Indian Wells — Land Use

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page distills what the City of Indian Wells Zoning Code says about land use: which uses are permitted or conditional in each zoning district, where the official land-use matrix lives, how overlays change underlying rules, and the most decision-relevant dimensional and process controls. The primary land-use rule is the Land Use Matrix at § 21.12.030 (the “use table”); many districts have their own chapters with development standards and permitted/conditional lists (examples: Resort Commercial § 21.34.040–.050, Office/Professional standards § 21.36.050–.070).

Note: this page stays strictly within the local zoning/planning ordinance; it does not interpret building-code (Title 24) items or tenant/housing law. For related procedural topics see the city pages on parking, design review, overlays, ADUs, and the California Building Standards Code (links used where the topic is mentioned below).

How land use is organized in Indian Wells

• The official Land Use Matrix (use table) lists uses as Permitted (P), Conditional (C), or Prohibited (X) for each zone; it is adopted at § 21.12.030.
• If a use is listed as Conditional, applications follow the Conditional Use Permit procedures in § 21.06.040.
• The Official Zoning Map locates zones on parcels and is adopted at § 21.12.050; boundary interpretation rules are at § 21.12.060.
• Overlays (for example Golf Course Overlay, Senior Housing Overlay (SHO), and Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO)) modify permitted uses or standards and reference the underlying base zone for specifics (see the overlay chapters and § 21.28.040–.070 for AHO and § 21.29.010–.030 for SHO).

District-by-district breakdown

Below are the districts most relevant to typical land-use questions in Indian Wells. Each subsection states the ordinance name/abbreviation, the purpose, typical permitted uses (from the Land Use Matrix or the district chapter), key dimensional/development standards, and where the district commonly applies in the city.

Note: always confirm a parcel’s exact base zone on the Official Zoning Map and consult the full Land Use Matrix for marginal or specialized use classifications. Verify with the jurisdiction for parcel-specific interpretations.

RVLD — Very Low Density Residential

• Purpose: preserve low-density single-family residential neighborhoods; applied across many master-planned and gated areas.
• Typical permitted uses: single-family dwellings and accessory residential structures (see the Land Use Matrix for accessory use rules). Accessory structures are often P or C depending on configuration. § 21.12.030.
• Key standards: many RVLD areas are subject to planning-area-specific setbacks/density tables (examples in Planning Areas 5, 7, 9). See planning-area tables for lot‑by‑lot setback and density rules; multiple references at § 21.14.050–.110.

RLD / RMD / RMHD — Low / Medium / Medium-High Density Residential

• Purpose: gradation of multi‑family densities (from low-density single-family to medium-high multi-family). The Land Use Matrix assigns allowed accessory and multi-family uses by these categories. § 21.12.030.
• Typical permitted uses: single-family, duplexes, townhomes, multifamily (per zone); supportive and transitional housing are treated as residential uses under § 21.12.070.
• Key standards: densities expressed in du/acre by zone and planning-area tables; building height and setback regimes vary by planning area (see Planning Area chapters and specific development standards). Example local deviations and nonconforming situations are handled via § 21.90.030.

CC — Community Commercial

• Purpose: neighborhood and community retail and service uses.
• Typical permitted uses: retail shops, offices, banks, pharmacies, medical offices, limited restaurants (example list in Planning Area 8 Subarea 8.1(b) — see § 21.14.080(a)(2)). Uses not listed are subject to CUP § 21.06.040.
• Key standards: front setbacks in some commercial nodes are explicitly required (example: 50 ft on Highway 111 in Subarea 8.1; 30 ft from curb on Club Drive) and building elevations must be approved by City Council/ALC. See § 21.14.080.

RC — Resort Commercial

• Purpose: accommodate hotels, resorts and resort‑support uses for Indian Wells's resort character.
• Typical permitted uses: hotels, conference/convention facilities, restaurants, country clubs, golf courses; many RC uses are implemented subject to a Conditional Use Permit in combination with a Master Development Plan — see § 21.34.040. Sexually oriented businesses and certain temporary uses are specifically addressed in that chapter.
• Key standards: where south of Highway 111, minimum building setbacks are 50 ft (or 100 ft when adjacent to residential); structure height limited to 3 stories / 37.5 ft; north of Hwy 111 setbacks 50 ft (or 200 ft adjacent to residential) and maximum 4 stories / 52 ft unless modified by CUP. See § 21.34.050.

OP — Office / Professional

• Purpose: administrative, professional and small‑scale office campuses.
• Typical permitted uses: administrative and professional offices, limited retail support uses (subject to CUP in some cases). The district chapter lists allowable accessory uses (see § 21.36 provisions).
• Key standards: building setbacks differ when adjacent to residential (minimums match adjacent residential); where not adjacent: front yard 50 ft, rear/side generally sized to permit fire access (≈ 20 ft), FAR 0.5, and building height typically 2 stories / 30 ft unless adjacent to residential where residential height applies. See § 21.36.050–.070.

SPX — Sports Complex

• Purpose: major sport and entertainment facilities (Indian Wells Tennis Gardens is expressly zoned SPX). Development and permitted uses are set out in the planning-area chapters (see Planning Area 7 and Subarea 7.6). § 21.14.110 and related subarea text.

PF / PP / POS / COS / WC — Public & Open Space

• PF (Public Facilities) and PP (Public Parks/Recreation): civic buildings, parks and recreation facilities — see planning-area chapters for exact site uses and CUP conditions.
• POS / COS (Public-Owned / Country Club Open Space) and WC (Watercourse): open-space and floodcourse controls, limited to public/open-space uses; WC areas are subject to flood-hazard rules (see definitions and Watercourse chapter). § 21.14 planning-area maps identify these areas.

Overlays: GOLF, AHO, SHO, SSAO

• Overlays modify the base zone by adding special allowed uses, density changes or bonus programs. Examples: the Golf Course Overlay applies to golf facilities and is referenced across Planning Areas (see Planning Areas 5 and 11). The Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) and Senior Housing Overlay (SHO) set their permitted uses to those of the underlying zone but require CUP/site plan approval per § 21.28.040–.070 and § 21.29.010–.030.

Quick reference table — selected, decision‑relevant standards and uses

Practical guidance / synthesis

• The single best starting point is the Land Use Matrix at § 21.12.030: check whether your proposed use is P, C or X in your parcel’s base zone before preparing plans.
• If the Land Use Matrix lists a use as C, a Conditional Use Permit under § 21.06.040 is required; prepare for design and plan review by the Architectural and Landscape Committee (ALC) and possible City Council approvals, particularly in CC and RC nodes. See references in the district chapters (e.g., § 21.36.090 referencing ALC).
• Overlays can substantially alter what is allowed and the applicable standards — review overlay chapters (AHO, SHO, Golf) early. The overlay does not change the Official Zoning Map procedure; adopt/interpretations are covered in § 21.12.050–.060.
• Many site-design questions (parking, landscaping, and sign controls) are routed to related chapters — consult the city pages on parking, landscaping and screening, and signage as you prepare. Development standards and setbacks are cross-referenced throughout the district chapters; see development standards for consolidated rules and design review for ALC procedures.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy)

• Confirm parcel’s base zone and overlay(s) on the Official Zoning Map § 21.12.050.
• Check the Land Use Matrix to verify whether the proposed use is P, C, or X for that zone (§ 21.12.030).
• If C, prepare a Conditional Use Permit application per § 21.06.040 and demonstrate consistency with applicable district standards.
• Prepare site plan and elevations for ALC/Design Review where required (examples: § 21.36.090, Planning Area requirements). See the city design review guidance.
• Meet district-specific setbacks/heights/FAR (e.g., RC setback/height rules § 21.34.050; OP FAR/height § 21.36.060–.070).
• Comply with parking and site design standards (consult parking and district chapters referencing Title 11/Title 17).
• Resolve overlay requirements, covenants, or deed restrictions if proposing Affordable or Senior Housing overlays (§ 21.28, § 21.29).
• Check nonconforming use and zoning-lapse rules if the site has prior nonconforming development (§ 21.90.030).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

Indian Wells uses a city Land Use Matrix to decide what you can build on a lot; many uses are allowed outright, others need a Conditional Use Permit, and overlays (like Golf or Affordable Housing) can change which rules apply. Check your parcel’s base zone and the matrix first, then confirm setbacks/height and overlay requirements in the district and planning-area chapters—then prepare for design/ALC review and parking/site standards. Verify with the City for parcel‑specific interpretations.

Information Gaps

• The uploaded excerpts include the Land Use Matrix reference § 21.12.030 and many planning-area tables but do not expose the full page-by-page Land Use Matrix printout in the file preview; exact row-by-row P/C/X entries for every use and zone were only partially visible. Full matrix contents not found in retrieved materials.
• Some district-specific numeric standards (e.g., precise setbacks and lot coverage for every residential zone across all planning areas) are in planning-area tables that were partially included; parcel-level development envelopes must be checked in the full code and tract/Specific Plan documents (Verify with the jurisdiction).
• Administrative fee schedules, application forms, and current ALC procedures are not in the retrieved text and are handled by the Planning Department (Not found in retrieved materials).

Source References

• Land Use Matrix and P/C/X framework: § 21.12.030.
• Conditional Use Permits (CUP) procedure (reference in use matrix): § 21.06.040.
• Resort Commercial permitted uses and development standards: § 21.34.040–.050.
• Office/Professional district setbacks, FAR and height: § 21.36.050–.070; plans/design/parking reference § 21.36.090.
• Planning Area examples and Community Commercial permitted uses (Planning Area 8 Subarea 8.1): § 21.14.080.
• Overlay zones and Affordable/Senior Housing overlays: § 21.28.040–.070; § 21.29.010–.030.
• Official Zoning Map adoption and boundary rules: § 21.12.050–.060.
• Nonconforming uses reference: § 21.90.030 (referenced in planning-area text).

Retrieved passages

• Indian Wells Zoning Code (§ 21.34.030.) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 1 (§ 1) High relevance show source text
• Indian Wells Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Indian Wells Zoning Code (§ 21.14.080.) High relevance show source text
• Indian Wells Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Indian Wells Zoning Code (§ 21.28.040.) High relevance show source text
• Indian Wells Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Indian Wells Zoning Code (§ 1) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Land Use Matrix and P/C/X framework: **§ 21.12.030**. (§ 21.12.030)
• Conditional Use Permits (CUP) procedure (reference in use matrix): **§ 21.06.040**. (§ 21.06.040)
• Resort Commercial permitted uses and development standards: **§ 21.34.040–.050**. (§ 21.34.040)
• Office/Professional district setbacks, FAR and height: **§ 21.36.050–.070**; plans/design/parking reference **§ 21.36.090**. (§ 21.36.050)
• Planning Area examples and Community Commercial permitted uses (Planning Area 8 Subarea 8.1): **§ 21.14.080**. (§ 21.14.080)
• Overlay zones and Affordable/Senior Housing overlays: **§ 21.28.040–.070**; **§ 21.29.010–.030**. (§ 21.28.040)
• Official Zoning Map adoption and boundary rules: **§ 21.12.050–.060**. (§ 21.12.050)
• Nonconforming uses reference: **§ 21.90.030** (referenced in planning-area text). (§ 21.90.030)
• IndianWells_ZoningCode.md

• Official Indian Wells code library