Lodi — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how the City of Lodi regulates zoning in its Development Code (Title 17). It explains the official zoning map, the city’s base zoning districts, the major dimensional and use standards that control what can be built where, and the overlay/zoning tools that alter base rules — all grounded to the local code. See the city's general Zoning & Planning overview for context on how zoning fits into Lodi planning.

How the ordinance organizes zoning (quick legal anchors)

• The ordinance establishes the official zoning map and the list of districts in § 17.10.020 and formally adopts the map in § 17.10.030.
• Rules for resolving boundary uncertainty are in § 17.10.040.
• Allowable uses and the type of land‑use permit required are governed by § 17.12.030 and the district tables in Articles 17.18–17.28.

(First occurrences of related topics linked inline: see the Development Standards, Parking, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code, Nonconforming Uses, and Variances and Exceptions pages.)

District-by-district breakdown

Below I summarize each primary district declared in Table 2‑1 (Article 2). For each district I give the ordinance purpose, typical permitted uses (high‑level), key dimensional standards, and where it commonly applies. All numbers and requirements are taken from the Lodi Development Code and cited to the controlling section(s).

Note: The city uses district symbols such as RLD, RMD, RHD, CC, GC, O, DMU, MCO, MCE, M, BP, and PF (Table 2‑1).

RLD — Low Density Family Residential

• Purpose: Implements the Low Density Residential General Plan category; intended for single‑family neighborhoods and compatible accessory uses. See Chapter 17.18.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family homes, accessory structures, limited home occupations; accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are permitted consistent with ADU rules (§ 17.36.130).
• Key standards (Table 2‑5 / residential standards): Minimum lot area — 5,000 sq ft, Front setback — 15 ft, Side setbacks — 5 ft, Rear setback — 10 ft, Site coverage — 45%, Height — 2 stories / 35 ft. These are set in the residential development standards (see § 17.18.040 / Table 2‑5).
• Where it applies: traditional single‑family neighborhoods mapped as Low Density Residential. Verify exact parcel zoning on the official zoning map (see § 17.10.030).

RMD — Medium Density Residential

• Purpose: Supports duplexes, small multi‑family, and transitional higher‑density housing. See Chapter 17.18.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑ and two‑family dwellings, small multifamily, ADUs (ministerial where standards are met).
• Key standards (Table 2‑5): Minimum lot area (single‑family) — 5,000 sq ft, site coverage — 50%, density range — 8.1–20 du/ac, height — up to 4 stories / 60 ft for multi‑family.

RHD — High Density Residential

• Purpose: High‑density residential uses consistent with General Plan High Density designation. See Chapter 17.18.
• Typical permitted uses: multifamily housing, residential shelters where allowed, and accessory uses. ADUs allowed per ADU section.
• Key standards (Table 2‑5): Minimum lot area (single‑family) — 4,000 sq ft, site coverage — 60%, density — 15–35 du/ac, height — up to 4 stories / 60 ft.

(Residential setbacks and exceptions: see measurement/exception rules in § 17.14.060.)

CC — Community Commercial; GC — General Commercial; O — Office

• Purpose: Serve retail/service, community commercial centers, and office uses. See Chapter 17.20.
• Typical permitted uses: storefront retail, restaurants (with permit rules), professional offices, and service businesses as listed in the commercial use tables. Refer to the commercial use tables for use‑by‑use permit type.
• Key standards (Table 2‑7 / commercial): Front setback — CC 25 ft / GC 10 ft / O 10 ft, Side setbacks — CC 25 ft / GC none / O none, FAR — 0.60 (where listed), Height — generally 2 stories / 35 ft (unless otherwise allowed). See § 17.20.040 and Table 2‑7.

Design review may be required for commercial buildings (see the Design Review page; design review rules referenced in the Development Code).

DMU — Downtown Mixed Use; MCE — Mixed Use Center; MCO — Mixed Use Corridor

• Purpose: Encourage pedestrian‑oriented, mixed commercial/residential development; DMU is Downtown‑focused and has special downtown design guidelines. See Chapter 17.22.
• Typical permitted uses: ground‑floor commercial/retail in many locations with residential or office on upper floors; upper‑floor residential per district rules (DMU has special limits on certain frontages).
• Key standards (Table 2‑9 / mixed use): FAR — DMU up to 3.0, MCE 1.0, MCO 1.2, Height — DMU up to 6 stories/75 ft (min. 20 ft), MCO up to 4 stories/60 ft, Front setbacks — often none in DMU, MCE; MCO front setback 10 ft. See § 17.22.040 and downtown design guidelines in § 17.22.050.

M — Industrial; BP — Business Park

• Purpose: M is for general/heavy industrial uses; BP accommodates business parks, offices, and light industrial. See Chapter 17.24.
• Typical permitted uses: manufacturing, warehousing, distribution in M; office campuses, light manufacturing in BP as specified in Table 2‑10.
• Key standards (Table 2‑11 / industrial): M area min — 10,000 sq ft; BP area min — 1 acre, Front setbacks — M 10 ft / BP 25 ft, FAR — M 0.60 / BP 1.0, Height — up to 70 ft in M (additional height by use permit). Landscaping and a minimum 10 ft frontage landscape buffer required; enclosure requirements apply to outdoor operations as listed. See § 17.24.040 and § 17.24.050.

PF — Public and Community Facilities

• Purpose: For government offices, public facilities, schools, libraries, parks and detention basins. See Chapter 17.26.
• Typical permitted uses: public offices, schools, libraries, parks; allowed uses and development standards are determined through project review (see § 17.26.040).

Overlay districts: -F (floodplain) and -PD (planned development)

• -F (Flood overlays -F100 and -F200): Applied where flood risk exists (100‑yr and 200‑yr zones). The overlay adds restrictions on development, requires floodproofing and additional permits; some limited open uses may be allowed without a use permit per § 17.28.030. Flood boundaries rely on the FEMA Flood Insurance Study and city map on file.
• -PD (Planned Development overlay): Allows city to approve a Planned Development Permit that can modify setbacks, coverage, height and other standards to achieve a superior design, subject to findings and public hearing; minimum site size, open space, and other PD rules are in § 17.28.040 and the planned development permit procedure § 17.40.060. A PD does not permit uses not allowed by the base zone.

Quick comparison table — decision‑relevant standards

How permitted uses and permits work

• The code lists allowed uses and the required permit type in the tables in Chapters 17.18–17.26 (A / UP / MUP / —). See § 17.12.030 for the permit framework; the director may interpret whether a use fits a listed use category.
• Design review/site plan & architectural approval may apply to commercial, industrial or multifamily projects (see the design review authority in Article 4 and site approval references). See the Design Review page for practical steps.

(First‑mention links in text above: Development Standards, Parking, Design Review, Overlay Districts, ADUs, California Building Standards Code, Nonconforming Uses, Variances and Exceptions.)

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy before a project moves forward

• Confirm the parcel's base zoning and overlay(s) on the official zoning map (adopted § 17.10.030).
• Verify whether the proposed use is listed as an A, UP, or MUP in the use table for that district (Chapters 17.18–17.26) and obtain the required permit per § 17.12.030.
• Confirm dimensional standards (setbacks, height, coverage, FAR) in the district’s development standards table (e.g., § 17.18.040, § 17.20.040, § 17.22.040, § 17.24.040).
• Check applicable Site Planning / Article 3 standards: parking (Chapter 17.32), landscaping (Chapter 17.30), signs (Chapter 17.34). See Parking and Development Standards pages.
• If in an overlay (e.g., -F or -PD) confirm overlay restrictions and extra permit findings (see § 17.28.030 and § 17.28.040).
• If proposing an ADU, follow the ministerial ADU standards in § 17.36.130 (ADUs allowed where single‑family/multifamily permitted).
• Determine whether design review or Planning Commission hearing is required (see review authority Table 4‑1 / Chapter 17.38).
• Obtain required building permits and comply with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Link: California Building Standards Code. (Building code requirements are separate from zoning.)

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Lodi’s zoning lives in the Development Code (Title 17). The city map assigns each parcel a base zone (e.g., RLD, GC, DMU, M, BP, PF) that sets what uses are allowed and the dimensions (setbacks, height, coverage, FAR); overlays (flood or planned development) add or change rules. Always check the zoning map and the district tables in the Code because those tables, plus Article 3 site standards (parking, landscaping), are what your project must follow. See § 17.10.030, § 17.12.030, and the district chapters for the specifics.

Source References

• Zoning districts established — § 17.10.020 (Table 2‑1 listing district symbols RLD, RMD, RHD, CC, GC, O, DMU, MCO, MCE, M, BP, PF, -F, -PD).
• Zoning map adoption — § 17.10.030.
• Zoning map boundary rules — § 17.10.040.
• Allowable uses and permit framework — § 17.12.030.
• Residential general development standards (Table 2‑5 / Residential) — § 17.18.040 (Table 2‑5).
• Commercial general development standards (Table 2‑7) — § 17.20.040 (Table 2‑7).
• Mixed‑use general development standards (Table 2‑9) — § 17.22.040 and downtown design guidelines § 17.22.050.
• Industrial general development standards (Table 2‑11) and design guidelines — § 17.24.040, § 17.24.050.
• Public/Community Facilities district standards — § 17.26.040.
• Overlay districts — flood overlays § 17.28.030; planned development overlay § 17.28.040.
• Planned development permit process and standards — § 17.40.060.
• Accessory dwelling units (ministerial ADU rules) — § 17.36.130.
• Administrative review/decision authority (Table 4‑1) and application processing — Chapter 17.38 (see Table 4‑1).

If you want the official, printable zoning map or a parcel‑specific zoning verification, contact the Community Development Department and request the zoning map on file; the city’s code states the zoning map is “on file with the department” (see § 17.10.030).

Retrieved passages

• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Title 17) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Section 17.10.020) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Chapter 17.70) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Section 17.22.050) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Chapter 17.30) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Chapter 17.30) High relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Chapter 17.30) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Chapter 17.32) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (Section 17.40.060) Medium relevance show source text
• Lodi Zoning Code (chapter are) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Zoning districts established — **§ 17.10.020** (Table 2‑1 listing district symbols **RLD, RMD, RHD, CC, GC, O, DMU, MCO, MCE, M, BP, PF, -F, -PD**). (§ 17.10.020)
• Zoning map adoption — **§ 17.10.030**. (§ 17.10.030)
• Zoning map boundary rules — **§ 17.10.040**. (§ 17.10.040)
• Allowable uses and permit framework — **§ 17.12.030**. (§ 17.12.030)
• Residential general development standards (Table 2‑5 / Residential) — **§ 17.18.040** (Table 2‑5). (§ 17.18.040)
• Commercial general development standards (Table 2‑7) — **§ 17.20.040** (Table 2‑7). (§ 17.20.040)
• Mixed‑use general development standards (Table 2‑9) — **§ 17.22.040** and downtown design guidelines **§ 17.22.050**. (§ 17.22.040)
• Industrial general development standards (Table 2‑11) and design guidelines — **§ 17.24.040**, **§ 17.24.050**. (§ 17.24.040)
• Public/Community Facilities district standards — **§ 17.26.040**. (§ 17.26.040)
• Overlay districts — flood overlays **§ 17.28.030**; planned development overlay **§ 17.28.040**. (§ 17.28.030)
• Planned development permit process and standards — **§ 17.40.060**. (§ 17.40.060)
• Accessory dwelling units (ministerial ADU rules) — **§ 17.36.130**. (§ 17.36.130)
• Administrative review/decision authority (Table 4‑1) and application processing — Chapter **17.38** (see Table 4‑1).
• Lodi_ZoningCode.md

• Official Lodi code library