footnotes). For permitted uses in ND, the master plan/specific plan controls; consult the specific plan and § 30.11.10(c).

PO, C1, C3, HC, CM — Commercial districts

• Purpose: Range from Professional Office (PO) to Neighborhood Commercial (C1) to Shopping Center (C3) to HC and CM for higher intensity/commercial industrial uses (§ 30.19.20).
• Uses: Uses are defined in the commercial site and building requirement table and the land‑use tables; conditional uses require a CUP (§ 30.19.20; § 30.50.30).
• Dimensional standards: Lot minimums, setbacks and height caps (for example front setbacks like 31 ft in several commercial districts and height caps up to 55 ft in some commercial zones) are shown in the commercial table at § 30.19.20—consult that table for the exact numeric standards by district.

Downtown Specific Plan Districts (DHD, DED, CCA, TD, CD, GD)

• These districts are governed by Downtown-specific site/building rules (commercial tables under § 30.19.20 and the Downtown Specific Plan portions cited there). See § 30.19.20 for how downtown FAR, lot coverage and design rules apply.

Industrial districts — CI, M1, M2

• Purpose: Industrial and light industrial uses. The industrial site/building requirement table sets lot, setback and height standards; consult the industrial table in Chapter 30 (see the industrial requirements table referenced in the consolidated tables).

Special Use / Specific Plan districts — Glen Loma Ranch, Hecker Pass

• Glen Loma Ranch: Governed by the Glen Loma Ranch Specific Plan; Chapter 30 defers to that specific plan for development standards and densities (§ 30.30.30, § 30.30.40).
• Hecker Pass: Uses and site/building requirements are set by the Hecker Pass specific plan’s tables; Chapter 30 refers applicants to that plan (§ 30.29.20 — § 30.29.30).

PUD — Planned Unit Development combining district (PUD)

• Purpose: Allow flexibility in layout, mixtures of uses and alternative development standards for unified developments (§ 30.26.10).
• Uses & limits: At least 75% of land in a PUD must follow the base zoning uses; up to 25% may be other uses authorized by the PUD approval (§ 30.26.20).
• Site standards: PUD approval prescribes yard, height, lot coverage and landscaping requirements; the PUD approval process is defined in § 30.50.50.

Combining and Overlay Districts (examples)

• HS (Historic Site), HN (Historic Neighborhood), MA (Murray‑Las Animas overlay) are listed combining districts that modify base requirements when applied (§ 30.3.20). The official zoning map shows where overlays apply and the Murray‑Las Animas area is specifically referenced in the commercial/industrial tables.

Open Space — OS

• Purpose: Protect open space, agriculture, scenic, conservation and hazard‑prone lands; rules are set in Article XXIV (see § 30.24.10).

Quick decision‑relevant table (high‑level)

(For exact front/side/rear setback numbers and lot coverage or FAR by district, consult the tables cited above. Many numeric items are presented in the tables; the code reference column above points you to them.)

Practical guidance and interpretation notes

• Start by confirming a parcel’s zone on the official zoning map; the map is part of the ordinance and boundary ambiguities are resolved by the rules in § 30.3.50 (centerlines of streets, lot lines, scaling, and planning commission interpretation).
• Use the residential and commercial site/building requirement tables (§ 30.11.20(c) and § 30.19.20) to extract exact numeric setbacks, lot size minimums and height caps; these tables are the operative dimensional standards.
• If your project is in an overlay (HS, HN, MA) or a specific plan area (Glen Loma Ranch, Hecker Pass), the overlay/specific plan frequently modifies base standards—read the overlay article (§ 30.3.20) and the PUD/specific plan articles for exceptions. See Gilroy Overlay Districts.
• For ADUs, the ordinance explicitly permits them subject to the rules in Article LIV; check § 30.11.15(a) and the ADU article for objective standards and state law interactions. See Gilroy ADUs and consider applicable state rules.
• Off‑street parking requirements are set out in Article XXXI; consult § 30.31.20 when calculating required stalls and shared parking possibilities. See the city’s Gilroy Parking page.
• Projects that vary from the objective standards require administrative relief, a conditional use permit, PUD approval, or a variance—see the procedures in Article L (e.g., CUP § 30.50.30, PUD § 30.50.50) and Gilroy Variances and Exceptions.

Checklist

• Confirm parcel zoning on the official zoning map (Chapter 30: § 30.3.40).
• Determine permitted uses from the land‑use tables (residential table § 30.11.10(c); commercial table § 30.19.20).
• Extract numeric setbacks, lot size, height, FAR or lot coverage from § 30.11.20(c) or § 30.19.20.
• Check for overlays/specific plan/PUD that modify base rules (see § 30.3.20, § 30.26.30, § 30.30.30, § 30.29.30).
• Confirm parking needs per Article XXXI (§ 30.31.20). See Gilroy Parking.
• If design review is triggered, follow the design review process (see § 30.50.40) and the Gilroy Design Review guidance.
• If proposing ADUs, follow Article LIV provisions and state ADU law—check § 30.11.15(a) and California Building Standards Code, California ADU law.
• Pay required application fees per § 30.1.50 and follow public notice/hearing requirements for amendments or discretionary permits (§ 30.52.20; § 30.52.30).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Gilroy’s Chapter 30 sets the city’s zones (residential, commercial, industrial, special plans and overlays), maps them on the official zoning map, and then applies table‑based standards for lot size, setbacks, heights, and permitted uses; check the specific district article and the site/building tables (§ 30.11.20(c); § 30.19.20) and confirm overlays or PUD rules that may change those standards.

Source References

• Gilroy Zoning Ordinance — Chapter 30 (Gilroy City Code): several applicable provisions cited above (e.g., § 30.1.10, § 30.1.40)
• Zoning map and combining districts: § 30.3.20; § 30.3.40; § 30.3.50
• Residential use and site/building tables: § 30.11.10(c); § 30.11.15; § 30.11.20(c)
• R3 district: § 30.7.10 – § 30.7.50 (density and design rules)
• R4 district: § 30.8.30 – § 30.8.50 (density/site requirements)
• RH hillside district: § 30.9.10 – § 30.9.70 (hillside intent, heights, PUD/exceptions)
• Commercial site/building table and downtown districts: § 30.19.20
• PUD combining district: § 30.26.10 – § 30.26.50 (intent, PUD limits, site requirements)
• Off‑street parking (Article XXXI): § 30.31.10 – § 30.31.20
• Glen Loma Ranch special use district: § 30.30.10 – § 30.30.50
• Hecker Pass special use district: § 30.29.20 – § 30.29.50
• Amendments and map changes: § 30.52.10 – § 30.52.40 (rezones, hearings, findings)

Retrieved passages

• Gilroy Zoning Code (section 30.50.50.) High relevance show source text
• Gilroy Zoning Code (section 30.11.20) High relevance show source text
• Gilroy Zoning Code (Article 07) High relevance show source text
• Gilroy Zoning Code (Article 09) High relevance show source text
• Gilroy Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Gilroy Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Gilroy Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Gilroy Zoning Code (Chapter 30) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Gilroy Zoning Ordinance — Chapter 30 (Gilroy City Code): several applicable provisions cited above (e.g., **§ 30.1.10**, **§ 30.1.40**) (Chapter 30)
• Zoning map and combining districts: **§ 30.3.20**; **§ 30.3.40**; **§ 30.3.50** (§ 30.3.20)
• Residential use and site/building tables: **§ 30.11.10(c)**; **§ 30.11.15**; **§ 30.11.20(c)** (§ 30.11.10)
• R3 district: **§ 30.7.10 – § 30.7.50** (density and design rules) (§ 30.7.10)
• R4 district: **§ 30.8.30 – § 30.8.50** (density/site requirements) (§ 30.8.30)
• RH hillside district: **§ 30.9.10 – § 30.9.70** (hillside intent, heights, PUD/exceptions) (§ 30.9.10)
• Commercial site/building table and downtown districts: **§ 30.19.20** (§ 30.19.20)
• PUD combining district: **§ 30.26.10 – § 30.26.50** (intent, PUD limits, site requirements) (§ 30.26.10)
• Off‑street parking (Article XXXI): **§ 30.31.10 – § 30.31.20** (Article XXXI)
• Glen Loma Ranch special use district: **§ 30.30.10 – § 30.30.50** (§ 30.30.10)
• Hecker Pass special use district: **§ 30.29.20 – § 30.29.50** (§ 30.29.20)
• Amendments and map changes: **§ 30.52.10 – § 30.52.40** (rezones, hearings, findings) (§ 30.52.10)
• Gilroy_ZoningCode.md

• Official Gilroy code library