Grand Terrace — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes what the Grand Terrace Municipal Code (Title 18) actually says about zoning: the districts the City uses, the controlling dimensional and use standards, overlays and specific-plan rules, and the review pathways that apply. For parcel-level questions always confirm the official zoning map at the Planning Department; the map is the legal source of district boundaries § 18.09.030 . The city’s zoning & planning overview gives context for how Title 18 fits with the General Plan.

Districts, purpose, uses and standards (district-by-district)

Below are Grand Terrace’s actual zoning districts (as listed in the Code) and the controlling references. For permitted-use lists the Code generally points you to the use tables noted in the subsections; for dimensional rules use the site development tables cited.

Note: where the text below gives a numeric standard the controlling Code citation is shown (use the § number to look up the full text). Verify parcel-specific interpretations with the City (boundary rules and map control are discussed in § 18.09.030–.050 ).

Residential districts (overview)

• Districts established: RH, R1-20, R1-10, R1-7.2, R2, R3, R3-S, R3-20, R3-24 (see § 18.09.020) .
• Purpose statements and base densities are in § 18.10.020; site development standards are collected in § 18.10.040 (Table 18.10.040) .
• Typical permitted uses: single-family, multifamily (depending on zone), accessory structures, accessory dwelling units (subject to Chapter 18.69) — uses are tabulated in Table 18.10.030 § 18.10.030 .

Key residential numbers from Table 18.10.040 (summary):

• R1-20: minimum lot area 20,000 sf, front setback 25 ft, rear setback 35 ft, max height 35 ft, lot coverage 40% — § 18.10.040 .
• R1-10: min lot 10,000 sf, front 25 ft, rear 35 ft, max height 35 ft, lot coverage 50% — § 18.10.040 .
• R1-7.2: min lot 7,200 sf, front 25 ft, rear 20 ft, height 35 ft, lot coverage 50% — § 18.10.040 .
• R2 / R3 / R3-20 / R3-24: multi-family zones with minimum lot 12,000 sf (many MF districts), densities and lot coverage varying by district (see § 18.10.020 and § 18.10.040) .

Practical note: residential off-street parking rules are delegated to Chapter 18.60; the residential chapter points to that requirement § 18.10.050 — see the city's Parking page for process-level guidance.

Hillside & special residential

• RH (Hillside Residential): intended for very low-density development; maximum density 1 du/acre, site-specific standards frequently set by a specific plan — see § 18.10.020 and the specific-plan rules § 18.20.010 .

AP — Administrative Professional District

• Purpose: professional offices at residential scale § 18.30.010 .
• Permitted/conditional uses: listed in Table 18.27.010 (Nonresidential Use Regulations) § 18.30.020–.030 and § 18.27.010 .
• Site standards (selected): minimum lot area 10,000 sf, min lot width 70 ft, front yard 15 ft, rear/side variable (see table), max height 35 ft, lot coverage effectively governed by required setbacks/landscaping § 18.30.040 .

Link: AP development must meet the Grand Terrace Development Standards and is subject to the City’s design review procedures § 18.30.080 .

C2 — General Business

• Purpose and uses: intended for general commercial uses; permitted uses listed in Table 18.27.010 § 18.33.010–.020 .
• Site standards (selected): min lot 10,000 sf, front setback 25 ft, rear yard 0 except adjacent to residential, max height 35 ft, lot coverage up to 100% (less required parking/setbacks/landscaping) § 18.33.040 .

CM, MR, M2 — Commercial/Manufacturing/Industrial

• Permitted uses: see Table 18.27.010 for the CM, MR, and M2 zones § 18.27.010 .
• MR (Restricted Manufacturing) sample site standards: min lot 20,000 sf, front yard 25 ft with 10 ft landscape setback, height 35 ft, lot coverage up to 100% (less required parking etc.) § 18.39.050 .
• Storage and screening rules and prohibitions on hazardous materials in MR are explicit § 18.39.050–.060 .

PUB — Public Facilities

• Purpose and standards: Public uses are regulated under Chapter 18.43; site & architectural review applies § 18.43.010–.080 .

Specific Plan Districts and the Gateway

• Specific plans (Barton Road SP, Forest City Dillon, Kruse, The Gateway at Grand Terrace etc.) are part of Title 18 and may supersede Title 18 where applicable § 18.20.010–.050; The Gateway SP is adopted and incorporated (approx. 112 acres; see § 18.20.050) . See the Overlay Districts and specific-plan provisions § 18.20.010 for how SP rules interact with base zoning .

Overlay districts (selected)

• FP (Floodplain Overlay) and AG (Agricultural Overlay) are listed as overlays in § 18.09.020; overlay-specific chapters control additional requirements (e.g., floodplain rules start at Chapter 18.50) § 18.09.020; 18.50.010 .
• R3-24 Overlay: permits 20–24 du/acre as an optional alternative to base zoning when owner elects and provides affordable units; affordable housing agreement and covenant required before building permits § 18.48.010–.060 .

ADUs, second units, and junior ADUs

• ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) are governed by Chapter 18.69; the Chapter implements state ADU law and sets ministerial processing timelines, parking exceptions, setbacks and design rules (notably 4 ft side/rear minimum setbacks for new ADUs unless conversion of existing space) § 18.69.010–.080 .
• Second units and two-unit developments (separately regulated) are in Chapter 18.65 and have their own design rules and deed-restriction/impact-fee provisions § 18.65.030–.090 .
• When ADUs are discussed the Code points to the California Building Standards Code for building/fire/accessibility compliance; see § 18.69.060 and related subsections .

Review procedures that matter for zoning decisions

• Ministerial vs discretionary: most uses listed as "P" (permitted) or "C" (conditional) in the use tables; administrative/site & architectural review rules are in Chapter 18.63 (three levels: land-use, administrative, and full site & architectural review) § 18.63.010–.040 .
• Conditional or administrative conditional use permits and variance/appeal procedures are in Chapters dealing with CUPs and appeals; Unlisted uses are resolved by the Planning Commission under § 18.79 .

Quick decision-relevant table (high-impact standards & where to read)

Checklist

• Confirm the parcel’s legal zoning designation on the official zoning map (the map on file at Planning) § 18.09.030 .
• Verify permitted/conditional status in the appropriate use table: residential uses Table 18.10.030 for R zones § 18.10.030 ; nonresidential uses Table 18.27.010 for AP/C2/CM/MR/M2 § 18.27.010 .
• Check the district’s site development standards table (setbacks, heights, lot coverage) — residential § 18.10.040; AP § 18.30.040; C2 § 18.33.040; MR § 18.39.050 .
• Determine whether a specific plan or overlay applies (e.g., Barton Road SP, Gateway SP § 18.20.020–.050, R3-24 Overlay § 18.48.010–.060) .
• Confirm review path: is the work ministerial (ADU per § 18.69.030) or subject to administrative or public site & architectural review (Chapter 18.63) .
• Confirm required parking standard (Chapter 18.60) and whether ADU parking exceptions apply § 18.69.070 .
• Check for overlay restrictions (floodplain, agricultural, historic) and any required environmental/technical studies per specific-plan or multifamily chapters § 18.50; § 18.20; § 18.64 .
• If exercising R3-24 overlay affordability option, prepare an affordable housing agreement and recorded covenant per § 18.48.050 .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Grand Terrace’s zoning code (Title 18) lays out named zones — e.g., R1-20, R1-10, R1-7.2, R2, R3, AP, C2, MR, M2, and overlays like FP and the R3-24 overlay — and ties uses to tables and dimensional rules to site-development tables; ADUs are handled ministerially under Chapter 18.69, and site & architectural review is managed by Chapter 18.63. Always start by confirming the parcel’s official map designation, then look up the specific use table and the district’s site standards noted in the sections cited above § 18.09.020; § 18.10.040; § 18.27.010; § 18.69 .

Source References

• Districts established and map adoption: § 18.09.020, § 18.09.030–.050
• Residential districts, uses and site development table: § 18.10.020, § 18.10.030, § 18.10.040 (Table 18.10.040)
• Nonresidential use regulations (Table 18.27.010): § 18.27.010 (Table 18.27.010)
• AP district standards: § 18.30.010–.050 (site dev standards at § 18.30.040)
• C2 district standards: § 18.33.010–.040 (site standards § 18.33.040)
• MR district standards and storage/screening: § 18.39.050–.060
• R3-24 overlay (affordability option, agreement/covenant): § 18.48.010–.060
• Site & architectural review: Chapter 18.63 (§ 18.63.010–.040)
• Accessory Dwelling Units: Chapter 18.69 (§ 18.69.010–.110, including ministerial review § 18.69.030, design § 18.69.060, parking § 18.69.070)
• Second units / two-unit developments: Chapter 18.65 (general requirements, design, deed restrictions) § 18.65.030–.090
• Specific plans and Gateway at Grand Terrace: § 18.20.010–.050, Gateway SP description § 18.20.050
• Unlisted uses: Chapter 18.79 (Planning Commission determinations) § 18.79.010–.030

Retrieved passages

• CBC § 16 (§ 16) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.63) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.63) Medium relevance show source text
• CFC § 4 (Chapter may) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.03) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 4) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 8) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.63) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 12 (§ 12) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Section 65915) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 6) High relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance show source text
• CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 6) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 16) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (§ 16) Medium relevance show source text
• Grand Terrace Zoning Code (Chapter 18.66) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Districts established and map adoption: **§ 18.09.020**, **§ 18.09.030–.050** (§ 18.09.020)
• Residential districts, uses and site development table: **§ 18.10.020**, **§ 18.10.030**, **§ 18.10.040** (Table 18.10.040) (§ 18.10.020)
• Nonresidential use regulations (Table 18.27.010): **§ 18.27.010** (Table 18.27.010) (§ 18.27.010)
• AP district standards: **§ 18.30.010–.050** (site dev standards at **§ 18.30.040**) (§ 18.30.010)
• C2 district standards: **§ 18.33.010–.040** (site standards **§ 18.33.040**) (§ 18.33.010)
• MR district standards and storage/screening: **§ 18.39.050–.060** (§ 18.39.050)
• R3-24 overlay (affordability option, agreement/covenant): **§ 18.48.010–.060** (§ 18.48.010)
• Site & architectural review: Chapter **18.63** (**§ 18.63.010–.040**) (§ 18.63.010)
• Accessory Dwelling Units: Chapter **18.69** (**§ 18.69.010–.110**, including ministerial review **§ 18.69.030**, design **§ 18.69.060**, parking **§ 18.69.070**) (§ 18.69.010)
• Second units / two-unit developments: Chapter **18.65** (general requirements, design, deed restrictions) **§ 18.65.030–.090** (§ 18.65.030)
• Specific plans and Gateway at Grand Terrace: **§ 18.20.010–.050**, Gateway SP description **§ 18.20.050** (§ 18.20.010)
• Unlisted uses: Chapter **18.79** (Planning Commission determinations) **§ 18.79.010–.030** (§ 18.79.010)
• GrandTerrace_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Grand Terrace code library