Loma Linda Zoning, Planning & Building Codes

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Loma Linda’s land-use rules are consolidated in the municipal Land Use Development Code (Title 17, called the "Land Use Development Code") and establish the city’s zones, development tables, specific-plan authority, and review processes (short title: Land Use Development Code, § 17.02.020) . The code lists base zones (residential, commercial, industrial, special-purpose), several overlay districts (historic, flood, geologic hazards, planned development, hillside), and a process structure that separates ministerial objective design review from discretionary permits such as conditional use permits and precise plan approvals (zone list and overlays, § 17.04.060; overlays & purposes, § 17.54.010 / § 17.82.090) . Citywide development standards (coverage, setbacks, heights, FAR, parking) are implemented through zone tables and chapter-level standards and are enforced at plan check and building permit stages (maximum land coverage § 17.54.050; setbacks/height § 17.54.060; special-purpose tables, Table 2-8 / § 17.44.040) .

How Loma Linda's code is organized

• Title and structure: Title 17 is titled the Land Use Development Code (§ 17.02.020) and is adopted under state planning authority (§ 17.02.010) .
• Key chapters you will use:
  • Chapter 17.02 — definitions, short title and general rules (§ 17.02.010–.070) .
  • Chapter 17.30 — administration, application types, precise plan of design, required dedications and improvements (see § 17.30.100 for dedications/improvements) .
  • Chapter 17.40 / Table 2‑6 — commercial & industrial development standards (see § 17.40.040 / Table 2‑6) .
  • Chapter 17.54 — hillside suffix and lot/coverage/height rules for special residential areas (see § 17.54.010–.070; § 17.54.050–.060) .
  • Chapter 17.72 — condominium/condo development standards and permitting (see § 17.72.040–.090) .
  • Chapter 17.82 — Historic Mission Overlay and cultural‑resource controls (§ 17.82.070–.090) .
  • Chapter 17.115 — Objective Design Standards and ministerial design review rules (when ministerial design review applies) (see § 17.115.080) .
  • Chapter 17.110 — standards for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs/JADUs) (referenced throughout Title 17) (see references at § 17.54.040, § 17.44.040) .
  • Chapter 17.116 and 17.120 — statewide housing implementation / small‑lot and multiunit ministerial pathways (references to Government Code requirements and ministerial building permit rules) (see §§ 17.116.050; 17.120.040–.050) .

Navigate the code by chapter (definitions → zones → administration → special zones → design standards → overlays); most zoning tables and use lists are collected under the zone chapters and the “Table” attachments referenced in Chapters 17.40 / 17.44 / 17.54 (see Table 2‑6, Table 2‑7, Table 2‑8 references, § 17.44.020 / § 17.40.040 / § 17.54.040) .

Zoning district families

Loma Linda uses named base zones and suffixes. The code explicitly establishes these zones (bold below are the code names):

• Residential: R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 (low → very high density) (zone list, § 17.04.060) .
• Hillside/ rural/reservation residential suffixes: HR-C, HR-LD, HR-MD, HR-RE, HR-VL (chapter 17.54 hillside suffix, § 17.54.010) .
• Planned / mixed: PC (Planned Community) (intent & purpose, § 17.40.040 / § 17.40.040 Table 2-6) .
• Commercial / office / industrial: C-1, C-2, BP (Business Park), CO (Commercial Office), CM (Commercial Manufacturing) (zone list, § 17.04.060; commercial standards, § 17.40.040 / Table 2‑6) .
• Special purpose / public: OS (Open Space), PF (Public Facilities), I‑HC (Institutional‑Health Care) (Table 2‑8 / § 17.44.040) .
• Overlay / suffix districts: H (Hillside Development Overlay Suffix), FP (Flood Plain Overlay), HM (Historic Mission Overlay), PD (Planned Development Overlay), GH (Geologic Hazards Overlay) (overlay descriptions § 17.54.010; § 17.82.090; overlay list § 17.04.060) .

Every zone’s allowed uses and required permits are expressed in the code’s use tables (Table 2‑7 etc.) and by cross‑references to Chapter 17.30 for permit types (see § 17.44.020 and Table 2‑7) .

Citywide development standards

Loma Linda sets citywide development standards through chapter-level rules and zone tables rather than a single one‑page standard. Key control points:

• Coverage (maximum land coverage): § 17.54.050 establishes maximum land coverage tied to parcel slope with a percentage schedule (e.g., 45% down to 5% as slope increases) and calculation methodology for average slope (see § 17.54.050) .
• Height and setbacks: base zone tables and Chapter 17.54 control heights and setbacks; the code allows adjustments if necessary to meet hillside purposes (see § 17.54.060 for height/setback applicability and Table 2‑8 for special purpose zone minimum setbacks) (§ 17.54.060; Table 2‑8 / § 17.44.040) .
• Floor Area Ratio (FAR): special‑purpose zones list maximum FARs in Table 2‑8 (for example I‑HC: 1.0, PC: 0.5, OS: 0.1) (Table 2‑8 / § 17.44.040) .
• Parking: parking requirements are applied by zone and referenced across the development chapters; the condominium and special‑purpose rules explicitly require compliance with the city’s parking standards and landscaping (for example, a 4% minimum landscape area of off‑street parking is required by the special‑purpose table notes) (condominium standards § 17.72.090; special-purpose notes Table 2‑8) . See the city’s parking guidance for zone‑specific counts via the Loma Linda Parking page.
  • Link: the city’s parking topic is here: Loma Linda Parking.
• Garage setbacks and driveway notes: minimum 20 ft garage setback from the face of garage to front property line is stated in the code notes; garage placement and standards are controlled in the residential notes (garage setback note, § 17.xx notes — see garage notes in Table excerpts) .
• Design guidance and objective standards: Chapter 17.115 centralizes objective design standards; if a multi‑family or mixed‑use residential project meets those objective standards, design review is ministerial (ministerial design review rules in § 17.115.080) .
  • Link: read Loma Linda’s design review summary at Loma Linda Design Review.
• For zone‑by‑zone details see the development standards tables in Chapters 17.40 / 17.44 / 17.54 (see § 17.40.040, § 17.44.040, § 17.54.050–.060) .
  • Link: for the consolidated numeric rules consult the Loma Linda Development Standards.

Specific plans & overlays

• Specific plans: the code authorizes specific plans under state law and lists adopted specific plans in a Table SP (for example The Groves at Loma Linda Specific Plan is included and establishes area‑specific land uses, standards and design guidelines) (specific plan authority and Table SP, § 17.40.040 / § 17.44.020 / § 17.40.040 and § 17.82/Table SP) .
  • Projects within a specific plan must be consistent with the plan, and the city may impose a specific plan fee surcharge (see § 17.40.040 / § 17.44.020) .
• Overlay districts: the code uses overlays to layer additional controls — important overlays include the HM Historic Mission Overlay (culture/resource reports and design criteria, § 17.82.070–.090), H Hillside Development suffix (slope‑sensitive coverage and required precise plans, § 17.54.010–.020), FP Flood Plain, GH Geologic Hazards Overlay, and the PD Planned Development Overlay for custom standards (see § 17.82.070–.090; § 17.54.010; PD intent § 17.54.010) .
  • Link: more about Loma Linda overlays at Loma Linda Overlay Districts.
• Historic review: projects in the Historic Mission Overlay require cultural resource studies and historic resource evaluation reports prepared to professional standards (see § 17.82.080–.090) .
  • Link: see Loma Linda Historic Preservation.

Building permits & review

• Permit pathways: routine building permits require compliance with Title 17 development standards and Title 15 building rules; some residential or multiunit projects that meet objective criteria are reviewed ministerially, while others require discretionary approvals (CUP, precise plan, minor use permit) (administration & application types, Chapter 17.30; ministerial/design rules § 17.115.080; building permits for small‑lot projects § 17.116.050; building permit step § 17.120.040(D)) .
• Precise Plan of Design: many non‑standard developments (condominiums, commercial centers, projects in special zones) require a precise plan of design and the findings for approval are spelled out in Chapter 17.30 (findings and conditions) (see § 17.30.100; precise plan findings § 17.30.*) .
• Ministerial vs discretionary: if a project fully complies with objective design standards in Chapter 17.115 it can receive ministerial design review by the director (no public hearing), but deviations push the application into the discretionary Chapter 17.30 process (see § 17.115.080 and § 17.30 cross‑references) .
  • Link: for an at‑a‑glance discussion of design‑level review see Loma Linda Design Review.
• Conditions and improvements: required dedications, easements and infrastructure improvements (curbs, gutters, sidewalks, sewer, water, street trees, drainage facilities) are specified in § 17.30.100 and are commonly imposed as conditions for entitlements (see § 17.30.100) .

State housing law in Loma Linda

Summary: Loma Linda’s Title 17 includes explicit cross‑references and local chapters to implement recent state housing laws; the code both implements local objective design rules and defers to state ministerial pathways where applicable.

• ADUs / JADUs:
  • Local ADU standards are collected in Chapter 17.110 and Title 17 repeatedly points applicants to that chapter for accessory unit rules (see § 17.54.040; § 17.44.040) .
  • State ADU rules apply; consult California ADU law and the local ADU chapter for specifics.
  • Link to local ADU topic: Loma Linda ADUs. Link to state guidance: California ADU law.
• SB 9 / small‑lot / housing‑development ministerial pathways:
  • The code contains a chapter for small‑lot subdivisions and ministerial housing development rules (Chapter 17.116 and Chapter 17.120) that reference the relevant Government Code provisions (for example Government Code § 66499.41 and § 65852.28) and set ministerial building‑permit and design procedures when the qualifying criteria are met (see § 17.116.050; § 17.120.040) .
  • These sections explain ministerial review, the director’s role in determining compliance with objective standards, limits on required setbacks between units, unit‑specific parking rules (e.g., one parking space per unit unless certain transit proximity exceptions apply), and minimum FAR floors for small multiunit projects (see § 17.116.050(B)(2–4)) .
• Density bonus, tenant protections, rent control:
  • The code includes affordability‑linked provisions (e.g., § 17.120.050 requires targeted income units and long‑term affordability covenants for certain housing developments) but explicit local density‑bonus implementation language or local rent‑control ordinance text was not found in the retrieved Title 17 materials; verify with the Community Development Department or Municipal Code online for any separate renter‑protections or density‑bonus chapter (see § 17.120.050 for affordability unit controls; density bonus / rent control not found in retrieved materials) .
• CEQA and affordability‑streamlined processes:
  • Some ministerial projects that comply with the specific housing chapters are expressly exempt from CEQA and otherwise allowed ministerial approval; see § 17.120.040(C) for ministerial CEQA guidance for qualifying housing projects (see § 17.120.040(C)) .
• Link: for state code & building rules compliance also consult the California Building Standards Code and the state housing laws overview California housing laws.

Practical orientation — what a typical applicant should do

1. Check the zoning map and base zone name for the parcel (zones are listed in § 17.04.060) and review the use table for that zone (see § 17.44.020 / Table 2‑7) .
2. Confirm any overlays or specific plans that apply (Historic Mission Overlay, Hillside suffix, Groves Specific Plan are examples; see § 17.82 table and Table SP in the code) (see § 17.82.090; Table SP references) .
3. Read the development‑standards table for the zone and related special‑purpose table (coverage, FAR, setbacks) and the objective design standards (see § 17.54.050; § 17.54.060; § 17.115.080; Table 2‑8) .
   • For parking details, consult the city’s parking standards and the condominium/commercial notes that cross‑reference parking (see § 17.72.090; Table 2‑8 notes) .
   • Link: parking topic Loma Linda Parking.
4. Determine whether the project is eligible for ministerial review under Chapter 17.115 or must proceed through discretionary review (see § 17.115.080) .
   • Link: objective design review overview Loma Linda Design Review.
5. Submit application materials per Chapter 17.30 (plans, maps, technical reports); expect required dedications and infrastructure improvements (see § 17.30.100) .
6. If using state ministerial pathways (ADU, small‑lot subdivision, SB 35/SB 330 where eligible), follow the local chapters that implement those paths (Chapter 17.110, 17.116, 17.120) and the building permit submittal requirements (see §§ 17.110; 17.116.050; 17.120.040) .
   • Link: ADU topic Loma Linda ADUs.

Information gaps (what to verify with the city)

• Local density bonus implementation language and explicit local rent‑control or tenant protection ordinances were not found in the retrieved Title 17 excerpts — verify with the city clerk or the Municipal Code online.
• Full numeric zone tables for R‑series (exact front/side/rear setbacks and heights by R‑zone) were visible in table excerpts and notes but the complete per‑zone § numbers and full tables should be consulted in the code’s zone chapters (look up the specific R‑zone section within Title 17). Where specific numeric values are quoted above, they were drawn from the code table excerpts and notes (see § 17.54.050; Table excerpts) .

Source References

• Land Use Development Code (Title 17) — code introduction, zone list and map rules § 17.02.010; § 17.02.020; § 17.04.060 .
• Hillside / land coverage standards — § 17.54.010; § 17.54.050; § 17.54.060 (coverage / slope table / height & setbacks) .
• Commercial & special purpose development tables (Table 2‑6, Table 2‑8) — § 17.40.040; § 17.44.040 (Table 2‑6 / Table 2‑8 excerpts) .
• Condominium permitting & development standards — § 17.72.040; § 17.72.090 (permits, standards) .
• Objective design and ministerial design review — § 17.115.080 (ministerial design review rules) .
• Small‑lot subdivision and ministerial housing pathways — § 17.116.050; § 17.120.040–.050 (building permit and ministerial housing requirements) .
• Historic Mission Overlay rules — § 17.82.070–.090 (historic reports, design criteria) .
• ADUs referenced in Title 17 — Chapter 17.110 (referenced at § 17.54.040 & § 17.44.040) .
• GoCodebook topic pages referenced in text: Loma Linda Zoning, Loma Linda Land Use, Loma Linda Development Standards, Loma Linda Parking, Loma Linda Design Review, Loma Linda Overlay Districts, Loma Linda ADUs, California Building Standards Code, California ADU law (internal GoCodebook links used above).