Lemoore — Variances and Exceptions

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

Variances and related exceptions in Lemoore are the discrete, discretionary tools the city uses to relax development-standard requirements (setbacks, height, lot coverage, parking limits, etc.) where strict application would unfairly deprive a property of privileges enjoyed by other similar properties. The governing rules, decision-makers, required findings, and common limits (what a variance will never allow) are in § 9-2B-16 of the Lemoore Zoning Code.

This page explains what the code authorizes or forbids, how findings are made, where other exceptions (minor deviations, site plan/design exceptions, parking waivers) live in the code, and how those rules interact with district-specific development standards (including downtown DMX-1 / DMX-2 / DMX-3). For the base development standards that variances often seek to modify, see Lemoore’s development standards. Lemoore Zoning and Lemoore Development Standards explain the context for those standards.

What the code says — core rules & limits

• Variances provide relief from development standards only when all of the required findings are met. The findings are listed in § 9-2B-16: there must be special circumstances of the property; the variance must be necessary to preserve substantial property rights; the variance must not adversely affect public or neighbor interests; and the variance must be consistent with the general plan and the intent of the zoning title. § 9-2B-16 (Variance).

• Hard limits on what a variance cannot do are explicit: a variance may not (1) allow a use not permitted in the zoning district, (2) increase maximum residential density (except where state law allows), (3) waive or reduce parking requirements by more than 30%, or (4) waive or modify a procedural requirement. See § 9-2B-16(A).

• Decision authority and process: the Planning Commission is the designated approving authority for variances; the Planning Director provides recommendations; required public hearing and notice follow the public notice rules in § 9-2A-6. See § 9-2B-16(B–C).

• Conditions: the Commission must (and may) impose conditions to avoid granting “special privileges” inconsistent with neighboring properties and to ensure compliance with required findings; common condition types include buffers, landscaping, hours, screening, and off‑site improvements. See § 9-2B-16(E).

• Minor deviations: for relatively small departures (up to 10% of height, setback, lot coverage, or parking provisions), the Planning Director can grant a minor deviation without a public hearing — see § 9-2B-11. Minor deviations do not alter uses and cannot substitute for a full variance.

• Site plan & design exceptions: some "exceptions" (for example, recessed facades, historic conversions, or automotive frontages in downtown) are handled through the site plan and architectural review process and not via the variance process; see downtown standards in Chapter 6 and site plan rules in § 9-2B-12. Lemoore Design Review and the downtown chapter list those design exceptions.

• Parking-specific reductions and waivers: the code provides targeted parking reductions (e.g., reductions for bicycle parking, transit proximity, existing use improvements) and a Planning Director-granted parking district waiver for access to public parking; total discretionary parking reductions are capped in program lists (and variances may not reduce parking by more than 30%). See the parking reductions and waiver language in the parking article and Table 9-5E-4-A1. Lemoore Parking

Decision‑relevant facts summarized (quick reference):

District-by-district guidance (how variances interact with each district)

Below are the Lemoore districts and how variances/exceptions commonly function in each. For the full list of allowed uses by district consult Table 9-4B-2; for precise dimensional numbers consult Table 9-5A-4A / 9-5A-4B or the downtown tables referenced below. Lemoore Land Use and Lemoore Zoning give the broader maps and use tables.

DMX-1 (Downtown mixed-use — core)

Purpose & where it applies: The DMX-1 district governs the downtown core and aims for pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use infill (see chapter 6).
Typical permitted uses: ground-floor retail, offices, upper-floor residential and similar downtown uses (see the allowed uses table in chapter 4). Not a place to use a variance to introduce a use that the district disallows.
Key dimensional standards: Build‑to lines and setbacks are strict — front/build-to 0' is expected for DMX‑1; height standards have minimum and maximum thresholds (structure height 16' min., 40' max. for DMX‑1 per table 9-6-2-B1). Variations for recessed facades and historic conversions are handled through site plan/design review, not a routine variance. See chapter 6 (9-6-2). Lemoore Design Review

DMX-2 (Downtown mixed-use — auto‑oriented)

Purpose & where it applies: DMX-2 covers parts of downtown where some auto access is expected; standards are intermediate between core and transitional downtown.
Typical permitted uses: similar to DMX‑1 but allowing more auto‑oriented commercial uses (see chapter 4).
Key dimensional standards: Build‑to line front 5' for DMX‑2; height limits such as 16' min., 25' max. are shown in table 9-6-2-B1. Design exceptions for automotive frontages may be granted via site plan/design review rather than a variance. See chapter 6.

DMX-3 (Downtown mixed-use — transitional)

Purpose & where it applies: DMX-3 is the transitional downtown zone (lower intensity; larger setbacks to adjacent residential).
Typical permitted uses: mixed uses with more generous setbacks and lower heights; review the uses table in chapter 4.
Key dimensional standards: Front setback 15' and shorter height limits such as 20' max. for many building types (see table 9-6-2-B1 and 9-6-2-A1). Variances may be requested but design review exceptions exist for some frontage types.

Residential districts (AR, RV, LD, RLD, RN, RLMD, RMD, RHD)

Purpose & where it applies: These are the base residential zones (abbreviations used in Table 9-5A-4A) that layer the city’s single‑family and multi‑family neighborhoods. For the complete list and where each applies, see the zoning map in Chapter 3 and the development‑standards table § 9-5A-4.
Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes, duplexes, multi‑family (depending on the district symbol and permissions in Table 9‑4B‑2).
Key dimensional standards: Lot area per dwelling, minimum lot size, front yard and other setbacks, maximum height, and lot coverage are shown in Table 9‑5A‑4A. Minor deviations up to 15% of setbacks may be administratively applied in some narrow pre‑1987 lot situations (see § 9‑5A‑3(C)(3)). Variances are for larger departures and must meet § 9‑2B-16 findings.

Commercial / Office / Industrial districts (see Table 9-5A-4B)

Purpose & where it applies: Commercial and industrial base zones regulate retail, office, service, and industrial uses; consult the zoning map for their locations.
Typical permitted uses: ranges from neighborhood commercial to general commercial, auto‑oriented services, and light industrial — check Table 9‑4B‑2 for the specific district.
Key dimensional standards: setbacks, parking ratios (Table 9‑5E‑4‑A1), and coverage standards appear in the commercial/industrial development standards table; a variance cannot waive more than 30% of parking requirements (§ 9‑2B-16(A)(3)) and targeted parking reductions/waivers are described in the parking article. Lemoore Parking

Mixed Use (MU) and other planned/mixed districts

Purpose & where it applies: The MU and other mixed‑use districts have separate chapters (e.g., Chapter 7) that set their own design standards; those chapters also specify when site plan/design review exceptions are allowed and when variances are the correct route. See Chapter 7 and the mixed‑use standards for details. Lemoore Overlay Districts for overlays that can add requirements or limits.

How exceptions (non‑variance tools) work in Lemoore

• Minor deviation: § 9-2B-11 — up to 10% flexibility for height/setback/lot coverage/parking; Planning Director decision; no public hearing. Use this for modest design changes.

• Site plan & architectural review exceptions: design-based exceptions (e.g., recessed facades, historic conversions, certain automotive setbacks downtown) are processed through site plan/design review and referenced in the downtown chapter (Chapter 6) and § 9‑2B‑12; these are ministerial reviews in many cases. Lemoore Design Review

• Parking waivers & reductions: administrative waivers (Planning Director) and programmatic reductions (design, transit, bicycle parking, shared lots) appear in the parking article and Table 9‑5E‑4‑A1; total discretionary parking reduction programs are capped (combinations limited and subject to overall caps). Lemoore Parking

• Density bonus waivers / concessions: housing projects seeking a density bonus have their own statutory route (density bonus laws) and the City will not apply standards that physically preclude the construction of qualifying projects, subject to the statutory limits and findings (see density bonus article 9‑5G). When a proposed waiver would have a specific adverse impact (per Gov. Code § 65589.5), the city can deny it — see the density bonus article.

Checklist (what an applicant must satisfy for a variance in Lemoore)

• Complete application on the City form and required fee (Planning Director’s application submittal requirements).
• Demonstrate the special circumstances of the property (location, shape, size, topography, surroundings) — evidence and photos/site plan. § 9‑2B‑16(D)(1).
• Show the variance is necessary for preservation/enjoyment of substantial property rights (comparative evidence to neighboring properties). § 9‑2B‑16(D)(2).
• Show the variance will not adversely affect public/neighborhood interests — traffic, safety, noise, visual impacts. § 9‑2B‑16(D)(3).
• Prove consistency with the general plan and the intent of the zoning title (narrative & analysis). § 9‑2B‑16(D)(4).
• Provide site plans, elevations, parking analysis (if parking is implicated), and any environmental/traffic studies requested. See site plan requirements § 9‑2B‑12.
• If requesting parking relief, demonstrate why the relief fits within the 30% variance limit or pursue the parking waiver/reduction programs instead. § 9‑2B‑16(A)(3) and parking article.

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

In Lemoore you can ask the Planning Commission for a variance to relax development rules like setbacks or heights, but you must show the property’s special circumstances, prove the change is necessary and won't hurt neighbors, and that the change fits the general plan; variances cannot change allowed uses, cannot increase density (except where state law allows), and cannot cut parking by more than 30% — smaller tweaks can be done administratively as a minor deviation. § 9‑2B‑16; § 9‑2B‑11.

Source References

• City of Lemoore Zoning Title — Variance (full procedural and findings language): § 9‑2B‑16.
• Minor deviation rules and administrative pathway: § 9‑2B‑11.
• Site plan and architectural review (design review exceptions): § 9‑2B‑12 and Downtown Chapter (Chapter 6, esp. 9‑6‑2) for DMX exceptions.
• Downtown DMX tables (build‑to, setbacks, heights): Chapter 6 — Table 9‑6‑2‑A1 and Table 9‑6‑2‑B1 (§ 9‑6‑2).
• Development standards / residential & commercial tables: § 9‑5A‑4 and Table 9‑5A‑4A / 9‑5A‑4B (development standards for zoning districts).
• Parking reductions, waivers, and required minimum parking table: Table 9‑5E‑4‑A1 and associated text (parking exceptions and reductions).
• Definitions and variance definition: Definitions article (V terms) and variance definition; see the Definitions chapter and § 9‑2B‑16.

Information Gaps

• Exact, full list of allowed uses and the P/A/C/N designations by district (Table 9‑4B‑2) was referenced but not fully extracted from the uploaded materials; verify permitted‑use specifics in Table 9‑4B‑2 for any parcel‑level questions. Not found in retrieved materials (complete table).
• Complete numeric values for every residential district's setbacks/heights in Table 9‑5A‑4A were partly truncated in the retrieved excerpts; for parcel‑specific dimensional numbers, consult Table 9‑5A‑4A in § 9‑5A‑4 directly. Not all figures are reproduced above.
• Any local administrative application form, current fee schedule, and exact noticing distances/count of mailed notices are not included here — verify with the Planning Department (application form and fee resolution). Not found in retrieved materials.

Retrieved passages

• Lemoore Zoning Code (title and) High relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (section and) High relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (title in) High relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (section 23958.4) High relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (section that) Medium relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (section 9-5G-2) Medium relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (title 8) Medium relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (section 33334.2) Medium relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (title shall) Medium relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (title for) Medium relevance show source text
• Lemoore Zoning Code (chapter 7) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• City of Lemoore Zoning Title — Variance (full procedural and findings language): **§ 9‑2B‑16**. (§ 9)
• Minor deviation rules and administrative pathway: **§ 9‑2B‑11**. (§ 9)
• Site plan and architectural review (design review exceptions): **§ 9‑2B‑12** and Downtown Chapter (Chapter 6, esp. **9‑6‑2**) for DMX exceptions. (§ 9)
• Downtown DMX tables (build‑to, setbacks, heights): Chapter 6 — Table 9‑6‑2‑A1 and Table 9‑6‑2‑B1 (**§ 9‑6‑2**). (Chapter 6)
• Development standards / residential & commercial tables: **§ 9‑5A‑4** and Table 9‑5A‑4A / 9‑5A‑4B (development standards for zoning districts). (§ 9)
• Parking reductions, waivers, and required minimum parking table: Table 9‑5E‑4‑A1 and associated text (parking exceptions and reductions).
• Definitions and variance definition: Definitions article (V terms) and variance definition; see the Definitions chapter and **§ 9‑2B‑16**. (chapter and)
• Lemoore_ZoningCode.md

• Official Lemoore code library