Local jurisdiction · San Bernardino County
Grand Terrace Zoning, Planning & Building Codes
What you can build in Grand Terrace depends on its local zoning and planning code, layered on the California Building Standards Code. Ask GoCodebook about any Grand Terrace address.
Key points
Last reviewed: July 3, 2026
Overview
Grand Terrace’s land-use regulations are codified in Title 18 — Zoning of the Grand Terrace Municipal Code; the Title establishes districts, specific plans, overlays and procedural chapters that control uses, site standards and review processes § 18.03.010 . The code’s stated purpose is to implement the General Plan and promote orderly growth by regulating use, bulk, setbacks and the character of development § 18.03.020 . For practical navigation see the city’s zoning and land use menus; the local chapters that do most of the heavy lifting are Chapters on districts and map, specific plans, site & architectural review, second units and accessory dwelling units § 18.09.020; § 18.20.010; § 18.63.010; § 18.65.010; § 18.69.030 .
How Grand Terrace's code is organized
- The Zoning Title is organized by purpose and scope (General Provisions), a Districts & Map chapter that lists the official zoning districts and ties rules to the official zoning map, then per‑district chapters (residential, nonresidential, industrial), special districts (specific plans) and procedural chapters (site review, permits, variances) § 18.03.030; § 18.09.030 .
- Key procedural chapters to know: Site & Architectural Review (Chapter 18.63) — explains the three review tracks (land‑use application, administrative site & architectural review, and full public hearing review) and the Planning Commission’s role § 18.63.010—.020 ; Second units (Chapter 18.65) and Accessory Dwelling Units/Junior ADUs (Chapter 18.69) set the local rules and ministerial review timing for small‑scale additional housing § 18.65.010; § 18.69.030 .
- The code also expressly folds state planning law into local practice: the Title defers to Government Code provisions where applicable and incorporates state references inside local chapters (for example ADU/second‑unit cross‑references to Government Code limits) § 18.03.060; § 18.69.070.C .
Zoning district families
Grand Terrace establishes the districts by name on the official zoning map; the code lists the districts explicitly in the Districts chapter § 18.09.020 . The relevant, bolded district families are:
- Residential: RH (Hillside Residential), R1-20 (Very Low Density Single Family Residential), R1-10 (Low Density Single Family Residential), R1-7.2 (Single Family Residential), R2 (Low Medium Density Residential), R3 (Medium Density Residential), R3-S (Multiple Family Senior Citizen), R3-20, R3-24 — these are enumerated and defined in Chapter 18.10 and in § 18.09.020 § 18.09.020; Chapter 18.10 .
- Nonresidential / commercial / industrial: AP (Administrative/Professional), C2 (General Business), CM (Commercial Manufacturing), MR (Restricted Manufacturing), M2 (Industrial) — each district has a purpose and a site standards section (for example AP purpose § 18.30.010; CM purpose § 18.36.010; M2 purpose § 18.40.010) .
- Public and special districts: PUB (Public Facilities) and several overlay districts including FP (Floodplain), AG (Agricultural Overlay) and the R3-24 overlay used to incentivize affordable multifamily housing (R3-24 Overlay purpose and rules are in Chapter 18.48) § 18.43.010; § 18.48.010 .
- Specific plan districts are listed separately and include BRSP (Barton Road Specific Plan) and GSP (The Gateway at Grand Terrace Specific Plan); specific plans supersede Title 18 where conflicts arise § 18.20.020; § 18.20.050 .
(For the full district list see § 18.09.020 in the Code) § 18.09.020 .
Citywide development standards
Grand Terrace distributes objective development controls across district chapters (site‑development tables) and technical chapters (parking, signs, landscaping, etc.) and defines standard terms such as front/side/rear yard in the Definitions chapter § 18.06.940—.955 .
Setbacks, height, lot coverage and similar numeric standards: each district chapter carries a site development table with the district’s minimum lot area, setbacks, height and maximum lot coverage. Example district citations:
- CM district site development table (minimum lot area 10,000 sf, front yard 15 ft, height 35 ft, lot coverage 100%) § 18.36.050 .
- C2 district site development table (front yard 25 ft, height 35 ft, lot coverage 100%) § 18.33.040 .
- MR district site standards (lot area 20,000 sf, front yard 25 ft, height 35 ft) § 18.39.050 .
- AP district (minimum lot area 10,000 sf, front yard 15 ft, height 35 ft) § 18.30.040 . These tables are the authoritative place to find district numeric rules; always read the specific district section cited above for the control you need (see the cited § for each district).
Parking: off‑street parking requirements are handled by Chapter 18.60 (Off‑Street Parking) and each district points to that chapter for parking calculations; individual district chapters reiterate that Chapter 18.60 applies § 18.36.070; § 18.33.060; § 18.40.070 . For ADU parking rules see the ADU chapter (special ADU parking exceptions) § 18.69.070 . See the parking menu for quick navigation.
Design and discretionary controls: objective and discretionary design controls and the review pathways live in Chapter 18.63 — Site & Architectural Review (purpose, review levels, appeal rules) § 18.63.010—.020 . The City uses a mix of administrative (ministerial) review and full public hearings depending on project type and scale; see § 18.63.020 for the three review tracks and appeal timelines § 18.63.020 . See the design review menu.
Objective design standards & amenities: multifamily projects must meet specific amenity/landscaping and illumination standards (for example, Tables and amenity formulas in Chapter 18.64) § 18.64.060A—B .
Signs, trash enclosures, and building‑code cross‑references: sign rules are centralized in Chapter 18.80 and trash enclosure and screening requirements frequently reference the California Building Code/Title 24 accessibility standards in district chapters (e.g., trash enclosure requirements refer to California Building Code accessibility) § 18.36.060.E; Chapter 18.80 . See the development standards and signage menus for shortcuts.
Specific plans & overlays
- Specific plans (Chapter 18.20) are integrated into Title 18 and explicitly supersede Title 18 where the specific plan addresses a conflict. Notable specific plans are the Barton Road Specific Plan (BRSP) § 18.20.020 and The Gateway at Grand Terrace Specific Plan (GSP) § 18.20.050 .
- Overlay tools include the R3-24 overlay district (created to incentivize 20–24 du/acre multifamily with affordability commitments) — the overlay is optional at the owner’s request and carries its own development rules and processing (administrative site & architectural review) § 18.48.010—.040 . For other overlays see Chapter 18.50 (FP Floodplain overlay) and the Districts list § 18.50.010; § 18.09.020 . See overlay districts.
Building permits & review
- Two distinct ministerial paths for near‑by housing types:
- Second units / two‑unit developments (Chapter 18.65) are processed ministerially (administrative site & architectural review by the Planning Director) and may only be denied under a narrow “specific, adverse impact” standard; Chapter 18.65 also supplies detailed development and utility standards and requires deed restrictions and impact fees prior to occupancy § 18.65.020; § 18.65.040; § 18.65.080—.090 .
- Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior ADUs (Chapter 18.69) are processed ministerially and must be acted on within the statutory timeframe; Chapter 18.69 sets unit counts, setbacks (four‑foot side/rear minimum in many cases), design parity requirements and ADU parking exceptions § 18.69.030; § 18.69.050; § 18.69.060—.070 .
- Site & Architectural Review: the three review tracks (land use, administrative, public hearing) and appeal rights are in § 18.63.020; projects excluded from discretionary review (ministerial ADU/second‑unit tracks and some SB‑35‑eligible projects) are enumerated in the review chapter § 18.63.020; § 18.63.060 .
- Building‑code integration: many local provisions explicitly defer to the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) for technical construction and accessibility requirements (for example, trash enclosures and accessibility references) § 18.36.060.E . See the California Building Standards Code link for the state technical standards referenced throughout the zoning code.
State housing law in Grand Terrace
Grand Terrace’s zoning expressly integrates state housing law in multiple ways:
- ADUs and JADUs: local Chapter 18.69 implements ministerial processing rules, unit‑count limits, setbacks and parking exceptions while referencing state code where applicable; the ADU chapter explicitly treats ADU applications as ministerial and provides a 60‑day processing timeframe for complete applications § 18.69.030—.050; § 18.69.070.C.1 . See the city ADU menu: ADUs and the state summary California ADU law.
- Second units and two‑unit developments: Chapter 18.65 is the locally adopted framework that implements Government Code Section 65852.21 (second unit law), requires ministerial review (subject to specific adverse‑impact denial standard), and sets practical requirements such as separate entrances, unobstructed 4‑ft clearances and deed restrictions for recordation § 18.65.010—.020; § 18.65.040; § 18.65.080 .
- Affordable‑housing incentives and SB‑35: the code includes a local path for streamlined affordable housing review consistent with state law (the code summarizes SB‑35 eligibility criteria and timelines in the design review chapter) and the R3‑24 overlay ties increased density options to affordability covenants (affordability recorded as required by Government Code § 65915(c)(1)) § 18.63.060 (SB‑35 eligibility); § 18.48.050 .
- Urban lot splits / SB‑9 and intersections with local rules: the Code references the subdivision/urban‑lot split rules in Title 17 (for example, Chapter 17.30) when limiting the number or type of ADUs/second units allowed after an urban lot split § 18.65.050; § 18.69.050 .
- Rent‑control and demolition protections: Grand Terrace’s ADU/second‑unit chapters prohibit permitting ADUs that would cause demolition of housing subject to recorded affordability covenants or local rent/price controls § 18.65.030.C; § 18.65.040 .
If you are navigating state/local interplay for a particular project (density bonus, SB‑35, SB‑9, or ADU combinations), the relevant local cross‑references are the ADU chapter § 18.69, the second‑unit chapter § 18.65, the R3‑24 overlay § 18.48, and the SB‑35 eligibility language in the design review chapter § 18.63.060 .
Source References
- Title 18 general provisions and organization: § 18.03.010; § 18.03.020; § 18.03.030
- Districts and map (district list): § 18.09.020
- Specific plans (Barton Road, Forest City Dillon, Kruse, Gateway): § 18.20.020; § 18.20.030; § 18.20.040; § 18.20.050
- CM district site standards and trash/parking references: § 18.36.050; § 18.36.060; § 18.36.070
- C2 district site standards and parking: § 18.33.040; § 18.33.060
- M2 and MR district purposes / site standards: § 18.40.010; § 18.39.050
- Site & Architectural Review (three review levels, intent): § 18.63.010—.020
- Second units / Two‑unit developments (ministerial standards, deed restrictions, impact fees): § 18.65.010; § 18.65.020; § 18.65.040; § 18.65.080—.090
- Accessory dwelling units / Junior ADUs (ministerial processing, setbacks, parking rules): § 18.69.030; § 18.69.050; § 18.69.060—.070
- R3‑24 overlay (affordable housing option, review procedures): § 18.48.010—.050
- SB‑35 / streamlined affordable housing eligibility summary (local implementation): § 18.63.060 (SB‑35 eligibility language)
- California Building Code references (accessibility for trash enclosures and similar): example reference in CM district § 18.36.060.E
Where to read the Grand Terrace code
The Grand Terrace municipal and zoning code is published on Municode — view the official Grand Terrace code library. That lets you read the ordinance section by section.
GoCodebook goes beyond browsing Municode (see how they compare): it reads the Grand Terrace ordinance together with the California Building Standards Code and answers your question — zoning, setbacks, FAR, height, ADUs, permits — with the controlling citation for your parcel.
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
What zoning districts does Grand Terrace have?
Grand Terrace lists its zoning districts in the Districts chapter; key residential districts include RH, R1-20, R1-10, R1-7.2, R2, R3, R3-S, R3-20 and R3-24, and nonresidential districts include AP, C2, CM, MR, M2, and PUB—all established in § 18.09.020 .
Do I need a permit to remodel or add to my house in Grand Terrace?
Most additions and new construction require a land‑use application or administrative/site and architectural review depending on scope: small accessory structures and limited additions can be handled administratively, but any new construction over six feet or projects exceeding objective thresholds trigger formal review under § 18.63.020; ADUs and second‑unit work follow ministerial tracks in § 18.69.030 and § 18.65.020 respectively .
Can I build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on my lot?
Yes—ADUs and junior ADUs are allowed under Chapter 18.69, are processed ministerially (no discretionary hearing when the application is complete), and the chapter sets maximum counts, design parity rules and parking exceptions § 18.69.030; § 18.69.050; § 18.69.060—.070 .
What parking is required for an ADU in Grand Terrace?
Chapter 18.69 requires one new off‑street parking space per ADU except where statutory/local exceptions apply (within ½ mile of transit, within an historic district, entirely inside the existing residence or when on‑street permits are unavailable, etc.); junior ADUs require no new parking § 18.69.070.A—C .
How does the city review larger multifamily or commercial projects?
Major projects go through Site & Architectural Review per Chapter 18.63; the code defines three review levels (land‑use, administrative, public hearing) and spells out findings, noticing and appeal rights § 18.63.010—.020 .
What is the R3‑24 overlay and how does it work?
The R3‑24 overlay allows owners to use an overlay alternative permitting 20–24 units/acre when the project includes an affordability commitment (minimum set‑aside and recorded covenant) and is processed administratively; the rules are in Chapter 18.48 § 18.48.010—.050 .
Does Grand Terrace have rent control?
The Municipal Code references housing that is subject to recorded affordability covenants or rent/price controls (and protects such housing from demolition for ADUs/second units), but the code does not establish a citywide tenant rent‑control ordinance in the zoning provisions cited; protections against demolition of rent‑controlled housing appear as limits in the second‑unit rules § 18.65.030.C .
Will I need to record a deed restriction for a second unit?
Yes. As a condition of approval and before issuing a certificate of occupancy for a second unit or two‑unit development, the property owner must record a deed restriction in the form approved by the City Attorney ensuring conformance with Chapter 18.65 § 18.65.080 .
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