Loma Linda — Development Standards

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes the Loma Linda zoning ordinance rules that determine how land may be developed — setbacks, heights, lot/roof coverage, FAR, density designations, and related limits expressed in the city's zoning tables and chapters. It is grounded in the City of Loma Linda Zoning Title and the Code sections that control development standards (tables used by the code are cited where they appear in the municipal materials). Always verify parcel‑specific rules with the city; some numeric limits live in zoning tables or specific‑plan documents referenced by the ordinance. See the city's zoning overview for context at Loma Linda zoning & planning overview and the main zoning map at Loma Linda Zoning.

How Loma Linda organizes its development standards (short)

• The broad, citywide formulas for maximum land coverage, setbacks, and height are established in the zoning development standards chapter (see § 17.54.050 and § 17.54.060) .
• Specific numeric standards for particular zones are provided in the zoning tables and zone chapters (residential tables, hillside tables, commercial/special‑purpose tables) — these are summarized below and cited to the code excerpts in the uploaded materials (see Loma Linda Zoning).
• Design review and objective design standards are handled by Chapter 17.115 (Objective Design Standards) and by overlays such as the Historic Mission Overlay (see Loma Linda Design Review and Loma Linda Historic Preservation) .

Citywide development rules you must know (key sections)

• Maximum land coverage / parcel roof coverage rules and slope adjustments: § 17.54.050 (includes the slope‑based coverage table used across residential/hillside zones) .
• General building height and setbacks: baseline rules and the ability to modify them to meet purpose and intent are in § 17.54.060 .
• Fences, corner cutoffs, front/side/rear yard height limits and related setback clarifications are in Chapter 17.14 (examples: § 17.14.030, § 17.14.060–§ 17.14.110) .
• Accessory dwelling unit (ADU) development rules that modify some zone standards are in § 17.110.060 (setbacks, ADU max heights, and unit size limits) and must be read together with state ADU rules (see Loma Linda ADUs and California ADU law) .
• Historic/overlay development standards (design, setbacks, buffers) appear in the Historic Mission Overlay regulations at § 17.82.090 (Historic Mission Overlay, PC zone + specific plan requirement) .

District-by-district breakdown — what matters for each zone

Below are the primary zone groups and the most decision‑relevant standards found in the Loma Linda code excerpts. For many numeric values the code uses development tables (e.g., Table 2‑3, Table 2‑4, Table 2‑8) that are part of the zoning code; those tables are cited from the uploaded materials.

Residential zones — R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4

Purpose & typical uses

• R-1: single‑family residential; R-2 / R-3 / R-4: progressively higher density multi‑family/residential uses. Zone purpose statements and permitted uses are described in the residential zone chapters; multiunit design and density are controlled by the same chapter set that includes the residential development tables (see Loma Linda Land Use and the residential development tables) .

Key dimensional standards and notes

• Front setbacks commonly 25 ft (average‑front setback rules also apply) and garage setbacks are enforced (garage door face typically 20 ft from front property line) — see the residential development tables and notes in the code excerpts (table notes and text in the residential development section) .
• Side setbacks: typical interior side setbacks are 15 ft for many residential tables; reverse‑corner and corner lot setbacks have special rules in Chapter 17.14 (corner cutoff and side yard rules) .
• Rear setbacks: typical values show 50 ft in some lot types and 15 ft in others — consult the table that applies to your sub‑zone and parcel type (see the Loma Linda residential development tables in the code excerpts) .
• Height: common maximum 35 ft for many residential multi‑unit and some single‑family tables; R‑2 adjacent to R‑1 has a special transition: “when abutting an R-1 zone, no structure shall exceed one story within 50 ft and not exceed two stories within 100 ft” (see the residential notes in the code excerpts) .
• Lot coverage: regulated by the slope‑based parcel coverage table; maximum parcel/roof coverage percentages are set by § 17.54.050 and related tables (see Table 2‑4 / Table 2‑4‑A in the zoning tables) .

Where it applies

• Apply these numbers where the property is zoned R-1 / R-2 / R-3 / R-4 on the city zoning map; for parcels inside a specific plan or PC zoning overlay, the specific plan may override some numeric standards (verify with the zone text or specific plan) .

Hillside zones — HR‑C, HR‑LD, HR‑MD, HR‑RE, HR‑VL

Purpose & typical uses

• Protect hillside character, limit density, and require design that adapts to topography. The Hillside Residential Development Standards are summarized in the hillside tables (Table 2‑4 and Table 2‑4‑A) in the zoning materials .

Key dimensional standards

• Density caps are very low: examples include 1 du / 10 acres, 1 du / 5 acres, up to 2 du / acre depending on the hillside subzone (see Table 2‑4) .
• Parcel area minimums are large (e.g., 435,600 sq ft for several HR categories) and parcel widths/depths have minimums in the hillside tables (see Table 2‑4) .
• Parcel/roof coverage: the slope‑based maximum coverage table (Table 2‑4‑A) applies; for steeper slopes maximum coverage drops (e.g., 45% at 10–15% slope down to 5% at >45%) as set in § 17.54.050 and the hillside table .
• Setbacks and height: front setback 25 ft, side 15 ft, rear 50 ft in many hillside categories; height maxima appear in the hillside tables (commonly 35 ft in applicable types) — see the hillside tables in the code excerpts .

Where it applies

• Hillside standards apply to parcels mapped in the city's zoning as hillside zones and to development in hillside preservation/conservation areas; additional ridgeline and view‑shed rules are in the hillside notes and in the title (see Loma Linda Land Use) .

Commercial and Industrial zones — BP, CO, C‑1, C‑2, CM

Purpose & typical uses

• BP (Business Park): offices, R&D, light industrial, and limited retail/services oriented to offices; objective is to provide campus settings and accommodate medical/tech uses (see § 17.40.010) .
• C‑1 / C‑2 / CM: neighborhood to regional commercial and mixed commercial/industrial uses (see the commercial chapters).

Key dimensional standards

• Many commercial zones have FAR limits expressed in the special‑purpose tables (e.g., FAR = 1.0 for I‑HC, 0.5 for planned community examples) and height maxima often in the 35 ft range for the listed table entries (see the special purpose zone table excerpts and the commercial chapter) .
• Setbacks: street setbacks and front/side/rear setbacks are listed in the special‑purpose table (for example, public facility and institutional‑health‑care entries show 25 ft street/front setbacks; planned community entries show variable minimums and averages) — consult the table for the zone that applies to your site .

Where it applies

• Apply these standards where the property is zoned BP, CO, C‑1, C‑2, CM or where a specific plan establishes site‑specific standards (see Loma Linda Zoning) .

Special purpose / Institutional / Planned Community — I‑HC, OS, PF, PC

Purpose & typical uses

• Institutional and health care campuses (I‑HC), Open Space (OS), Public Facility (PF), and Planned Community (PC) zones are treated as special purpose zones; many standards are set in the applicable table and/or specific plan (see the Special Purpose Zones Development Standards — Table 2‑8) .

Key dimensional standards (examples from the special‑purpose table)

• Minimum parcel area (for newly created parcels): OS shows 43,560 sq ft, PC shows 7,200 sq ft (table entries); FAR examples: I‑HC = 1.0, OS = 0.1, PF = 0.8, PC = 0.5 (see Table 2‑8) .
• Setbacks: street setbacks often 25–50 ft depending on the zone (see Table 2‑8 frontage/setback rows); PC zones may have variable "15 ft minimum / 20 ft average / 20 ft garage doors" guidance in the table (see the table excerpt) .
• These special zones frequently defer final numeric development standards to the specific plan or master development plan for a parcel (see the table header and the PC notes) .

Where it applies

• On parcels designated I‑HC, OS, PF, or PC in the zoning map or where a specific plan applies; specific plan language may replace table values.

Overlays and historic design standards

• The Historic Mission Overlay sits over part of the city and requires that density, setbacks, lot coverage, height, and design be established through a specific plan or master plan and conform to historical architectural styles as required by the overlay (see § 17.82.090) — new development must conform to the overlay's standards and is often subject to the Historic Commission and Planning Commission review (see Loma Linda Historic Preservation and Loma Linda Overlay Districts) .

Quick reference decision table (most decision‑relevant standards)

Checklist — what an applicant must satisfy (pre‑application)

• Confirm the zoning designation on the city zoning map (R‑zone, HR‑zone, BP, PC, etc.) — see Loma Linda Zoning.
• Check if parcel lies inside an overlay (Historic Mission Overlay, PC/specific plan) — overlay rules may override base standards; consult Loma Linda Overlay Districts and § 17.82.090 .
• Determine the applicable development table (residential table, hillside Table 2‑4, special purpose Table 2‑8) and extract numeric setbacks, heights, FAR, and parcel minima from that table (see the code tables in the uploaded materials) .
• Calculate parcel average slope (if parcel coverage is a factor) and apply § 17.54.050 coverage limits; slope calculations must be by a registered engineer or land surveyor per the § rules .
• For ADUs, apply § 17.110.060 rules (setbacks, height caps, unit sizes) and check state ADU limits (Loma Linda ADUs and California ADU law) .
• Confirm parking requirements and whether reductions apply (see Loma Linda Parking and housing‑density subsections in the zoning for small‑lot/multiunit projects) .
• Prepare for design review if the project falls under Chapter 17.115 objective standards or the applicable overlay/specific plan (see Loma Linda Design Review and Chapter 17.115) .

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English summary

Loma Linda sets development limits (setbacks, heights, lot/roof coverage, FAR, and density) in its zoning tables and a handful of controlling sections: slope‑dependent coverage is controlled by § 17.54.050, general height/setback policy by § 17.54.060, ADU special rules by § 17.110.060, and fence/setback clarifications by Chapter 17.14 — but many zones put the numeric values in the zoning tables or in specific plans, so always check the table for your zone and ask planning staff to confirm the controlling standard for your parcel .

Source References

• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Development standards applicability and slope‑based coverage: § 17.54.040 and § 17.54.050
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Building height and setbacks authority: § 17.54.060
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Corner cutoffs, front yard fence heights, side/rear yard rules: § 17.14.030, § 17.14.060–§ 17.14.110
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Residential development notes and tables (garage setback, front setback averaging, R‑2 adjacency height notes): Residential tables and notes in the zoning tables (see residential development tables excerpt)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Hillside Residential Development Standards (Table 2‑4 and Table 2‑4‑A, density and slope coverage)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Commercial/Business Park purpose (BP): § 17.40.010
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Special Purpose Zones Development Standards (Table 2‑8; I‑HC, OS, PF, PC table excerpt)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — ADU development standards: § 17.110.060 (setbacks, building height exceptions, unit sizes)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Historic Mission Overlay requirements and standards for new development: § 17.82.090
• State guidance on ADUs and Title 24 references: California ADU handbook references and California ADU law (see California ADU law and California Building Standards Code)

Retrieved passages

• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 17.54.040.) High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (Chapter 12.75) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 66314 (§ 66314) High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code High relevance show source text
• Loma Linda Zoning Code (§ 12.12.01) High relevance show source text
• CBC § 3000 High relevance show source text
• CBC § 435 High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Development standards applicability and slope‑based coverage: **§ 17.54.040** and **§ 17.54.050** (§ 17.54.040)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Building height and setbacks authority: **§ 17.54.060** (§ 17.54.060)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Corner cutoffs, front yard fence heights, side/rear yard rules: **§ 17.14.030**, **§ 17.14.060**–**§ 17.14.110** fileciteturn0file15 (§ 17.14.030)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Residential development notes and tables (garage setback, front setback averaging, R‑2 adjacency height notes): Residential tables and notes in the zoning tables (see residential development tables excerpt) fileciteturn0file7
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Hillside Residential Development Standards (Table 2‑4 and Table 2‑4‑A, density and slope coverage)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Commercial/Business Park purpose (BP): **§ 17.40.010** (§ 17.40.010)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Special Purpose Zones Development Standards (Table 2‑8; I‑HC, OS, PF, PC table excerpt)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — ADU development standards: **§ 17.110.060** (setbacks, building height exceptions, unit sizes) (§ 17.110.060)
• Loma Linda Zoning Code — Historic Mission Overlay requirements and standards for new development: **§ 17.82.090** (§ 17.82.090)
• State guidance on ADUs and Title 24 references: California ADU handbook references and California ADU law (see California ADU law and California Building Standards Code) fileciteturn0file11 (Title 24)
• LomaLinda_ZoningCode.md
• 2025 California ADU handbook.md

• Official Loma Linda code library